Titus 1:12-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Titus 1:6-16

The apostle here gives Titus directions about ordination, showing whom he should ordain, and whom not. I. Of those whom he should ordain. He points out their qualifications and virtues; such as respect their life and manners, and such as relate to their doctrine: the former in the Titus 1:6, 7, 8, and the latter in the Titus 1:9. 1. Their qualifications respecting their life and manners are, (1.) More general: If any be blameless; not absolutely without fault, so none are, for there is none... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:12

1:12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, has said: "The Cretans are always liars, wild and evil beasts, lazy gluttons." His testimony is true! No people ever had a worse reputation than the Cretans. The ancient world spoke of the three most evil C's--the Cretans, the Cilicians, and the Cappadocians. The Cretans were famed as a drunken, insolent, untrustworthy, lying, gluttonous people. Their avarice was proverbial. "The Cretans," said Polybius, "on account of their innate avarice,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:13-16

1:13-16 For that very reason correct them with severity, that they may grow healthy in the faith and not pay attention to Jewish fables and to rules and regulations made by men who persist in turning their backs on the truth. "To the pure all things are pure." But to those who are defiled and who do not believe, nothing is pure, because their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny their profession by their deeds, because they are repulsive and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:13-16

When a man gets into this state of impurity, he may know God intellectually but his life is a denial of that knowledge. Three things are singled out here about such a man. (i) He is repulsive. The word (bdeluktos, Greek #947 ) is the word particularly used of heathen idols and images. It is the word from which the noun bdelugma ( Greek #946 ), an abomination, comes. There is something repulsive about a man with an obscene mind, who makes sniggering jests and is a master of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Titus 1:12

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own ,.... This was Epimenides, in whose poems stand the words here cited; the apostle rightly calls him "one of themselves", since he was a Cretian by birth, of the city of Gnossus; it is reported of him, that being sent by his father to his sheep in the field, he by the way, at noon, turned aside into a cave, and slept fifty seven years F13 Laert. l. 1. Vita Epimenidis. and he is very properly called a "prophet" of their own; for in Crete... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Titus 1:13

This witness is true ,.... The apostle confirms what the poet had said; he knew it to be fact from his own experience, and by the observation he had made when in the island: he does not say, that all that Epimenides had said, in the poem referred to, was true; but this character, which he had given of the Cretians, and which he cites, and uses to a good purpose; from whence it may be observed, that the writings of the Heathen poets may be read with profit, and be used to advantage, if... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Titus 1:14

Not giving heed to Jewish fables ,.... Concerning God himself, the angels, and the creation of man; concerning the giving of the law at Mount Sinai; concerning the Messiah and his earthly kingdom, and the feast that will be made for the righteous in his days, which will consist of flesh, fish, and fowl, Behemoth, Leviathan, and Zuz, and of wine kept in the grape from the foundation of the world; and concerning the rolling of the dead through the caverns of the earth at the resurrection, with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:12

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own - This was Epimenides, who was born at Gnossus, in Crete, and was reckoned by many the seventh wise man of Greece, instead of Periander, to whom that honor was by them denied. Many fabulous things are related of this poet, which are not proper to be noticed here. He died about 538 years before the Christian era. When St. Paul calls him a prophet of their own, he only intimates that he was, by the Cretans, reputed a prophet. And, according to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:13

This witness is true - What Epimenides said of them nearly 600 years before continued still to be true. Their original character had undergone no moral change. Rebuke them sharply - Αποτομως· Cuttingly, severely; show no indulgence to persons guilty of such crimes. That they may be sound in the faith - That they may receive the incorrupt doctrine, and illustrate it by a holy and useful life. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:14

Not giving heed to Jewish fables - See on 1 Timothy 1:4 ; (note); 1 Timothy 4:7 ; (note). Commandments of men - The injunctions of the scribes and Pharisees, which they added to the law of God. That turn from the truth - For such persons made the word of God of none effect by their traditions. Sometimes the verb αποστρεφομαι signifies to be averse from, slight, or despise. So, here, the persons in question despised the truth, and taught others to do the same. read more

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