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"To The Pure All Things Are Pure"

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doug:
I was reminded of that verse in Titus recently and personally hadn't thought about what it meant for a long while.  I figured this was a good time for me to review that verse and ask myself what it means.

The above words are scripture, written by the apostle Paul.  He said, "To the pure, all things are pure.  But to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.  They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed." Titus 1:15,16.

So what does this verse mean?  Some people would like it to mean that one can engage in some sort of less than pure entertainment and not be adversely effected by it.  For example, this statement has been used by some to say that they could use pornography and their own "purity" would make their pastime pure.  They suggest that the only way one could be adversely effected by such is to have a filthy heart to begin with.

Does it mean that if I am pure in heart, that everything I do will be rendered automatically pure?  Does it mean that a person's lust, greed, immorality, cursing, cheating and lying are all "pure" if the person committing them is pure within?  I think any rational thinking person dedicated to pleasing the Lord knows better than that; so then, what does the statement mean?  It is scripture, and therefore it is true!

The way I understand Paul's statement "To the pure all things are pure" must be taken in the context of the problem at hand.  There were false teachers "teaching things they should not teach."  Titus 1:10,11.  From this epistle, and others, we know exactly what they were teaching. But please correct me if I am wrong, I also believe that all scripture is for all people in all places and for all time.  Even though it is historically true as to what was happening in Paul's day, his example is for us also.

Paul was dealing with rebellious men of Jewish backgrounds who were trying to bind portions of the Old Law on the Gentile converts.  Among those laws were the dietary restrictions that divided meat into two groups, "clean" and "unclean".  Under the Old Law, this was pictured for God's chosen people, the Jews, the concept of how they must maintain a separateness from the world and its sin.  Today, while we are no longer required by the New Covenant of Christ to keep these Old Covenant dietary regulations, we are still commanded to keep ourselves separate from the sins of the world.  II Cor 6:14-18, I John 3:3-5.

The false teachers were saying that some meat continued to be impure.  Paul says, in this context, that "To the pure all things are pure."  He was talking about food, not that we could mix with sin and still maintain our purity.  I believe that to even attempt to apply this statement to impure or immoral behavior is a gross misapplication of the scripture.  According to the context, by the grace of God, we are to leave behind those things which are not in harmony with His will.

I'm just thinking.... I don't know.... what do any of you think?

 

Deborah-Leigh:

Hi Doug

For me, the statement "To the pure, all things are pure" ....is like saying how God see's things. He makes all things for His pure purpose and intention. 1Ti 6:16  who alone possesses immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light,.....

Why would God be "unapproachable".....if not only to show that there is nothing outside of God that can approach Him, who is the fabric of all that is. Nothing is made that is not made of God.

Arc

Memme:
Hi Doug 

I believe there is a deeper meaning in Paul’s words than dietary restrictions.  He begins the letter saying:  …”according to the faith of the chosen ones of God, and the personal knowledge of the truth that is according to godliness…” (Rotherham).  Then, he charges Titus with ensuring the moral character of the elders  (vs 6-9):  “If anyone is unaccusable, a husband of, one wife, having children that believe, who are not charged with riotous excess, nor insubordinate; For it is needful that the overseer be—unaccusable, as God’s steward, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not ready to wound, not seeking gain by base means, But hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, kind, possessing self-control, Holding fast, in the matter of his teaching, the faithful word, that he may be able both to encourage with his healthful instruction, and, the gainsayers, to refute.” 

“All things, are pure, unto the pure, but, unto the polluted and faithless, nothing is pure, but polluted are both their mind and conscience”  Those who have been given the personal knowledge of truth according to godliness and hold fast in the Word (Christ) are being made spiritually pure by HIS righteousness and mind.   Their mind and conscience is being cleansed of greed, hate, and immorality by their personal knowledge of truth only by the Spirit of Truth. 

OTOH, those who ‘hold’ to tradition and man’s commandments “are turning from the truth for their own gain”; therefore, nothing is pure for they are, by that very definition, ‘polluting their own mind and conscience’.  (vs 11)….they are ‘accusable’ by the Truth and even what ‘good works’ they do are worthless for they are not works of righteousness and they are 'accusable' by the Truth.

Barbara
 

indianabob:
New friend Barbara,

thanks for the comments, well said and helpful.
Keep up the fine work.
Indiana bob

doug:
Hi Barbara,

I believe you have it correct.  I believe you are right in that this passage does not put forth a teaching on what is or is not "pure" such as the meat issue I described.

The pure are those who have been cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, and who pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace:  "Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith , love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." II Tim 2:22.  The pure have been washed clean and strive to remain clean: "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."  Heb 10:22.

The "pure", therefore, does not refer to people who have good motives or who have "the faith" for their actions or to people who sincerely obey their superiors, elders etc.  The pure are those people who have had their sins taken away.  They are eager to do good so practically everything that they do is good.  Good works naturally proceed from them at all times.  However, when sinners are unregenerate, spiritually unwashed, then nothing they do can be good; they are "worthless for any good deed" Titus 1:16.  Those that are pure think pure thoughts and do pure things because they have been washed clean.  They see God's purity in everything and act accordingly.  By contrast, it is easy to tell those who are impure because they are disobedient to God and His moral laws and consequently they defile all that they touch.

Thanks for sharing, Dave from Tenn. , Arc, Indiana Bob and Barbara

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