New English Translation
Titus 1:12
12A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
Titus 1:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
- New International Version (NIV)One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
- New King James Version (NKJV)One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
Context of Titus 1:12
10For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, 11who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught. A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith 14and not pay attention to Jewish myths and commands of people who reject the truth.
Read all of Titus 1Titus 1:12 word by word
εἶπέν τις ἐξ αὐτῶν ἴδιος αὐτῶν προφήτης· Κρῆτες ἀεὶ ψεῦσται, κακὰ θηρία, γαστέρες ἀργαί.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Oneτιςtis · oneG5100
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- themselvesαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- a prophetπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
- ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- The CretiansΚρήςKrēs · CretanG2912
- alwayἀείaei · alwaysG104
- liarsψεύστηςpseustēs · liarG5583
- evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
- beastsθηρίονthērion · wild animalG2342
- slowἀργόςargos · idleG692
- belliesγαστήρgastēr · bellyG1064
Commentaries on Titus 1:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12One 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12One of themselves - That is, one of the Cretans. The quotation here shows that Paul had his eye not only on the Jewish teachers there, but on the native Cretans. The meaning is, that, alike in reference to Jewish teachers and native-born Cretans, there was need of the utmost vigilance in the selection of persons for the ministry. They all had well-known traits of character, which made it proper that no one should be introduced into the ministry without…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-16Verses 10-16 False teachers are described. Faithful ministers must oppose such in good time, that their folly being made manifest, they may go no further They had a base end in what they did; serving a worldly interest under pretence of religion: for the love of money is the root of all evil. Such should be resisted, and put to shame, by sound doctrine from the Scriptures. Shameful actions, the reproach of heathens, should be far from Christians…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12one of their own prophets: This quotation is from Epimenides of Knossos, a philosopher who lived on Crete around the 500s BC. liars: This charge was directed specifically at the Cretan claim to have Zeus’s tomb on the island. According to Cretan mythology, the god Zeus was once a mere human who lived and died on Crete. His tomb was said to be there. But Zeus had achieved godhood through his patronage (that is, gifts and benefits) to humans. Some Greek…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. One--Epimenides of Phæstus, or Gnossus, in Crete, about 600. He was sent for to purify Athens from its pollution occasioned by Cylon. He was regarded as a diviner and prophet. The words here are taken probably from his treatise "concerning oracles." Paul also quotes from two other heathen writers, Aratus (Ac 17:28) and Menander (1Co 15:33), but he does not honor them so far as even to mention their names. of themselves ... their own--which enhances…Read the comment
Topics related to Titus 1:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Titus 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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