The Truth of the Witness
Since the poet who said that the Cretans are always liars, wild beasts, and lazy bellies (Titus 1:12), took these words, said that they badly demonstrate the tomb of a non-existent Zeus, Paul used the same verse so that it might not be thought that he runs to the poet and that the one called Zeus witnesses immortality; he brought it forward. This witness is true. That one lied by supporting Zeus, but I speak truthfully, saying that the Cretans are always liars and lazy bellies. This witness is true, not that one.
Since he often teaches moderation in praise (Titus 1:13), but he found the Cretans having need of something like a center of striking, because of this he said that they are sharp.
Greek
Fragmenta in epistulam ad Titum (in catenis) Tit 1,12®13a Ἐπειδὴ ὁ ποιητὴς ὁ εἰρηκὼς τὸ Κρῆτες ἀεὶ ψεῦσται, κακὰ θηρία, γαστέρες ἀργαί, ἐπιλαμβανόμενος αὐτῶν εἶπεν ὡς κακῶς δεικνύντων τάφον ∆ιὸς τὸν οὐκ ὄντα, ἐχρήσατο δὲ τῷ αὐτῷ στίχῳ Παῦλος, ἴνα μὴ νομισθῇ τῷ ποιητῇ συντρέχειν καὶ τῷ λεγομένῳ ∆ιῒ μαρτυρεῖν ἀθανασίαν, ἐπήγαγεν· ἡ μαρτυρία αὕτη ἀληθής ἐστιν. ἐκεῖνος ἐψεύσατο τῷ ∆ιῒ συνηγορῶν, ἐγὼ δὲ ἀληθεύω λέγων ὅτι οἱ Κρῆτες ἀεὶ ψεῦσταί εἰσιν καὶ γαστέρες ἀργαί. αὕτη ἡ μαρτυρία ἀληθής, οὐκ ἐκείνη. Tit 1,13b Ἐπειδὴ πολλάκις ἐπαινῶν ἐπιείκειαν ἐκδιδάσκει, εὗρεν δὲ τοὺς Κρῆτας χρείαν ἔχοντας ὥσπερ κέντρου τῆς ἐπιπλήξεως, διὰ τοῦτο εἶπεν ὅτι ἀποτόμως
About this text
A bold defense of Paul's use of a poet's words to expose Cretan hypocrisy and affirm truth.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 65 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
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