Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

HAIRETIKOS* - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
Heretical, factious, divisive

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Please note that all Biblical quotes are presented from the Literal Translation.


This week αἱρετικὸς (Strong's #141) is the subject of our study. It is an adjective meaning "heretic," or "one that causes division over personal choice or beliefs." It comes from the verb αἱρετὶζω (Strong's #140), "to choose." Being an adjective, αἱρετικὸς describes a person who adheres to heresy or teaching that comes from personal choice that is not based upon the Word of God.

For the past two weeks, we have studied αἵρεσις (Strong's #139), the noun form,which means "heresy," or a "religious sect." When applied to the spiritual things of the Word of God and the Church, it refers to a position that a person takes out of his personal belief or choice based on human logic or reason, as well as to the group or sect that is in agreement with this personal belief. A person holding a position based on personal belief is a heretic - αἱρετικὸς. This Greek word is found only once in the New Testament — Titus 3:10.

Timothy and Titus were two young pastors, both of whom struggled with various kinds of heretical teachings that were plaguing the Church. In response to the need, Paul wrote instructions on how to deal with heretics in the Body of Christ (Titus 3:8-11).

8)
Faithful is the Word, and concerning these things I counsel that you confidently affirm,F1 in order that the ones who have believed in God might set their minds to give attention to good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

In this chapter of Titus, Paul is concluding his letter with some encouraging words, but in verse 8, Paul gives counsel to Titus. He tells him that the Word is faithful and that he, Titus, should confidently confirm the Word so that those who have believed in God might set their frame of mind to pay attention to good works. In addition, Paul gives two commands concerning things that would interfere with the establishment of God's Word:

9)
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings pertaining to law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

The first command has to do with things to "avoid." The Greek word translated "avoid" is περιὶστημῖ(Strong's #4026). It literally means, "to turn one's back to someone." Paul instructs Titus not to give in to the temptation to address those who have foolish questions, and debates about genealogies, and strife developed out of self-ambition, and fightings over things pertaining to law. The reason given is that such things "are unprofitable and useless."

10)
Reject a heretical (αἱρετικὸς) man after one and a second warning,

The second command Paul gives is to "reject a heretical man..." The Greek word translated "reject," παραιτὲομαι (Strong's # 3868), means "to refuse or to shun." This word contains the meaning of asking someone to leave one's presence, hence to reject. So, Paul's first command (verse 9) is to "avoid" ideologies that are unprofitable and useless, and his second command (verse 10) is to "reject" a heretical man. In applying the meaning of "heretical" to this context, Paul is saying that if a person has established himself in heresy and his heretical position is causing division in the Church, the heretic as well as the heresy is to be rejected.

This rejection is to be done under two conditions. First, Paul says to warn the heretic two times (verse 10). The Greek word used here for warning is νουθεσὶα (Strong's #3559), which means, "to place in the mind." Paul's use of this word emphasizes that Titus is to "instruct," or place the truth of God's Word, into the mind of the one holding to heresy in order that the person might have a chance to respond to truth and turn from his heresy. This process is necessary to establish the truth expressed in the second condition of verse 11.

11)
having known that such a person has been perverted and is sinning, while being self-condemned.

Paul is explaining that a heretic has become perverted over a period of time. This is expressed by the perfect tense of ἐκστρὲφω (Strong's #1612), which means "to turn from, to twist, to corrupt, to pervert." The heretic "has been perverted" over a period of time and is now set in his ways. The expression "having known" is another perfect tense verb telling us that the heretic's perversion over a period of time is a known fact.

Paul has given here a process by which one can establish whether or not a person is a heretic. If instruction is given out of the faithful Word of God, and if one holding to heresy rejects that instruction, that person is then revealed as "having been perverted" and as being unable to receive the truth. Paul's concluding command is to "reject a heretical man."

This instruction comes to us in a day when people use the Christian commandment to love as an excuse to tolerate false teaching. While we naturally have disagreements, since we are all learning from the same position of fallen, earthly creatures, the strong measures commanded by Paul address the single most serious issue in the Body of Christ — that of false teachings which pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is Paul's command that we put a person to the test of Scripture in order to establish whether or not he is a heretic, because it is possible for a person of good heart to hold to heresy out of ignorance; but he will, when confronted with sound, Biblical teaching, respond by turning away from false teaching. Therefore, heretic is an adjective applied only to a person who is established in heresy, one who is unable to be instructed by sound teaching, one who cannot be turned from heresy because he has been established in that heresy over a period of time. And, clearly, the message of Scripture is that the Church must address and reject heretics and their heresies so that the Body of Christ can function both in Spirit and in Truth.

* HAIRETIKOS is the English font spelling of the Greek word αἱρετικὸς.

Technical Notes:

F1: The present middle infinitive διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, "to confidently affirm," with the subject in the accusative σε, "you," is translated νὰ͂διαβεβαιοῖς, "that you confidently affirm."

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Meet the Author

Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.

He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.