Titus 1: 10-14: New Testament versus philosophy of religion?

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.

Brief & non-exhaustive reasons not to sellout

Hatzic Lake, Mission: Remax

I met this afternoon with a Board member for my employer and we agreed that the modern sellout form of Christianity is in grave error.

Brief and non-exhaustive reasons...

Manuscript evidence

There is a reasonably, textually consistent, documented religious history throughout the ancient biblical world, taking place within that world.

Papyri Cataloged 127
Uncial Mss. Cataloged 318
Minuscule Mss. Cataloged 2, 880
Lectionaries Cataloged 2, 436

Total 5, 761 (Numbers in all categories inch up periodically with new discoveries) German numbers from 1994 and 2011 are accessed.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

Biblical evidence

Allowing for progressive revelation in the New Testament, which is chronologically later than the Hebrew Bible and amplifying the original testament (the new covenant see Mark 14, Matthew 26, Luke 22, Hebrews), it is documented that biblical central theology and doctrine are consistent in both Testaments and through the writings of the Church Fathers.

Theology and Philosophy of Religion

God is the first cause (Genesis) and nothing other than God existed prior to God creating angelic beings and the material universe. Perhaps non-material angelic beings were created prior to the creation of matter.

God is therefore infinite and eternal with an immutable, unchangeable nature. God inspired theology in biblical Scripture through his prophets, apostles and scribes. This  reflects the divine unchanging nature and the divine view toward creation and humanity.

In contrast, human beings are fallen (Genesis 3) and sinful (Romans) requiring salvation via the applied atoning and resurrection work of Christ, through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to those in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1-2). This human salvation to be completed via resurrection to finite perfection with a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15) and membership in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21-22).

A well-established system of logic is essential

Peter Twele: Facebook

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York. (Philosophy)

In Chapter IX 9: The Algebra of Logic

Philosopher Langer, explains that within symbolic logic an assumed  Universe of Discourse exists whose elements were certain with specific classes of A, B, C etcetera; this includes class I and a null class 0. (206).

For each (positive) class of A, B, C, etcetera, there is a negative class. (206). For every two classes (as described by Langer) there is a sum and a product. (206). Therefore what is a produced is what Langer names a calculus. (2006).

Facts about specific elements are expressed. (206). If these facts are not expressed then a correct calculus cannot be reached within a Universe of Discourse in symbolic logic. For example, if the sum of A and (plus) B were not equal to B (In other words, if A and B were not the same), then the product of A and -B could not be 0. (206). She reasons that we might instead calculate the sum of A x -B and B as the element of A + B. (206). Every structure is composed of elements. (49).

Notice, she is stating might...

This is rules of formal reasoning as opposed to necessarily truth. But, the truth there is requires logic and reason for correct presentation.

For arguments sake, reviewing Langer, if from her example the sum of A and  B did not produce the product of B, then perhaps the product in a Universe of Discourse would instead be C,or Z, etcetera, produced by multiplication. Instead of a general theory of classes, rather the properties of each class may be learned. (206). For me, Langer's example here lacks clarity.

What exactly does she mean by A x -B and B?

This textbook requires more footnotes with explanation.

A key to understanding any calculus, any calculations would be to have a well-established system within the Universe of Discourse. A well-established system of logic is essential in symbolic and also with the presentation of premise (s) and conclusions within academic disciplines.

Key symbols

≡df = Equivalence by definition
: = Equal (s)
ε = Epsilon and means is
 ⊃ = Is the same as
 ⊨ is Entails
 ˜ = Not
∃ = There exists
∃! = There exists
∴ = Therefore
. = Therefore
< = Is included
v = a logical inclusive disjunction (disjunction is the relationship between two distinct alternatives).
x = variable
= Conjunction meaning And
0 = Null class
cls = Class
int = Interpretation

Reforming from Reformed?

SUV from the North Shore to Vancouver, Wednesday.

Preface

The topic below was discussed in general terms as I met with a Reformed pastor today.

I opined that a good understanding of Reformed theology should isolate church members and attenders from adapting to liberal theology. He agreed.

(Sadly, this good understanding is not taking place in Reformed churches in many cases, according to this pastor with a PhD.)

Some are reforming from reformed...sad to hear.

PhD, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, 2010: Theodicy and Practical Theology 

Scudder comments that if the sovereignty of God is stressed, and evil is still considered to be reality, then this logically leads to the idea that God causes evil and it is part of a predetermined plan. I agree with this notion, but Scudder deduces that a strong view of God willing evil for the greater good means evil could be understood as not really being evil. I can understand how a scholar could come to such a conclusion, but a Reformed influenced sovereignty theodicy does not need to agree with this idea which is foreign to both traditional Reformed and conservative theology.

Robert H. Mounce (1995) explains that God directs the affairs in life, for those who love him, for the greater good. C.E.B. Cranfield (1992) comments that although God can will grievous and evil things to occur, God in Christ works these things towards the greater good, in particular in the context of salvation for those that know Christ. Evil and sin are not to be confused with goodness and obedience within Reformed traditions, but as God willingly allows evil things to occur, his purposes and motives are pure.

Driving downhill faster than I expected or wanted.

CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.

SCUDDER, DELTON, LEWIS (1940) Tennant’s Philosophical Theology, London, Oxford University Press.

MPhil, Bangor University, 2003: The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives.