Titus 1:10 10For there are many who are rebellious, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party
Paul warns Titus now of the opponents who speak against the truth of the gospel. He warns Titus to look out for people with these three characteristics. These problem people could have any or all three of these issues. First, they are rebellious (anypotaktoi) because they reject the truth of the gospel. This word has the sense of being independent and not listening to those in authority. In this case, the gospel is the true authority. Those who preach and teach it accurately align themselves with its truth and consequently stand on its authority. To misinterpret the gospel in any way, particularly for selfish gain, or to dilute it by not calling people to full commitment is actually an act of rebellion again God.
Second, these people are empty talkers or “babblers” (matailogoi) with nothing of substance to say. They “talk, talk, talk” but this talk goes nowhere. Their arguments are circular and have no foundation in the revelation of God. They invent ideas and promote them as the truth. Some people can talk a long time and say nothing. They may sound impressive, but if one examines closely what they say, their words are full of fluffy ideology and futile meaning.
Third, they make empty promises as deceivers (phrenapatai) and mislead believers into false doctrine. There is some intentionality behind this deceit. It may be that these false teachers are themselves deceived by other false teachers or Satan (2 Timothy 3:13). Being deceived is a universal human problem that can only be overcome by the intervention of God’s grace (Titus 3:3).
One of the deceptive teachings involved circumcision. In other ministry locations, Paul had to deal with so-called Judaizers who taught that one needed to be circumcised in order to be a Christian (Galatians 5:1-12; 6:15). This teaching had infiltrated many churches because the majority of Paul’s letters touch upon this issue in one way or another. The believers on the island of Crete were not exempt from this wrong interpretation of the gospel. Believers today are not exempt from deceptive teaching. We must be vigilant in knowing the truth of the gospel. So much of this rests on the quality of our leaders.
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