Titus 3:11 Commentary and Bible Study

‘Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth.’ The terms are very interesting here. The party former is subverted, which is a word which means something like this: he has turned completely round. In what way? Well when he was converted he was teachable; now he isn’t. When he was converted the marks of grace were evident in him. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He loved the fellowship. Now he is ruining it and doesn't seem to care. In so many ways he is subverted. He may be a Christian, he won’t lose his salvation, but right now he is a menace. ‘Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth.’ It is a problem of sin. ‘Being condemned of himself.’ Whatever does the apostle mean? He is not exactly admitting he is wrong, so how is he condemned of himself? There are all kinds of suggestions as to what this might mean. But the rather obvious one can be illustrated in this way. If you see a body of men: they are soldiers and they are marching, and they are all in step. But there is one who is out of step. That is absolutely conspicuous. It's obvious. You don't have to convene a court and call witnesses to decide whether he's right or wrong. Why, just look at him. It's obvious. He is displaying the evidence that he is wrong for all to see. So he is, as it were, self-condemned. He is evidently out of step and obviously so. It is evident that he is a party former, because it is being done publicly and openly, and he is contentious and unteachable and impossible.So these two verses, 10 and 11, are about dealing with the things that can happen in a church, because fellowship is all-important. The church must guard its fellowship and its family spirit, whether large or small.