Cretians ...

[ananda]

How do you feel about what Paul said: "'Cretans! always liars, evil beasts, lazy bellies!' This witness is true." - Titus 1:12,13

P.S. I do not believe this at all (I am a non-Pauline Messianic). Just wanted to know what you guys think.

 

[seashale76]

I know a few Cretans. My husband lived on Crete as a baby. He's not an evil, lazy liar.

 

[ananda]

I know a few Cretans. My husband lived on Crete as a baby. He's not an evil, lazy liar.

 

[ChristianT]

In research (based on a footnote in my Bible), I found out that Epimenides is the one quoted. And according to his letter, Paul is encouraging Titus to teach his people the truth and rebuke the false teachers, of his time. So, I don't think he's saying that all Cretans really are "liars, lazy, and evil," just that the false teachers are making the quote stand out.

 

[ananda]

In research (based on a footnote in my Bible), I found out that Epimenides is the one quoted. And according to his letter, Paul is encouraging Titus to teach his people the truth and rebuke the false teachers, of his time. So, I don't think he's saying that all Cretans really are "liars, lazy, and evil," just that the false teachers are making the quote stand out.

Yet Pharisee Paul states "This witness is true."

 

[ChristianT]

And yet it isn't.

 

[ananda]

And yet it isn't.

... which is one reason I'm non-Pauline!

 

[Bjornke]

Why are you posting numbers?

Anyways, on-topic I wanted to say that this is good puzzle for me! I personally have no idea

Maybe Paul was just referring to a statement? It would be out of ordinary for him to accuse like that?

 

[ananda]

Why are you posting numbers?

I suspect some people do so because they are interested in inflating their post count numbers. I don't see the point in this though.

Anyways, on-topic I wanted to say that this is good puzzle for me! I personally have no idea Maybe Paul was just referring to a statement? It would be out of ordinary for him to accuse like that?

Paul was affirming that the Cretan philosopher's assessment of Cretans was correct. Seems pretty straightforward to me!