A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Parallel translations
- WEB Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning,
- BSB Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,
- NKJV Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
- NASB Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning,
- NLT If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A divisive person should be warned once and twice, then avoided. It matters because those who persist in stirring division forfeit fellowship for the sake of the church's unity.
Overview
Paul gives a measured process for handling a 'factious' person: two warnings, then separation. This guards the church against ongoing division while still offering opportunity for repentance. Such discipline is an act of love toward both the offender and the congregation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Rom 16:17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
- 2 Jn 1:10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
- Matt 18:15–17Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
- 2 Th 3:6Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
- 2 Th 3:14And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
- 2 Tim 3:5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
- Gal 5:20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
- 1 Cor 11:19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
- Gal 5:12I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
- 2 Cor 13:2I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
- 1 Cor 5:4–13In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- 2 Pet 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
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Christ at the center
We await 'the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us' and purify a people of his own.
How Titus 3:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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