Titus 1:9-10

Holding Fast The Truth

Elders will cling to the truth, even in the face of strong opposition (Titus 1:9). They are ministers of the word, as the words "able to teach" would indicate (1 Timothy 3:2). Of course, Paul is speaking of wholesome, reliable words (1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:1-2). They must be skilled at teaching those in error the ways of righteousness. To do this, an elder would have to know the word of God. He must be able to use it to convince the false teacher of his errors. An answer must especially be given to those who speak against the truth.

Paul describes the specific false teachers of whom he is speaking in Titus 1:10. They were rebellious. They spoke empty words intended to deceive (2 Peter 2:18). This was particularly true of those who taught the necessity of circumcision for those in Christ. Such teachers had often created problems for Paul. Titus would have been well aware of the problem (Galatians 2:1-5; Galatians 2:11-16). If one could have been justified by the law of Moses, there would have been no need for the death of Christ. However, none could live perfectly. The law had no sacrifice that could remove sin, so Christ had to die for us (Hebrews 10:1-10). Our freedom, then, is in Christ, not Moses' law (Galatians 5:1-6).