Titus 1:16

They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Profess that they know God ... "This is an allusion to the Jewish pride of religious privilege ... alone sufficient to prove that the heretics here are not the Gnostics of the second century."[34]

"This is all spoken of men claiming to be servants of God."[35] They were therefore apostate Christians, the word "reprobate" here means "being put to the test for the purpose of being approved, but failing to meet the requirements, being disapproved."[36] De Welt also pointed out that the word was used of "the testing of coins for genuineness."[37]

Those who allege that Paul taught any kind of justification by "faith only" should ponder this passage. No wonder men like McGiffert affirm that this is contrary to "Pauline doctrine" (see introduction to Titus). To be sure this is contrary to that which so many in our times allege to be Pauline doctrine, but this is the true Pauline teaching. It is in full consonance with the teachings of the Master who said, "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).

[34] Newport J. D. White, op. cit., p. 190.

[35] David Lipscomb, op. cit., p. 270.

[36] Kenneth S. Wuest, op. cit., p. 189.

[37] Don DeWelt, op. cit., p. 152.