Gainsayers is an interesting word. They were not heathen, but profess ing believers who had tragic success in their deceptive penetration. Pri marily of a Jewish background, they pandered in their teachings to the corrupt inclinations of the people. They professed to have a deeper and higher revelation of God. They ac companied their doctrine with pre scriptions of certain ritual observ ances to which they attached great moral and social value. They were undermining of the work of the Lord. Unfortunately, these gainsay ers may have been recognized mem bers of Christian churches on the is land of Crete. It’s difficult to con ceive that such people would delib erately practice such deception. They were primarily of the circumcision. They weren’t the type of Judaizers whom Paul denounced in the book of Galatians. They had definite affini ties to the teachings about which Timothy is warned to resist. More probably they sought to secure a following within the churches while not being a true part of the church. These people were described as men. There were many of these in dividuals. They were characterized as men who refused to submit to control. What a picture this is of our own land of America, young people, as well as adults, refusing to live under the laws of the nation. Next, we’re told that they were vain talkers. They were adept at flu ent and appealing speech. Their talk led to no constructive good as they sought to deceive men’s minds. Their whole objective was to undermine the Christian witness. Although they may have professed to be con verts to Christianity, their teachings stem largely from Judaism. Knowing all of this, there is a ne cessity on the part of the leaders to silence these people. The word for the stopping of their mouths sug gests putting something into the mouth, such as a bridle or a muzzle. 33
their travels, couldn’t resort to the homes of the heathen or the public inns without being exposed to insult and danger. Fellow - believers in Christ were to offer hospitality on their way (Hebrews 13:2). The bishop is to be devoted to that which is good or beneficial. He is to be so ber-minded, not light and frivolous. He’s to be self-controlled, balanced in his opinions and actions. Next, he is to be one who is holy, which means pure and unpolluted, free from the stain of sin. A bishop is to be self-controlled. A sober- minded man is moderate in the en joyment of that which is legitimate and Biblically-lawful. Then, beginning with verse 9, we have the doctrinal qualification of the elder or the pastor. The bishop must be true to the faith of the church. He must continue to cling to the faithful Word of God. He must not be tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine. C hapter S ix I n T itus , the Holy Spirit uses the Apostle Paul to convey to the Church of Jesus Christ the import tant requirements for leaders of the congregation. These instructions are given through verse nine. In the sec tion which follows, verses 10-16, spe cific warnings are issued. It’s ob vious from this passage that there were false teachers who tried to lead astray people on the island of Crete in the things of the faith. One quali fication of a bishop would be that he is able to convict gainsayers. These enemies of the Gospel are described more particularly as chief opponents of the ministry. We have then the picture of the false teachers (verses 10-13). Notice, “For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceiv ers.” Paul says that their mouths must be stopped. Much of what these heretics were doing resulted in the energy of the flesh for money’s sake.
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