Titus 1:12
12 One [tis] of [ek] themselves [autos], even a
prophet [prophetes] of their [autos] own [idios], said [epo], The Cretians [Kres] are
alway [aei] liars [pseustes], evil [kakos] beasts [therion], slow [argos] bellies [gaster]. KJV-Interlinear
12 One of themselves, a prophet
of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy
gluttons." NASB
This verse tells us a
little bit about Paul as well as giving us some insight into the lifestyles of
folks in Crete.
First Paul has a sense
of humor.He takes a comment from one of
the local s and makes it into a directive guideline for Titus.
Today we might say to
someone who is going to visit the nations capital, Be careful while you are
there, they are all crooks in that town.
And while we say it in jest, it really isn t too far from the truth. So humor and truth can go hand in hand at
times.
Second, Paul is in tune
with the local news and culture.The people
there lead such a frivolous life, that they will joke about themselves openly.
And third, the prophet
Paul cites here is one of a type of muse. Someone who, like the comedians of our day,
will cite day to day news items with a twist of humor. I think they call it sarcasm. The roll of the eyes, kind of comment.
The muse, of those days
was someone who was a source of inspiration in the arts, particularly in
poetry, tragedy, dance, and comedy.This
is not a reference to a prophet in the Biblical sense.
So, Titus had his work
cut out for him.He was to find someone
who was perfect of character, among a society that looked to gluttony and self
serving selfishness.They thought more
of their stomachs, than their eternal future.
They thought more of their immediate satisfaction than they did their
tomorrows.
Hummm. Have you ever tried to convince someone of the
negative repercussions of their selfish and immediate agenda s, and get them to
replace that with a more thoughtful and honest concern for their eternal
destiny?
Wouldn t the scriptures
and your wisdom, be more safe if placed in the care of a brick wall?
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