As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just about casting out a troublemaker; it emphasizes a process of repeated correction before "rejecting." This "rejecting" likely means avoiding further engagement or fellowship, not necessarily expulsion, and it’s crucial to ensure ample chances for repentance first.
As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The letter to Titus is concluding, and Paul is giving final instructions on practical matters of church life. He's just addressed the importance of good works flowing from sound doctrine and the need to avoid foolish controversies. Now, he addresses how to handle individuals within the church who persistently cause trouble and division, emphasizing a clear, two-step process before eventual separation.
We often think of 'heretic' as someone with wrong beliefs, but the Bible uses it differently.
In Titus 3:10, the Greek word translated 'heretic' (hairetikos) doesn't primarily mean someone with incorrect doctrine. Instead, it refers to someone who causes division, creates factions, or promotes party spirit within the church.
Think of it this way:
When dealing with divisive people, the Bible prescribes a specific, patient process before final separation.
The instruction in Titus 3:10 isn't a call for immediate, harsh judgment. It outlines a clear, step-by-step approach:
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The Two Warnings
The Final Step: Rejection
Understand the original words
hairetikos · Greek Noun/Adjective
The act of creating factions or causing a rupture in the unity of the church. It often refers to someone who persistently pushes their own agenda or erroneous views to alienate members of the community.
ekstrephō · Greek Adjective (participle)
A general term for deviating from the standard or moral path; in a theological context, it refers to a person whose moral or doctrinal integrity is twisted or perverted.
hamartanō · Greek Adjective (participle)
A state of missing the mark of God's standard, involving actions, thoughts, or states of being that fall short of His holiness and glory.
autokatakritos · Greek Adjective
A person who has passed judgment upon themselves through their own actions or choices, placing themselves outside the bounds of fellowship by rejecting correction.
The instruction to 'reject' a divisive person wasn't about theological purity alone, but about dealing with contentious individuals who disrupted community peace. This was particularly relevant in the early church, where clear guidelines were needed to maintain unity amidst diverse backgrounds and potential disagreements.
c. AD 62-64— this verse
Paul writes to Titus
The Apostle Paul writes the letter to Titus, likely entrusting him with establishing order and sound doctrine on the island of Crete. This letter provides instructions for church leadership and community life.
c. AD 48-51
Council of Jerusalem
The early church grappled with how Jewish customs and law should apply to Gentile believers. This council affirmed that Gentiles did not need to follow Mosaic law for salvation, setting a precedent for distinguishing essential doctrine from cultural practices.
c. AD 50s
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
While ministering in Ephesus, Paul encountered various disputes and challenges within the churches of Asia Minor, including issues related to false teachers and factious behavior. This experience likely shaped his counsel to younger leaders like Titus.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's First Imprisonment in Rome
During his house arrest in Rome, Paul wrote several letters, including Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. This period of reflection and continued ministry through writing likely influenced his final pastoral epistles.
This passage echoes Titus 3:10 by urging believers to 'mark and avoid' those who cause divisions and create obstacles, directly addressing the disruptive behavior Paul wants Titus to handle.
Matthew 18:15-17Jesus' teaching on church discipline provides the foundational framework for the 'first and second admonition' mentioned in Titus, outlining a process of confronting and, if necessary, separating from those who cause division.
1 Corinthians 5:11Paul instructs the Corinthians to 'stop associating with' a sexually immoral person within the church, which parallels the 'rejection' or 'avoidance' called for in Titus, emphasizing the church's need to maintain purity by distancing itself from unrepentant sin.
2 Thessalonians 3:6This verse commands believers to 'keep away from any brother who is living in idleness,' highlighting a similar principle of separation from those who disrupt the community's order, even if for different reasons than doctrinal heresy.
Galatians 5:20The 'works of the flesh' are listed, including 'discord' and 'jealousy,' which are the very issues that lead to the 'heresies' or divisions Paul addresses in Titus, showing the root sinful attitudes that create such problems.
ellicottTitus 3:10: "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;"
(10) A man that is an heretick. —The Greek word translated “heretick” in the New Testament occurs here only. The term “heresies” occurs twice ( 1Corinthians 11:19 ; Galatians 5:20 ). In neither, however, of these passages does the word signify there a fundamental or doctrinal error. This sense belongs to a usage of later times. From the meaning of the word “heresy” in these passages of St. Paul, we are able to…
barnesTitus 3:10: "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;"
A man that is an heretic - The word "heretic" is now commonly applied to one who holds some fundamental error of doctrine, "a person who holds and teaches opinions repugnant to the established faith, or that which is made the standard of orthodoxy." Webster. The Greek word here used αἱρετικὸς hairetikos occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The corresponding noun (αἵρεσις hairesis) occurs in the foll…
The verse isn't just about casting out a troublemaker; it emphasizes a process of repeated correction before "rejecting." This "rejecting" likely means avoiding further engagement or fellowship, not necessarily expulsion, and it’s crucial to ensure ample chances for repentance first.
The letter to Titus is concluding, and Paul is giving final instructions on practical matters of church life. He's just addressed the importance of good works flowing from sound doctrine and the need to avoid foolish controversies. Now, he addresses how to handle individuals within the church who persistently cause trouble and division, emphasizing a clear, two-step process before eventual separation.
The letter to Titus is concluding, and Paul is giving final instructions on practical matters of church life. He's just addressed the importance of good works flowing from sound doctrine and the need to avoid foolish controversies. Now, he addresses how to handle individuals within the church who persistently cause trouble and division, emphasizing a clear, two-step process before eventual separation.
"As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." — The verse isn't just about casting out a troublemaker; it emphasizes a process of repeated correction before "rejecting." This "rejecting" likely means avoiding further engagement or fellowship, no…
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Last reviewed October 2026