Titus 1:16

“They profess that they know God, etc.] That there is a God; that there is but one, only, true, and living God, the God of Israel, as professed by the Jews; and that this God is Father, Son, and Spirit, as believed by the Christians: for the persons the apostle speaks of were judaizing Christians. Yet this knowledge was but notional; it lay in theory and profession only; they had not a spiritual experimental knowledge of God in Christ, which only has eternal life connected with it: but in works they deny him. The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, “in their own works”; they were not professed, but practical atheists; they owned there was a God, and boasted of their knowledge of him;…”

“They profess--that is, make a profession acknowledging God. He does not deny their theoretical knowledge of God, but that they practically know Him. deny him--the opposite of the previous "profess" or "confess" Him (Ti1 5:8; Ti2 2:12; Ti2 3:5). abominable--themselves, though laying so much stress on the contracting of abomination from outward things (compare Lev 11:10-13; Rom 2:22). disobedient--to God (Tit 3:3; Eph 2:2; Eph 5:6). reprobate--rejected as worthless when tested (see on Rom 1:28; Co1 9:27; Ti2 3:8). Next: Titus Chapter 2”

“They profess that they know God - That is, the Jewish teachers particularly, who are referred to in Titus 1:14. All those persons were professors of religion, and claimed that they had a special knowledge of God. But in works they deny him - Their conduct is such as to show that they have no real acquaintance with him. Being abominable - In their conduct. The word here used - βδελυκτοὶ bdeluktoi - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means that which is detestable, or to be held in abhorrence. And disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate - Margin, “void of judgment.” On the word here used - ἀδοκίμος adokimos - see the Romans 1:28 note; 2 Corinthians 13:5 note. It means here…”

“1:16 Sound teaching and godliness are always linked together in the letters to Timothy and Titus (see 1 Tim 1:7-11; 3:15-16; 5:24-25; 2 Tim 3:5, 9). Similarly, the ungodly way they live is connected with false teaching. • anything good: This contrasts with Titus 3:1.”

“profess: Num 24:16; Isa 29:13, Isa 48:1, Isa 58:2; Eze 33:31; Hos 8:2, Hos 8:3; Rom 2:18-24; Ti2 3:5-8; Jde 1:4 being: Job 15:16; Rev 21:8, Rev 21:27 and disobedient: Sa1 15:22, Sa1 15:24; Eph 5:6; Ti1 1:9 unto: Jer 6:30; Rom 1:28; Ti2 3:8 reprobate: or, void of judgment Next: Titus Chapter 2”