Contemplative Bible Reading

Titus 3:10 (New International Version 2011)

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.

Sometimes I am curious about how people twist words without thinking about their true meaning. This seems to happen when people discuss, i.e., disagree about what they read in the Bible. The above verse is one example.

Watch out for the divisive person. Whoa! Who are these divisive persons? How do I recognize them? I have heard people warn me away from such divisive persons, but I was never sure.

Let’s look at another translation of the Bible in English and to a little more context.

Titus 3:9-11 (New Living Translation)

⁹ Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. ¹⁰ If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. ¹¹ For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.

Okay, the divisive person is one who causes divisions among you. Another take is that the divisive person divides the group into smaller groups. Aha! Well, on second thought that makes sense as that seems to be the definition of the term.

Now let’s back up a verse. The writer is discussing spiritual pedigrees. Now I know people who were divisive along spiritual pedigrees. With a moment of thought, I can name hundreds of people like that. Hmm, if I were to avoid all these people…

That takes us to verse 10. Give these dividers a few chances to stop their dividing. Just a few, however, not a thousand chances. These dividers tend to push you into a group here or there and often without you realizing it.