witness = testimony. true . App-175 . Wherefore = on account of (Greek. dia App-104 .Titus 1:2; Titus 1:2 ) which. rebuke . Greek. elencho . See Titus 1:9 . Occurs also Titus 2:15 . sharply . Greek. apotomos . Elsewhere only 2 Corinthians 13:10 ; the noun in Romans 11:22 . faith . See Titus 1:1 . Here, doctrine of the gospel. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). App-6 . read more
One of themselves, a prophet of their own said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.Paul here quoted a Cretan poet, Epimenides, who lived approximately 600 B.C.; and it is rather astonishing that Paul referred to him as "a prophet." It should be noted, however, that Paul did not say he was a prophet "of the Lord," but "a prophet of their own," that, of course, being strictly accurate. Dummelow thought Paul called him a prophet because "his witness was still true in Paul's... read more
This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,It was not implied by the apostle that there were no exceptions, because the very existence of congregations of Christians on the island demonstrated that a remnant of the population were striving for better things; and yet they were in danger of being seduced and won back to the old ways, hence the need to reprove and rebuke behavior unbecoming to the name of Christ.Sound in the faith ... means,... read more
Titus 1:12. One of themselves—a prophet of their own— Epimenides, whose words St. Paul here quotes, is said by Diogenes Laertius to have been a great favourite of the gods; but Aristotle says, he never foretold any future event: which is a plain argument, that the word prophet is sometimes used in a very large sense. Indeed, the words poet and prophet were often used promiscuously by the Greeks and Romans; perhaps, because their poets pretended to be inspired, and were by some believed to be... read more
Titus 1:13. Sharply— 'Αποτομως ;—with a cutting severity. The word is an allusion to a surgeon's cutting away the dead flesh, and that even to the quick. We are to observe, that the apostle speaks here of reproving vice, not error. Timothy is exhorted to rebuke with all long-suffering; 2Ti 4:2 and we may remark, that there is a degree of long-suffering and gentleness, very consistent with all that severity which faithfulness requires: which is not that of boisterous passion, ill-nature, and... read more
12. One—Epimenides of Phæstus, or Gnossus, in Crete, about 600. He was sent for to purify Athens from its pollution occasioned by Cylon. He was regarded as a diviner and prophet. The words here are taken probably from his treatise "concerning oracles." Paul also quotes from two other heathen writers, ARATUS (Acts 17:28) and MENANDER (1 Corinthians 15:33), but he does not honor them so far as even to mention their names. of themselves . . . their own—which enhances his authority as a witness.... read more
13. This witness—"This testimony (though coming from a Cretan) is true." sharply—Gentleness would not reclaim so perverse offenders. that they—that those seduced by the false teachers may be brought back to soundness in the faith. Their malady is strifes about words and questions (Titus 3:9; 1 Timothy 6:4). read more
B. The correction of false teachers 1:10-16Paul emphasized the need to guard the church against false teaching to inform Titus how to deal with the problems false teachers create. The instructions in this pericope naturally grew out of Paul’s emphasis on the elder’s responsibility to handle the Scriptures accurately and to correct those who misrepresent them (Titus 1:9). read more
The Cretan poet that Paul quoted was Epimenides, who lived in the sixth century B.C. Other Pauline citations of pagan writers appear in Acts 17:28 (Aratus) and 1 Corinthians 15:33 (Menander). This line from one of Epimenides’ writings had received wide acceptance in the Greek world as being true. Paul agreed with this poet. The Cretans generally tended to be liars, beastly, lazy, and gluttonous."So notorious were the Cretans that the Greeks actually formed a verb kretizein, to Cretize, which... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Titus 1:12
One . App-123 . prophet . App-189 . Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). App-6 . To Paul, a prophet by repute only. It is supposed that the reference is to Epimenides. The . . . bellies . Figure of speech Gnome . App-6 (8). alway . App-151 . evil. App-128 . beasts = wild beasts. slow . Gr, argos . Occurs eight times, generally "idle". bellies = persons. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part). App-6 . read more