Bible Strands
Titus 1:12
As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul directs Titus to confront Cretan false teachers who are undermining households for dishonorable gain. The instruction occurs at the moment of silencing these individuals and preparing to rebuke them.
The words — Κρῆτες (Krētes) = Cretans and προφήτης (prophētēs) = prophet. These terms anchor the condemnation in a recognized local voice rather than Paul’s independent judgment.
The thread — The practice of citing local sources to expose deception appears in Acts 17:28, while the warning against deceptive teachers matches Romans 16:18 and 1 Timothy 4:2. These passages trace a consistent pattern of smooth speech masking self-interest and seared consciences.
Why it lands — The text requires accepting the quoted condemnation as factual before issuing a stern rebuke. It commands readers to enforce doctrinal soundness rather than tolerate destructive teaching for cultural ease.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Cross-references
- Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- 1 Timothy 4:2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
- Acts 17:28 ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
- 2 Peter 2:15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.
- Acts 2:11 both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
- 2 Peter 2:12 These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
- Jude 1:8 Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.