Since Titus 3 says to avoid genealogies, why is the Bible chock-full of them?

Answer 1

Oops! Not a contradiction! GASP! Christians will have to weasel out of this one!

Answer 2

Where referring to genealogies in this verse, you need to look at the other items which we are to avoid.

"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain."

Notice it says foolish questions, contentions etc, about the law. What we are to avoid is "useless" confrontations about the law, presented by those who claim to have found contradictions in the Bible. Some of these arguments, according to Titus, are unprofitable and vain, meaning that at some point you are wasting your time arguing about them.

For example, does the argument about dinosaurs really affect our salvation?? No. Does arguing about the "differences" in Jesus genealogy in 2 of the gospels affect our salvation?? No

Take a look at the next verse.... "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;"

After the first or second time in trying to teach someone who is not willing to learn, we should concentrate instead on "works that are good" and not waste our time on someone who is not willing to listen or change. Verse 14 states that as well "And let our's also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. "

There will be some who will not be willing to listen or change and at some point, we should just move on to others who have a more open mind and heart.

That is what it is teaching in Titus.

Answer 3

I want all the genealogies given in the bible and they are so very important.
Matt.1:1-17; Luke 3:1-38;
Ruth 4:18-22; 1Chr.3:9-17; 6:1-15; Gen.5:1-32; 11:1-32;

I want as much of my family tree as possible and it is not wrong.

The bible genealogies were full [ by holy prophets ], at Jesus and no need to be continued [ into future ], by apostles.

Answer 4

The genealogies in the Bible were vital to identify the promised Messiah, when he eventually came. They are also interesting because they show how every detail of every family counts with God. He is interested in families. He deals with families. He saves families. The God who knows how many hairs are on your head knows every single person who had genetic input into your formation, all the way back to Adam.

In the letter to Titus, Paul warned against "FOOLISH controversies and genealogies, arguments and quarrels about the law, because there are unprofitable and useless." (ch 3 vs 9). He was speaking in the context of individuals causing divisions in the Church through such things. Hope that helps sort out your question.

Answer 5

They are talking about disputes and arguements about the genealogies, contentions, and strivings of the law.

It has nothing to do with the actual genealogies themselves.

People often say..."money is the root of all evil"...but, the bible does not say that. There are those who will say...having money then...is evil. That is not what the bible says... it states that "the love of money is the root of all evil". Meaning that obviously we need money to live, but loving it will cause us to hurt others to get it.

The bible talks of our attitudes... Titus is talking of not being divisive with people. To strive to be a community of building up those around us, instead of tearing people down. We live in a society of excess...that complains, gossips and maligns. We are to be kind and giving...patient and use forebearance with each other.

That is what needs to change. To argue and be contentious with each other about things like genealogies, the law and what not... is useless and unprofitable. It simply tears people down...instead of building them up.

Answer 6

This is another example of the need to understand the time and the culture of the bible in order to understand and apply specific passages:

At the time this was written, the Jews would use genealogies to determine who could and couldn't be a priest, or who was in the house of David, or who was more Jewish than another. They ascribed value to a person based upon his genealogy. When Christianity came along all this was no longer pertinent.

Answer 7

What debi_lockwood said. :O)

Read the verse. What is it speaking of? Things that people were arguing about. In that time, people often set their own worth by who their ancestors were. Those kinds of disputes are to be set aside. It's nothing to do with genealogies in themselves being bad.

Answer 8

The point of that passage goes along with what Jesus taught the pharisees, that blood lineage alone does not get you into heaven. He said, of these rocks I can raise up seed unto Abraham. That is because the pharisees believed that because they were of the seed of Abraham, they were automatically saved. Therefore, the early Christians also taught that empty geneaologies does not save you. Don't count on your Abrahamic pedigree to get you into heaven.
Faith, repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost are what is essential.

Answer 9

It's not that genealogies are bad in and of themselves, it's the reason behind why people were doing them at that time.

Answer 10

Titus says not to believe you are saved just because you are the seed of Abraham. The Jews of Jesus' day believed they didn't need repentance because their ancestery guaranteed them a spot in heaven.

Answer 11

Because our ancestry means nothing, what my parents, grandparents and so on did, has no bearing on my salvation.