B. Identifying the Rebellious (1:10-16)

In sharp contrast to those who are to be leaders in the church are those who are in rebellion and need refuting. Like the elders, the criteria for identifying these rebels are found in their lifestyle. Their speech—vain, or empty, talking, and their actions—deception and greed, are sinful and require decisive action—a sharp rebuke (1:13). They must be silenced—that is, their mouths must be bridled—since whole households are being ruined. The devastating hyperbole in 1:12 is from Epimenides, a Cretan philosopher of the sixth century b.c. who was venerated by his countrymen and called a prophet (Guthrie, 188). Rebuke is to help people stay sound in the faith. Evidently part of the unsound faith was due to the influence of Jewish legalism as seen in 1:10, 14.

Tit 1:15-16 declares forcefully that what is inside people corrupts people and will be evident in their actions (see Lk 11:39-41 and Mt 15:17-20). These disobedient disbelievers find nothing pure, since they are themselves unclean in their minds and consciences. Thus they are detestable —objects of disgust, the same word family used to describe the image set up by the Antichrist (Mt 24:15); disobedient —not open to persuasion; and unfit for doing anything good —not able to stand or pass the test (kjv “reprobate”).