Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 9

Paul Gives Titus Examples of bad Cretian Behavior that needed to be Dealt with in the Church

Titus 1:12-13 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; KJV

The history of the people of Crete during the time of Paul writing this letter to Brother Titus was filled with reverence, regard, and respect for the 'so-called' prophets in their country who were actually poets such as Epimenides who was born in Crete at Cnossos around 659 B.C. and it is documented in their history that it was he who suggested and influenced the Athenians to erect statues to unknown gods which is exactly what the Apostle Paul found when he went to Athens, Greece where we find the encounter documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And standing in the middle of the Areopagus, Paul said, Men, Athenians, I see that you are fearful of gods in everything. For as I passed by and saw the things you worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Not knowing then whom you worship, I make Him known to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is served with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life and breath and all things to all. And He has made all nations of men of one blood to dwell on all the face of the earth, ordaining fore-appointed seasons and boundaries of their dwelling, to seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him, though indeed He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also certain of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring. Then being offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, engraved by art and man's imagination. Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now He strictly commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead. And hearing of a resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked; and others said, We will hear you again concerning this." (Acts 17:22-32) (MKJV).

The Cretians were no worse sinners than any other Gentiles during that time or during any time past or present. They were only like all sinners then and now before hearing the truth of the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ blind spiritually and dead spiritually in need of a resurrection from spiritual death that only happens when the true Gospel is preached and God the Holy Spirit reaches into the inner man or inner woman of the sinner and opens their blind spiritual eyes and raises there dead souls to eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So Paul now declares to Titus what one of the Cretian poets had written about the Cretian people in general as a race of humanity, "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies." (Titus 1:12) (KJV). It became known during this time a phrase that was 'to speak like a Cretan equals to lie', therefore, it was written concerning them that they always lied about many things, for example they claimed to have the tomb of Zeus who was the supreme god of ancient Greek mythology. The revered poet Epimenides wrote (sarcastically) that because the country was void of wild animals, then the human occupants replaced them as the wild beast of the land in accordance with the normal behavior of most of the people in the land. The phrase 'slow bellies' describing the people of Crete implies that they were lazy, but wanted to always satisfy their bellies with food, that is, they were gluttons. These words were not that of Paul about the people of Crete, but they were from the poets (like Epimenides) speaking of their own people. 

Paul, however, was never moved to retreat when confronted by any people (no matter the characterization), for he knew that the Gospel of Grace had no limits or retstrictions as to where and to whom it could convert or awake from spiritual blindness and death, therfore, Paul writes these next words to Brother Titus, "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;" (Titus 1:13) (KJV). Paul affirms everything the prophet/poet wrote concerning the people of Crete to be true, however, Paul also knows that the Gospel of Christ had made 'new creations' (2 Corinthians 5:17) among some of the people there, so he tells Titus that the Elders in the Churches their are to 'rebuke' 'sharply' those who had fallen back into some of their old ways. The English word 'rebuke' is translated by the Greek word elegchō meaning to confute, admonish: - convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove. The English word 'sharply' is translated by the Greek word apotomōs which means (to cut); abruptly, that is, peremptorily, that is, in a commanding manner: - sharpness. In other words, the Elders were to tell the fellow Brother or Sister in Christ their fault admonishing them sharply with the commanding authority of our Lord Jesus Christ being with them. The purpose of this was that they  may be sound in the faith, meaning that they (and we today and of every era and generation) might not allow their/our old nature to corrupt their/our walk with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is what Matthew Henry said about Paul instructing Titus to rebuke the believers sharply, "When Paul wrote to Timothy he bade him instruct with meekness; but now, when he writes to Titus, he bids him rebuke them sharply. The reason of the difference may be taken from the different temper of Timothy and Titus; the former might have more keenness in his disposition, and be apt to be warm in reproving, whom therefore he bids to rebuke with meekness; and the latter might be one of more mildness, therefore he quickens him, and bids him rebuke sharply. Or rather it was from the difference of the case and people: Timothy had a more polite people to deal with, and therefore he must rebuke them with meekness; and Titus had to do with those who were more rough and uncultivated, and therefore he must rebuke them sharply; their corruptions were many and gross, and committed without shame or modesty, and therefore should be dealt with accordingly. There must in reproving be a distinguishing between sins and sins; some are more gross and heinous in their nature, or in the manner of their commission, with openness and boldness, to the greater dishonour of God and danger and hurt to men: and between sinners and sinners; some are of a more tender and tractable temper, apter to be wrought on by gentleness, and to be sunk and discouraged by too much roughness and severity; others are more hardy and stubborn, and need more cutting language to beget in them remorse and shame. Wisdom therefore is requisite to temper and manage reproofs aright, as may be most likely to do good."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…