Parallel Verses New International Version One of Crete's own prophets has said it: "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." King James Bible One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. Darby Bible Translation One of themselves, a prophet of their own, has said, Cretans are always liars, evil wild beasts, lazy gluttons. World English Bible One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons." Young's Literal Translation A certain one of them, a prophet of their own, said -- 'Cretans! always liars, evil beasts, lazy bellies!' Titus 1:12 Parallel Commentary Clarke's Commentary on the BibleOne 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 Plutarch, (in Solone), the Cretans paid him divine honors after his death. Diogenes Laertius mentions some of his prophecies: beholding the fort of Munichia, which guarded the port of Athens, he cried out: "O ignorant men! if they but knew what slaughters this fort shall occasion, they would pull it down with their teeth!" This prophecy was fulfilled several years after, when the king, Antipater, put a garrison in this very fort, to keep the Athenians in subjection. See Diog. Laert., lib. i. p. 73. Plato, De Legibus, lib. ii., says that, on the Athenians expressing great fear of the Persians, Epimenides encouraged them by saying "that they should not come before ten years, and that they should return after having suffered great disasters." This prediction was supposed to have been fulfilled in the defeat of the Persians in the battles of Salamis and Marathon. He predicted to the Lacedemonians and Cretans the captivity to which they should one day be reduced by the Arcadians. This took place under Euricrates, king of Crete, and Archidamus, king of Lacedemon; vide Diog. Laert., lib. i. p. 74, edit. Meibom. It was in consequence of these prophecies, whether true or false, that his countrymen esteemed him a prophet; that he was termed ανηρ αθειος, a divine man, by Plato; and that Cicero, De Divin., lib. i., says he was futura praesciens, et vaticinans per furorem: "He knew future events, and prophesied under a divine influence." These things are sufficient to justify the epithet of prophet, given him here by St. Paul. It may also be remarked that vates and poeta, prophet and poet, were synonymous terms among the Romans. The Cretians are always liars - The words quoted here by the apostle are, according to St. Jerome, Socrates, Nicephorus, and others, taken from a work of Epimenides, now no longer extant, entitled Περι χρησμων· Concerning Oracles. The words form a hexameter verse: - Κρητες αει ψευσται, κακα θηρια, γαστερες αργαι. The Cretans are always liars; destructive wild beasts; sluggish gluttons. That the Cretans were reputed to be egregious liars, several of the ancients declare; insomuch that Κρητιζειν, to act like a Cretan, signifies to lie; and χρησθαι Κρητισμῳ, to deceive. The other Greeks reputed them liars, because they said that among them was the sepulchre of Jupiter, who was the highest object of the Greek and Roman worship. By telling this truth, which all others would have to pass for a lie, the Cretans showed that the object of their highest admiration was only a dead man. Evil beasts - Ferocious and destructive in their manners. Slow bellies - Addicted to voluptuousness, idleness, and gluttony; sluggish or hoggish men. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge of. liars. Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly... 1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Library Purity. Preached August 11, 1850. PURITY. "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."--Titus i. 15. For the evils of this world there are two classes of remedies--one is the world's, the other is God's. The world proposes to remedy evil by adjusting the circumstances of this life to man's desires. The world says, give us a perfect set of circumstances, and then we shall have a set of perfect men. … Frederick W. Robertson—Sermons Preached at Brighton Whether Conscience be a Power? Confessing Christ an Indispensable Duty. Evil Habits and Injurious Indulgences. Cross References Acts 2:11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Acts 27:7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. Acts 27:12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest. Acts 27:13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Philippians 3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. Titus 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. Jump to Previous Alway Always Animals Beasts Bellies Brutes Countryman Cretans Crete Dangerous Evil False. Food Gluttons Hating Idle Liars Prophet Prophets Slow Theirs Themselves WildJump to Next Alway Always Animals Beasts Bellies Brutes Countryman Cretans Crete Dangerous Evil False. Food Gluttons Hating Idle Liars Prophet Prophets Slow Theirs Themselves WildLinks Titus 1:12 NIVTitus 1:12 NLT Titus 1:12 ESV Titus 1:12 NASB Titus 1:12 KJV Titus 1:12 Bible Apps Titus 1:12 Biblia Paralela Titus 1:12 Chinese Bible Titus 1:12 French Bible Titus 1:12 German Bible Titus 1:12 Commentaries THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®. Bible Hub |