Titus 3:10

KJV

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

KJV (with Strong's)

A man {G444} that is an heretick {G141} after {G3326} the first {G3391} and {G2532} second {G1208} admonition {G3559} reject {G3868};

Complete Jewish Bible

Warn a divisive person once, then a second time; and after that, have nothing more to do with him.

Berean Standard Bible

Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,

American Standard Version

A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Titus 3:10 provides clear apostolic instruction regarding the handling of individuals who persistently cause division within the Christian community. Paul directs Titus to issue a "first and second admonition" to such a person, and if they remain unrepentant and continue their divisive behavior, they are to be rejected from fellowship. This directive underscores the church's responsibility to maintain doctrinal purity and communal harmony, prioritizing the spiritual health and unity of the body of Christ over the disruptive influence of an unyielding individual.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Titus 3:10 stands as a crucial concluding instruction in Paul's letter to Titus, following a significant shift in focus from theological doctrine to practical Christian living. The preceding verses, [Titus 3:1-2](/titus/3-1-2 "Titus 3:1-2 - Christian Conduct Towards Authorities"), call for believers to live peaceably, submitting to governing authorities and speaking evil of no one. This is immediately contrasted with the transformative power of God's grace, described in [Titus 3:3-7](/titus/3-3-7 "Titus 3:3-7 - The Transformative Power of God's Grace"), which reminds believers of their former sinful state and God's merciful salvation through the washing of regeneration. [Titus 3:8](/titus/3-8 "Titus 3:8 - Good Works and Faithfulness") then emphasizes the importance of good works as a natural outflow of genuine faith. Critically, [Titus 3:9](/titus/3-9 "Titus 3:9 - Avoiding Foolish Disputes") serves as the immediate precursor, warning against "foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain." Thus, Titus 3:10 directly addresses the most severe form of the divisiveness warned against in verse 9, moving from a general caution against unprofitable disputes to a specific procedure for dealing with those who actively create factions.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul wrote this epistle to Titus, his apostolic delegate, who was ministering on the island of Crete. Crete was known for its difficult and often immoral populace, as famously quoted by Paul himself in [Titus 1:12](/titus/1-12 "Titus 1:12 - Cretans are Always Liars"). The nascent churches on Crete faced significant challenges, including internal strife, false teachers, and the need for established leadership. Paul had left Titus there to "set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city" ([Titus 1:5](/titus/1-5 "Titus 1:5 - Appointing Elders in Every City")). In this environment, maintaining doctrinal purity and communal unity was paramount. Divisive individuals, whether motivated by pride, false doctrine, or personal ambition, posed a direct threat to the fragile stability and witness of these young congregations. Paul's instructions provided Titus with the necessary authority and method to address such threats decisively, ensuring the health and integrity of the church in a challenging cultural landscape.
* **Key Themes:** Titus 3:10 contributes significantly to several key themes within the epistle and broader Pauline theology. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Church Discipline**, providing a practical framework for addressing persistent sin and division within the community, a principle echoed in [Matthew 18:15-17](/matthew/18-15-17 "Matthew 18:15-17 - Steps for Church Discipline") and [1 Corinthians 5:1-13](/1_corinthians/5 "1 Corinthians 5 - Dealing with Immorality"). Secondly, the verse highlights the critical importance of **Church Unity and Purity**, emphasizing that the integrity of the body of Christ must be protected from internal strife and false teaching. Paul consistently champions unity throughout his letters, as seen in his pleas in [Ephesians 4:1-3](/ephesians/4-1-3 "Ephesians 4:1-3 - Unity of the Spirit") and [Philippians 2:1-4](/philippians/2-1-4 "Philippians 2:1-4 - Humility and Unity"). Thirdly, it demonstrates the balance between **Patience and Firmness** in leadership, requiring multiple warnings before decisive action. This reflects the divine patience of God towards humanity, while also acknowledging the necessity of firm action when patience is exhausted and the community is at risk.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **heretick (Greek, _hairetikós'_):** From G141, this term describes a "schismatic." While modern English often associates "heretic" with doctrinal error, in this context, the primary emphasis of _hairetikós_ is on the *divisive* nature of the person's actions. It signifies one who chooses a faction or creates divisions within the community, often stemming from self-willed opinions or doctrines that lead to strife rather than unity. The individual is not merely mistaken but actively promotes partisan separation.
* **admonition (Greek, _nouthesía'_):** From G3559, this word signifies "calling attention to," implying a "mild rebuke or warning." It denotes a gentle but firm verbal instruction or counsel, aimed at correcting behavior and restoring the individual to proper conduct and fellowship. It is a form of pastoral care designed to bring about repentance before more severe measures are necessary.
* **reject (Greek, _paraitéomai'_):** From G3868, meaning "to beg off, i.e. deprecate, decline, shun." In this context, it means to refuse, avoid, or decline fellowship with such a person. It indicates a deliberate separation from the church community, effectively excommunicating the individual to prevent further harm to the body of Christ and to impress upon the individual the seriousness of their unrepentant divisiveness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"A man that is an heretick":** This identifies the subject of the instruction: an individual who is characterized by divisive behavior, one who causes factions or promotes partisan strife within the Christian community, often due to self-chosen opinions or doctrines that disrupt unity.
* **"after the first and second admonition":** This specifies the process and the required patience before severe action. It mandates that the divisive person must be given at least two opportunities to repent and correct their behavior through gentle but firm warnings or counsel from church leadership. This emphasizes due process and a desire for restoration.
* **"reject;":** This is the imperative command, indicating the necessary action if the individual remains unrepentant after the two warnings. To "reject" means to cease fellowship with, to avoid, or to remove from the community, signifying excommunication. This is a measure taken to protect the church from further harm and to underscore the gravity of unrepentant divisiveness.

