Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Titus 3:9

"but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and vain." — Titus 3:9 (ASV)

“But” introduces the necessary reaction of Titus to matters contrary to the teaching insisted on in v.8. They are described as “foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law.” The picture looks back to 1:10–16; “about the law” marks the Jewish coloring. The same sort of problems also existed at Ephesus (cf. 1 Timothy 1:3–7). They comprise various “foolish” or senseless inquiries, involving speculations about the OT genealogies, and resulted in sharp dissensions and open quarrels. All such matters Titus must “avoid” (GK 4325), i.e., deliberately shun and stand aloof from, because they produce no spiritual benefits and lead to no constructive results.