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| Crete from Lonely Planet |
Titus 1:10-14
The Apostle Paul writing to Titus in regard to Crete:
New American Standard Bible
5 For this reason I left you in Crete... New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
Titus 1:10-14
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.[a] 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans,[b] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”[c] 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
Footnotes:
Titus 1:10 Or especially those of the circumcision
Titus 1:12 Greek One of them
Titus 1:12 Probably from Epimenides of Crete
Titus 1:10-14 King James Version (KJV)
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
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I have interpreted using texts, including online audio:
New American Standard Version
12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true.
As using hyperbole. In other words, generally at that time in history, Cretans lied as a culture and demonstrated immoral (internal) and unethical (external) qualities.
However in verse 13...
13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith...
These people in Crete can do otherwise as demonstrated in verse 13. If universally people from Crete were always liars, immoral and unethical as in verse 10-12, they would not be redeemable in verse 13. It is generally true that people from Crete are liars immoral and unethical.
Philosopher Blackburn mentions Epimenides, from Crete that is supposed to have said that all Cretans are liars. If he did speak this truly (as a Cretan liar, my add) then what he said was false, and vice versa. (121). If this person would have stated something was false, then it would be true.
Blackburn states this is the liar paradox. Example: This sentence is false., which must be false if the sentence is true, and it must be true if it is false. (217). It has been suggested that the sentence, This sentence is false., fails to say anything. (217). I would agree, as in anything reasonable.
Blackburn states the type of sentence that states nothing is at least false. (217). How useful is it to discuss the meaning of This sentence is false.? Perhaps it is better stated as not reasonable. It could be philosophically argued as non-nonsensical.
I have never taken this as meaning that the Apostle Paul, and/or the scribe that wrote Titus, reasoned in a plain literal way that every single person in Crete always lies and are immoral and unethical.
May I suggest that both the Apostle Paul and Epimenides were using hyperbole and not plain literal language. And may I add, that I doubt that either writer would claim to have known every single Cretan! I reason this even as the Apostle Paul was inspired by God, the Holy Spirit to write or at least produce the book of Titus.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
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