But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies …
Summary: Genealogies are a useful tool, but like other tools they can be misused. Paul instructs Titus to teach people to avoid them as a means of gaining power over other people.
Paul’s addition of “genealogies” to his list of things to avoid is interesting. It touches on something very near and dear to the Jewish heart: lineage.
From the beginning of time, genealogies have been a part of Jewish tradition. More than that, they are essential for determining your role in the Jewish community and where you belong in the promised land.
When the exiles are finally allowed to return to the ruins of Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, they were careful to verify each person’s lineage. Without proper records showing their family line, priests were not allowed to serve in the temple.
“And from among the priests … These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.” (Ezra 2: 61-62)
When Luke begins his report on the life of Jesus (Luke 3: 21-38), he starts by tracing the genealogy of Jesus from Joseph all of the way back to Adam.
It is not much of a stretch to imagine that early Jewish Christians would still try and pull rank on each other by claiming that their bloodline is better than someone else’s. Gentile Christians, especially, would come in for a hard time in this situation.
Yet Jesus did not allow for this type of behavior in his teaching. In his instructions to his disciples, he says:
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23: 8-12)
Anyone who bases their status on their genealogy is depending on calling someone “father.” As Jesus points out, we all have the same Father now.
Application: Genealogies can be interesting, but they can also be a way of trying to impress others. Arguing about who has the best ancestors is not the way to impress our Father.
Food for Thought: What does it mean that we all have one Father?
When it comes to the idea of God, there are so many different conceptions out there in the world. My grandfather used to tell me that you should always ask this question of anyone who presents to you their view on God and religion “What must I do to go to Heaven?” If it is anything other than the ABC’s of salvation (acknowledge, believe, confess), then recognize that you do not share the same view as this person. But for those who believe their salvation depends on the ABC’s, and not works, we are all under one Father. People tend to gravitate to certain aspects/passages of the Bible that have personal significance in their life. There is nothing wrong with that, but don’t allow it to separate you from the Father or your brother/sister. We are all of equal importance to the Father, and under His guidance.
1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.
1 Corinthians 12:6 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.
Malachi 2:10 Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
Chris,
Thank you for sharing your memories of your dad, and the great verses today!
Great comments and verses from Chris H. on God being “Our Father” to believers.
It seems the scriptures might have a problem with the religious systems which have power structures within them which exalt or position certain individuals in positions of extreme authority, giving power to excommunicate or punish any who disagree with the requirements for salvation or who is permitted to be a Christian or part of a fellowship or a given Church.
For example should you be unwilling to call a priest ‘Father’ , or bow and kiss the pontiff or pope’s ring it is unlikely you will be acceptable in Catholic circles.
The Bishops and ruling General Assembly in the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) holds great power over all Mormons within that particular branch of the followers of Joseph Smith as well. You will probably not be acceptable to them if you find certain practices of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, or present day hierarchy to be offensive and unscriptural.
I know, it is disunity to exclude people who hold beliefs contrary to the gospel, at at least in their catechism or teaching promote elements or requirements which certainly appear to be a least a partial works salvation.
I have no problem submitting or honoring pastors or teachers who have been selected to exercise their God given roles, discipline and leadership.
I do have a problem with churches or cults, which promote a gospel other than that declared in scripture. I guess I am just a radical protester who asserts that faith in Christ and His finished work and reception of the gospel by faith 🙏 is the only way of salvation (John 14:6, Galatians 1: 6-10).
Protestant (Anglo-Saxon- God accepts people of all heritages equally, Acts 10:34, all economic or class status, James 2:5-13, all freedom levels, and individuals of both sexes, Galatians 3:26-29.
It seems I am out of touch with those who hold that gender is non-binary, and their may be up to 114 different combinations of both gender specific and non-gender specific formulations within home sapient classification of the animal kingdom.
I suppose if one rejects the Biblical use of pronouns, specific, special creation of men and women in God’s own image and instead accepts full blown evolutionary biology, and humanistic psychological thought that gender is whatever one wishes,feels, or desires to be or not be regardless of traditional birth identity then anything is possible.
Somehow men do not seem to experience menstruation, pregnancy or giving birth as is possible with women.
Women do not seem to be able to self-fertilize without the use of male sperm with the exception of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
I have not heard of any claims of immaculate conception as a means of having offspring amongst persons of the female persuasion which are taken 🤔 seriously by many for centuries of time. The scriptures and God view human beings as either male or female- in the use of pronouns,, names and design- period.
I am soon politically incorrect!
Have a great day and may the Lord’s presence and blessing be upon all who glorify, worship, love, and serve the only true “Father” of all in the sense of His being our creator, as well as ‘Father’ to all who know and are in relationships with Him and fellow believers in truth. We are His born again sons and daughters 💙 ❤ if we know and have received Christ as our Savior.
Jeff,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! You have covered quite a bit of ground today! 🙂
What does it mean that we all have one Father?
All believers have been born again through Jesus Christ. We are joint heirs with Christ, brothers and sisters serving our Father God.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 23:9
Thank you, Ron.
I especially appreciate the reference to the Lord’s Prayer. It is sometimes called the “Our Father.” Very appropriate!