Why should we warn a divisive person once (Titus 3:10)?

Unity is essential to a church’s health. When someone’s divisive behavior threatens it, leaders must issue a warning. This is why Paul instructs Titus, “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them” (Titus 3:10). The purpose of the warning is to call the person to repent—to end his or her divisive behavior. The warning also serves to protect the church’s unity if the person refuses to change. Ideally, the warning motivates the person to change his behavior, remain in fellowship, and prevent ongoing harm to the church.

Paul’s instructions on addressing divisiveness were particularly urgent for the church at Crete. The congregation faced division from multiple sources, not just one individual. Paul described them as “many rebellious people” (Titus 1:10). This divisive group promoted misleading teachings, giving unhealthy attention to “Jewish myths” and “human commands” (Titus 1:14). They were “disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain” (verse 11). Their teaching corrupted sound doctrine and misled believers. Confronting these errors was essential to preserving the church’s unity.

Paul added that the divisive group in Crete claimed to know God. Yet by their actions they denied Him. Paul called them “detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (Titus 1:16). His description reveals that these people weren’t subject to disfellowship for trivial matters. On the contrary, their distorted beliefs and ungodly behavior posed a real threat to the church’s doctrinal integrity.

The divisions stemmed from an unwise focus on genealogies and the law: “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless” (Titus 3:9). Genealogies and the law are important topics in New Testament teaching—including in Paul’s own letters. However, the disruptive individuals likely misused such topics to support false teachings and legalistic distortions. They were being divisive, and they must be warned.

The Bible teaches that divisive individuals often act out of selfish motives, seeking personal gain at the expense of a church’s well-being (e.g. 3 John 1:9–10). Paul also described their motives and methods in his letter to the church at Rome, warning believers about those who cause division: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people” (Romans 16:17–18).

To be clear, the “divisive person” who must be warned is not simply someone who holds a different view on secondary doctrines of the Christian faith. Rather, it is someone who rejects sound biblical teaching and instead promotes distorted doctrine and encourages misguided application. If two warnings are ignored, then he or she has evinced a contentious nature and a hard heart set on causing trouble.

Our Lord calls the church to unity and concord. Jesus prayed that His followers would be united, just as He is united with the Father (John 17:11). To this end, Paul’s calls the church to maintain unity through warning the divisive person. This encourages repentance and restoration.