Titus 1:10-16, The “Negative” Ministry of the Word

This is not a difficult study, as I believe the usual English translations carry the same sense as the Greek.  But it is an important study when it comes to how the word of God is to be communicated to others.  It’s importance rises in the current Evangelical society where there are times when Churches and church leadership are reluctant to effectively deal with sin. 

nouqesia (nouthesia, noun): admonition, instruction, warning

·       1Cor 10:11: OT things are examples, written for our admonition.  When you read the context (10:1-13) you see that the stories Paul has in mind involve sin and God’s attending chastening.

·       Eph 6:4: bring up children in the nurture (Greek paideia) and admonition of the Lord. 

·       Tit 3:10: reject a heretic after 1st & 2nd admonition.  These “heretics” were creating disunity in the Body.

Vine: literally a "putting in mind".  "Training by word", whether encouragement, reproof or remonstrance.  paideia stresses "training by act".  At home (and certainly in the Church also), teaching involves word and action/example.

nouqetew (noutheteō, verb): to admonish, warn, instruct

·       Ac 20:31: Paul didn't cease night & day for 3 yrs. to warn the Ephesians.

·       Rom 15:14: The Roman believers were able to admonish one another.  Perhaps their ability to do this stemmed from being full of goodness and filled with all knowledge.

·       1Cor 4:14: Paul wrote, not to shame them, but to warn them.  Quite often people feel shame when admonished, but they need to have a different response (submission to Christ) in order to grow in His grace and knowledge.

·       Col 1:28: Paul preached Christ, warning & teaching (didaska) all men

·       Col 3:16: in all wisdom we must teach (didaskw) & admonish each other

·       1Th 5:2: they should know those who admonish them (church leaders had a duty to admonish).  Two illustrations of this: Titus 1:10-16; Gal. 2:11-21).

·       2Th 3:15: he who obeys not Paul's letter to was be admonished as a brother, though not to be treated as an enemy.

Vine: diff than "teach" (didaskō)...admonish has in view things that are wrong & a warning.  Teach is impartation of positive truth.  Also diff. than remonstrance.  Admonish based on instruction; remonstrance is just reasoning with him, objecting to his actions.

An effective “ministry of the Word of God” requires both positive teaching and negative admonition.  It requires both teaching by the word and teaching by example.