So lets look at those referred to:
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
- insubordinate to whom? clearly the passage talks of those IN the Church, who rail against overseers and church leadership.-rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith. Once again, another proof text that these are found IN the Church. Not outsiders.
So if they are IN the church. And these have BECOME DEFILED, then these were at some point made pure (when they originally accepted Christ) before they fell into their wayward disobedience, which defiled them.
I'm off for Christmas dinner, will respond upon return. Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas with family and/or friends.
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
- insubordinate to whom? clearly the passage talks of those IN the Church, who rail against overseers and church leadership.-rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith. Once again, another proof text that these are found IN the Church. Not outsiders.
So if they are IN the church. And these have BECOME DEFILED, then these were at some point made pure (when they originally accepted Christ) before they fell into their wayward disobedience, which defiled them.
I'm off for Christmas dinner, will respond upon return. Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas with family and/or friends.
Nothing in the text implies that these corrupt unbelievers were previously pure believers. Such false teachers need to be rebuked of their errors with the goal for them to acknowledge the truth; that they may receive the sound doctrine of the Christian faith.
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