#### Literary Devices
Paul's instruction in Titus 3:10 employs the **Imperative Mood**, particularly in the command "reject," which conveys a direct, authoritative directive to Titus. This highlights the urgency and necessity of decisive action in maintaining church order. The phrase "first and second admonition" functions as a **Numerical Parallelism**, emphasizing a clear, structured process, not a rash decision. This also subtly employs **Synecdoche**, where "first and second" represents a complete and sufficient process of warning, implying that all reasonable attempts at reconciliation and correction have been exhausted. The term "heretick" itself, while a direct translation, carries a strong **Connotative Meaning** beyond mere doctrinal error, pointing to the active, destructive nature of schism and factionalism within the community.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Titus 3:10 provides a crucial biblical basis for church discipline, emphasizing that the health and unity of the Christian community are paramount. It demonstrates a pastoral balance between patience and firmness: patience in providing multiple opportunities for repentance through "admonition," and firmness in the command to "reject" if the divisive behavior persists. This process is rooted in the understanding that unrepentant sin, particularly that which causes schism, can corrupt the entire body, much like a leaven ([1 Corinthians 5:6](/1_corinthians/5-6 "Leaven of Malice")). The goal is not punitive exclusion for its own sake, but the preservation of the church's peace, purity, and witness, and ideally, the ultimate repentance and restoration of the individual.

* [Matthew 18:15-17](/matthew/18-15-17 "Steps of Church Discipline"): Jesus' teaching on confronting a sinning brother, outlining a similar multi-step process of private rebuke, involving witnesses, and finally, bringing the matter before the church, culminating in treating the unrepentant as a "heathen man and a publican."
* [Romans 16:17](/romans/16-17 "Warning Against Divisions"): Paul warns believers to "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." This echoes the "reject" command in Titus, emphasizing separation from divisive individuals.
* [2 Thessalonians 3:6](/2_thessalonians/3-6 "Withdrawal from Disorderly Conduct"): Paul instructs believers to "withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us," reinforcing the principle of separating from those who refuse to conform to godly order and teaching.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Titus 3:10 offers profound practical wisdom for both church leaders and individual believers in navigating the complexities of communal life. It calls for a discerning and courageous approach to maintaining the integrity of the Christian fellowship. For leaders, it underscores the weighty responsibility of protecting the flock from internal threats, requiring a balance of grace and truth. The "first and second admonition" highlights the importance of patient, loving confrontation, providing ample opportunity for repentance and restoration, reflecting God's own patience with His people. However, it also mandates decisive action when an individual's persistent divisiveness threatens to unravel the unity and spiritual health of the community. For all believers, this verse serves as a sober reminder of the sanctity of church unity and the destructive nature of schism. It challenges us to examine our own attitudes and actions, ensuring that we are contributors to peace and edification, rather than sources of strife. Ultimately, the application of this verse is an act of love for the church, safeguarding its mission and witness in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "first and second admonition" principle challenge our natural inclination to either avoid conflict or act impulsively in situations of division?**
* **What is the primary goal of "rejecting" a divisive person, and how does this action reflect both justice and a deeper love for the wider church body?**
* **In what ways can we, as individual members, contribute to the unity and health of our local church, actively preventing the conditions that lead to the need for such admonitions?**

### FAQ
**What is the difference between a "heretic" in Titus 3:10 and someone who simply holds a different theological opinion?**

Answer: In Titus 3:10, the Greek word for "heretick" (_hairetikós_) primarily refers to someone who is a "schismatic" or one who causes factions and divisions within the church, rather than exclusively someone holding a specific doctrinal error. While doctrinal error can certainly be a root cause of division, the emphasis here is on the *active creation of strife and partisan groups* within the community. It's about behavior that disrupts unity, often stemming from self-willed opinions or a contentious spirit, even if those opinions aren't necessarily considered fundamental heresies in a creedal sense. Someone holding a different theological opinion, if they express it respectfully and do not actively promote division or undermine the church's peace and mission, would not fall under this category. The concern in Titus is for the practical impact on the church's harmony and stability, as seen in the warning against "foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions" in [Titus 3:9](/titus/3-9 "Titus 3:9 - Avoiding Foolish Disputes"). The "heretick" is one who persists in such divisive behavior despite warnings.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Titus 3:10 directly addresses the practical administration of church discipline, its underlying principles find their ultimate fulfillment and motivation in Christ. Jesus Himself is the embodiment of unity and truth, praying for the unity of His followers in [John 17:20-23](/john/17-20-23 "John 17:20-23 - Jesus' Prayer for Unity"). His ministry consistently exposed hypocrisy and challenged those who caused division through their self-righteousness or false teachings ([Matthew 23:1-39](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees")). The church, as the body of Christ, is called to reflect His character, which includes both boundless grace and uncompromising truth. The "admonition" process mirrors Christ's patient pursuit of the lost and His desire for repentance, yet the command to "reject" an unrepentant, divisive individual echoes His cleansing of the temple ([Matthew 21:12-13](/matthew/21-12-13 "Matthew 21:12-13 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple")) and His warnings against those who would lead His flock astray ([Matthew 7:15-20](/matthew/7-15-20 "Matthew 7:15-20 - False Prophets")). Ultimately, the preservation of the church's unity and purity, as mandated in Titus 3:10, is for the glory of Christ, ensuring that His bride remains spotless and effective in bearing witness to His redemptive work in the world ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Loves the Church")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 16:17

¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2 John 1:10

¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:

Matthew 18:15

¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Matthew 18:17

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

2 Thessalonians 3:14

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

2 Timothy 3:5

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Thessalonians 3:6

¶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.