Self-Condemned

The word hairetikos, heretic, is obviously related to our discussion of the word hairesis, or heresy. It is only used once in the New Testament, in Titus 3:10. In that place, we are told that a man who is a heretic should be rejected after two admonitions or warnings. The natural question is whether the word heretic here refers to a false teacher or a sectarian. It would appear from the context that it has to be a false teacher, even though he is clearly divisive in his attitude as well (v. 9). This is because a sectarian would have already left — you wouldn’t have to reject him because he is already down the road. But the person who is still within the congregation, trying to get a following, must be rejected. A heretic subverts because he is subverted (v. 11), and his theological errors are expressly called sin. He obviously knows better because Paul adds that he is self-condemned. We like to pretend that all our opinions, whatever they might be, are arrived at honestly. But the apostle tells us quite different here.