They deny God by their actions (Titus 1:16)

“They profess

To know God,

But they deny him

By their actions.

They are

Detestable,

Disobedient,

And unfit

For any good work.”

Θεὸν ὁμολογοῦσιν εἰδέναι, τοῖς δὲ ἔργοις ἀρνοῦνται, βδελυκτοὶ ὄντες καὶ ἀπειθεῖς καὶ πρὸς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἀδόκιμοι.

Paul said, “They profess (ὁμολογοῦσιν) to know (εἰδέναι) God (Θεὸν), but they deny (ἀρνοῦνται) him by their actions (τοῖς δὲ ἔργοις).  They are detestable (βδελυκτοὶ ὄντες), disobedient (καὶ ἀπειθεῖς), and unfit (ἀδόκιμοι) for any good work (καὶ πρὸς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν).”  Only this letter to Titus has this word βδελυκτοὶ, that means detestable or abominable.  Only the Pauline letters used this word ἀδόκιμοι, that means failing to pass the test, unapproved, or counterfeit.  Paul once again explained about these false teachers.  They claim that they know God, but they deny God by their actions.  They are walking agnostics.  Thus, they are in Paul’s words detestable and disobedient to the word of God.  They really cannot do any good works, since they are phonies, unapproved, or counterfeit teachers.  Have you ever met a phony teacher?