Titus 1:11
in Titus 1who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
KJV
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
⋯
This verse in Titus 1
Commentary
14 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Whose mouths must be stopped - The word here rendered stopped - ἐπιστομιζειν epistomizein - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, to check, or curb, as with a bridle; to restrain, or bridle in; and then, to put to silence. It is, of course, implied here that this was to be done in a proper way, and in accordance with the spirit of the gospel. The apostle gives Timothy no civil power to do it, nor does he direct him to call in the aid of the civil arm.
This site's exposition
For many are rebellious
on Titus 1:10-11
The deceivers must be silenced because they undermine entire households, and verse 11 names their motive as dishonorable gain. A household overturned by one false teacher is the danger that elders appointed in every town are set to prevent.
This site's exposition
who must be silenced
Barnes notes that the Greek word for silenced is used nowhere else in the New Testament and means to curb, as with a bridle. These teachers were overturning whole households for money. Matthew Henry holds that faithful ministers must oppose such men in good time.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially those from the circumcision. They must be silenced, who overturn whole households, teaching things they ought not for dishonest gain. Paul said the root of all things, from which the rest also grow. For …
Reborn in Christ, they are still not pure Christians; they wish for the law to be partly venerated, for Christ to be partly venerated, all of this as if to profit from the Jews.
But could I do otherwise than utter my feelings when my heart was pierced with such grief? Shall they do such things, and am I to be commanded to hold my peace? When He commands me by the mouth of the apostle saying that those who teach what they ought not must be rebuked by the bishop, shall I be silent through dread of their displeasure? The Lord deliver me from such folly!… For, since the Lord commands us to speak and proclaim the truth, and in teaching to rebuke what is wrong, and to labour in season and out of season, as I can prove by the words of the Lord and of the apostles, let no man think that I am to be persuaded to be silent concerning these things.
Ver. 10. "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision;" Ver. 11. "Whose mouths must be stopped." Seest thou how he shows that they are such? From their not wishing to be ruled, but to rule. For he has glanced at this. When therefore thou canst not persuade them, do not give them charges, but stop their mouths, for the benefit others. But of what advantage will this be, if they will not obey, or are unruly? Why then should he stop their mouths? In order that others may be benefited by it. "Who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake." For if he has undertaken the office of a Teacher, and is not able to combat these enemies, and to stop their mouths who are so shameless, he will become in each case the cause of their destination who perish. And if some one has thus advised, "Seek not to be a judge, unless thou canst take away iniquity" (Ecclus. vii. 6); much more may we say here, "Seek not to be a Teacher, if thou art unequal to the dignity of the office; but though dragged to it, decline it." Dost thou see that the love of power, the love of for filthy lucre, is a cause of these evils? "Teaching things which they ought not," he says, "for filthy lucre's sake."
For there are many who are not subject, vain talkers, and deceivers of minds: especially those who are of the circumcision, who must be indicated as silent: who overturn whole houses, teaching what they ought not, for the sake of base gain.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, who subvert whole houses, he shows their zeal: first, from the harm they inflict; second, from the false doctrine they teach; third, from the gain they desire. The harm they cause is that they subvert whole houses. For Catholic doctrine is …
They must be rebuked sharply, so that their "mouths" are stopped. But what is the benefit, when they are of those who do not submit to the truth? For them there is none, but it is beneficial for those whom they might corrupt if the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
In case of obstinacy indeed, breaking the peace of the church, and corrupting other churches, censures are to have place, the last means for recovering the faulty and preventing the hurt of many. Observe, Faithful ministers must oppose seducers in good time, that, their folly being made manifest, they may proceed no further.
Whose mouths must be stopped,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
mouths . . . stopped--literally, "muzzled," "bridled" as an unruly beast (compare Ps 32:9). who--Greek, "(seeing that they are) such men as"; or "inasmuch as they" [ELLICOTT]. subvert . . . houses--"overthrowing" their "faith" (2Ti 2:18). "They are the devil's levers by which he subverts the houses of God" [THEOPHYLACT]. for filthy lucre-- (1Ti 3:3, 8;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
Whose mouths must be stopped - Unmask them at once; exhibit them to the people; make manifest their ignorance and hypocrisy; and let them be confounded before the people whom they are endeavoring to seduce. Subvert whole houses - Turn whole Christian families from the faith, attributing to the broad way what belongs only to the strait gate; ministering to disorderly passions, and promising salvation to their proselytes, though not saved from their sins.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὓς | hous | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δεῖ | dei | it is necessary | G1163 → | 101 times |
| ἐπιστομίζειν· | epistomizein | to silence; | G1993 → | |
| οἵτινες | oitines | who | G3748 → | |
| ὅλους | holous | whole | G3650 → | |
| οἴκους | oikous | households | G3624 → | |
| ἀνατρέπουσιν | anatrepousin | overthrow | G396 → | |
| διδάσκοντες | didaskontes | teaching | G1321 → | |
| ἃ | ha | things that [they] | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| δεῖ | dei | ought | G1163 → | 101 times |
| αἰσχροῦ | aischrou | of shameful | G150 → | |
| κέρδους | kerdous | gain | G2771 → | |
| χάριν. | charin | because. | G5484 → |
οὓςwhom
housG3739 →1405 times
δεῖit is necessary
deiG1163 →101 times
ἐπιστομίζειν·to silence;
epistomizeinG1993 →
οἵτινεςwho
oitinesG3748 →
ὅλουςwhole
holousG3650 →
οἴκουςhouseholds
oikousG3624 →
ἀνατρέπουσινoverthrow
anatrepousinG396 →
διδάσκοντεςteaching
didaskontesG1321 →
ἃthings that [they]
haG3739 →1405 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
δεῖought
deiG1163 →101 times
αἰσχροῦof shameful
aischrouG150 →
κέρδουςgain
kerdousG2771 →
χάριν.because.
charinG5484 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Timothy 6:5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 3:5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Peter 2:3
In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
- 2 Timothy 3:5
Through
Titus 3:10Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,
it leads to
- Romans 16:17
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
- 2 John 1:10
If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
- Matthew 18:15–17
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
- Romans 16:17
Through
Titus 1:9He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Through
Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
it leads to
- Galatians 3:10
All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Galatians 3:22–23
But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
- Galatians 3:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
About Titus
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON THE LETTER TO TITUS; Augustine of Hippo, LETTERS 34.4, 35.3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Titus; John Chrysostom, Homily on Titus 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON TITUS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Titus and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Titus.