<p>1:16 <i>They profess that they know God- </i>There are so many parallels with the letters to Timothy. The equivalent of this is the reference to those who have &quot;a form of Godliness&quot; but deny its power (see on 2 Tim. 3:5). The 'profession' of knowing God may refer to some confession of faith, perhaps of a standard &quot;form of Godliness&quot;, made at baptism.</p><p>Tit. 1:16 AVmg. speaks of those who &ldquo;profess that they know God&rdquo; but are &ldquo;void of judgment&rdquo;<i>. </i>The same word is used in Rom. 1:32 about those who know the judgment of God; they know it will come. But they have a mind &ldquo;void of an awareness of judgment&rdquo; (Rom. 1:28 AVmg.). We can know, know it all. But live with a mind and heart void of it.&nbsp; We can know Him, but have no real personal sense of judgment to come. These are sobering thoughts. There is a theoretical knowledge of God, and the knowing of God in ongoing fruitful relationship. Thus those who do not understand will ultimately be condemned by God (Rev. 1:16-18 cp. 14:10).</p><p><i>But by their works they deny him</i>- The same word is used in 2 Tim. 3:5; some had &quot;a form of Godliness&quot; <i>denied</i> the power thereof. The power of that form of Godliness issued in good works. But the legalism of these Gentile law-keepers was such that they disallowed themselves from doing good works, and their legalistic obedience actually made them &quot;<i>dis</i>obedient&quot;.</p><p><i>They are detestable, disobedient</i>- See above. Paul the carefully obedient Pharisee, spotless as to legal righteousness, described himself at that time as being amongst the disobedient (3:3). The essential law is not about acts of commission; it is a heart issue, obedience to the spirit of Christ.</p><p><i>Unfit for any good work</i>- Just as everything was impure to them (:15), so their mentality resulted in an inability to do anything good. Because the good works the Lord seeks are those which are done from a motive of gratitude for His total grace. &quot;Unfit&quot; translates a Greek word commonly used for 'rejection'. It's as if the Lord seeks people to do His good works in this world; but he rejects these types. Their apparent emphasis on works rather than faith left them unable to perform good works. For the heart motive is all important, and legalistic obedience stops this.</p>