Movatterモバイル変換

Acts 20:29
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Romans 16:17-18
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them…

2 Corinthians 11:12-15
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we…

specially.

Acts 15:1,24
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren,and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved…

Galatians 1:6-8
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: …

Galatians 2:4
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

and full of empty talk
The term "empty talk" refers to speech that is devoid of truth and substance. In the early church, this often involved false teachings and vain discussions that distracted believers from the core message of the Gospel. This aligns with warnings found in other New Testament writings, such as1 Timothy 1:6, where Paul cautions against turning to meaningless talk. The emphasis here is on the danger of words that lead believers away from sound doctrine and the truth of Christ.

and deception
Deception is a key tactic of false teachers, who mislead others for personal gain or out of ignorance. This deception can be subtle, mixing truth with falsehood, making it difficult for believers to discern. The New Testament frequently warns against false prophets and teachers, as seen in2 Peter 2:1, where they are described as secretly introducing destructive heresies. The presence of deception underscores the need for discernment and adherence to the truth of Scripture.

especially those of the circumcision
This phrase refers to Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish laws, particularly circumcision, to be saved. This group, often called the "Judaizers," posed a significant challenge to the early church, as seen inActs 15 and the Council of Jerusalem. Their insistence on circumcision as necessary for salvation contradicted the message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, as emphasized inGalatians 2:16. This conflict highlights the tension between the old covenant and the new covenant established through Jesus Christ.

Paul begins with scope: “many.” The problem was not a fringe matter on Crete (seeTitus 1:5-7); it was common and pressing.

• Jesus had forewarned, “and many false prophets will arise and mislead many” (Matthew 24:11).

• John echoed, “many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

• Peter added, “many will follow their sensuality” (2 Peter 2:2).

The widespread nature of error calls every church to vigilance and biblical discernment, not complacency.

Rebellion is willful resistance to God-given authority and truth.

• Scripture equates rebellion with serious sin: “For rebellion is like the sin of divination” (1 Samuel 15:23).

• Paul labels the lawless “rebellious” in his earlier list of sinners (1 Timothy 1:9-10).

• InEphesians 2:2 we once “followed the prince of the power of the air” as “sons of disobedience.”

Those who reject apostolic doctrine place themselves outside the blessing and protection of God’s order.

Their words sound impressive yet carry no gospel substance.

• Paul warned Timothy about “fruitless discussion” (1 Timothy 1:6).

• He urged avoidance of “irreverent, empty chatter” that “will lead to more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16).

• Proverbs reminds, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking” (Proverbs 10:19).

Empty talk majors on speculation, philosophy, or legalistic trivia instead of Christ’s finished work.

The speech is not merely hollow; it misleads.

• “Evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

• Paul grieved over those who used “smooth talk and flattery to deceive the hearts of the naive” (Romans 16:18).

• Satan’s ministers “masquerade as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:15).

Deception always distorts grace, adds to the gospel, or denies the sufficiency of Christ.

Here Paul pinpoints Judaizers—professing believers insisting Gentiles adopt Mosaic rites to be fully accepted.

•Acts 15:1 records men teaching, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

• InGalatians 2:12 the “circumcision group” pressured Peter to withdraw from Gentile fellowship.

•Romans 2:28-29 clarifies that true circumcision is “of the heart, by the Spirit.”

By elevating external ritual over faith in Christ alone, they undermined the gospel’s core message of grace. Titus must silence such voices (Titus 1:11) for the health of the church.

Titus 1:10 exposes a large contingent of people in the church who are (1) numerous, (2) stubbornly disobedient, (3) skilled in worthless chatter, (4) actively deceptive, and (5) often rooted in legalistic traditions. The verse cautions believers to recognize and resist teaching that departs from the plain gospel, while urging leaders to guard the flock with firm, loving truth.

Specially they of the circumcision.--Here St. Paul points out to Tituswhere he must look for the origin of this hostility. These unhappy men evidently did not belong to the stern and rigid Jewish party who hated with a bitter hate all the followers of the Nazarene, but were of the number of those sleepless opponents of St. Paul and his school--the Judaising Christians.