Correcting False Teachers

Paul says many rebellious, empty, and deceptive teachers exist, especially among the circumcision, and they must be silenced because for shameful gain they are upsetting whole households by teaching what they should not.

F¹⁰or many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.

Paul cites one of their own prophets describing Cretans harshly and says the testimony is true enough to justify stern rebuke, so that they may become sound in faith and stop paying attention to Jewish myths and human commands that turn from the truth.

¹²As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith ¹⁴and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.

Paul says all things are pure to the pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure because both mind and conscience are corrupted. Such people profess to know God, yet deny Him by their deeds and prove unfit for any good work.

¹⁵To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled. ¹⁶They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.