Titus 1:12
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. | As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” | One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedPaul quotes one of Crete's own prophets, who said Cretans were always liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons. Paul uses the saying to describe the false teachers and their effect in Crete. He is not giving a verdict on every Cretan, since the aim is that people "may be sound in the faith" (1:13). Titus 1:10Titus 1:12Titus 1:13
Commonly taken out of context
How it’s often usedQuoted as Scripture's approval of stereotyping a whole people or nationality, or as a clever logic puzzle ("a Cretan says all Cretans are liars").
In contextPaul uses the saying to describe the false teachers troubling the church in Crete (1:10-11). His aim is correction: "rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith" (1:13). Cretans were among the first to hear the gospel at Pentecost (Acts 2:11), and Paul writes to build up Cretan believers, not to condemn a people. Titus 1:10Titus 1:11Titus 1:13Acts 2:11
SpeakingPaul, who calls himself "a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ." Titus 1:1Titus overview
ToTitus, Paul's "own son after the common faith," whom Paul had left in Crete to set the churches in order. Titus 1:4Titus 1:5Titus overview
Also involvedThe people of Crete, and especially the false teachers among them described in 1:10-11. Titus 1:10Titus 1:11Titus 1:12
Paul cites a saying from "a prophet of their own" and agrees that "This witness is true" (1:13). Acts records the same kind of appeal to "certain also of your own poets" (Acts 17:28). Titus 1:12Titus 1:13Acts 17:28
Crete, the island where Titus was working. Titus 1:12CreteTitus overview
The eventsThe saying is older than the letter; the verse does not date it. Paul applies it to the situation in Crete while Titus was there. Titus 1:12Titus 1:5
WrittenTraditional: about AD 63-65, after Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment. Scholarly: many hold that a follower wrote the letter in Paul's name about AD 80-100; others accept that Paul wrote it. Titus overview
HereBy quoting a Cretan, Paul shows that even the islanders' own spokesman recognised these faults. It supports his call to rebuke the false teachers sharply. Titus 1:12Titus 1:13
In the whole of ScriptureCretans were among those who heard the apostles speak "the wonderful works of God" at Pentecost (Acts 2:11). Paul elsewhere describes false teachers in similar terms, as serving "their own belly" (Romans 16:18) and "speaking lies in hypocrisy" (1 Timothy 4:2). Acts 2:11Romans 16:181 Timothy 4:2
For readersPaul names sin plainly, even using a harsh saying, but the purpose is correction and soundness in the faith, not contempt. Titus 1:12Titus 1:13
- a prophetπροφήτης
The word means one who speaks forth or interprets the divine will. Here it is used of a Cretan's own spokesman, not a prophet of the LORD. Strong's G4396
- liarsψεύστης
The word means a liar. It stands in contrast to God, "that cannot lie" (1:2). Strong's G5583Titus 1:2
- slow belliesγαστήρ
The word means the belly, and figuratively a glutton. With the word for idle it describes lazy gluttons. Romans 16:18 also speaks of false teachers who serve "their own belly." Strong's G1064Strong's G0692Romans 16:18
Takeaway
Paul uses a Cretan's own words to expose lying, beastly and lazy behaviour among the false teachers. The goal is that people be made sound in the faith. Titus 1:12Titus 1:13
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
Where
- Crete islandMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Said | εἶπέν | eipen | G2036 | to sayεἶπον (eipon) εἶπον, 2 aorist of obsolete present ἔπω (cf. Veitch), used as aorist of λέγω, which see (AS) |
| one | τις | tis | G5100 | oneτις (tis) τις, neut., τι, genitive, τινός, enclitic indefinite pron., related to interrog. τίς as πού, πως, ποτέ to ποῦ, πῶς, πότε. I. As subst., 1. one, a certain one: Luk.9:49, Jhn.11:1, Act.5:25, al.; pl., τίνες, certain, some: Luk.13:1, Act.15:1, Rom.3:8, al. 2. someone, anyone, something, anything: Mat.12:29, Mrk.9:30, Luk.8:46, Jhn.2:25, Act.17:25, Rom.5:7, al.; = indef., one (French on), Mrk.8:4, Jhn.2:25, Rom.8:24, al.; pl., τινες, some, Mrk.14:4, al. II. II. As adj., … |
| of | ἐξ | ex | G1537 | out fromἐκ (ek) ἐκ (ἐξ), prep. with genitive, from out of, from (see Addendum, p. 492). This entry is included here, but in the print version the entry is found on p. 492. ἐκ, before a vowel ἐξ, prep. with genitive, of motion outwards, separation from (opposite to εἰς; = Lat. e, ex), from out of, from among, from. I. Of Place, … |
| them | αὐτῶν | autōn | G0846 | it/s/heαὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| own | ἴδιος | idios | G2398 | one's own/privateἴδιος (idios) ἴδιος, -α, -ον (in Attic usually -ος, -ον), [in LXX chiefly for of person(s) suff., also for לָהֶם, etc.; (τὰ ἴ.) בֵּיתוֹ ;] 1. one's own; (a) of that which is private and personal (in cl. opposite to κοινός, δημόσιος; cf. infr. 3); … |
| of them | αὐτῶν | autōn | G0846 | it/s/heαὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| a prophet; | προφήτης· | prophētēs | G4396 | prophetπροφήτης (prophētēs) προφήτης, -ου, ὁ [πρόφημι, to speak forth), [in LXX chiefly for נָבִיא ;] one who acts as an interpreter or forth-teller of the Divine will (see Lft., Notes, 83f.; Tr., Syn., §vi), a prophet; 1. in cl. (Æsch., Hdt., Plat., al.), of the interpreters of oracles. 2. In NT, (a) of the OT prophets: Mat.5:12, Mrk.6:15, Luk.4:27, Jhn.8:52, Rom.11:3, al.; (b) of prophets in general: Mat.10:41 13:57 21:46, Mrk.6:4, Luk.13:33, al.; (with) of John the Baptist: Mat.21:26, Mrk.6:15, Luk.1:76; (d) of Christ: Mat.21:11, Jhn.6:14, Act.3:22, 23 7:37" (LXX) ; … |
| Cretans | Κρῆτες | Krētes | G2912 | CretanΚρής (Krēs) Κρής, ὁ, pl., Κρῆτες a Cretan: Act.2:11, Tit.1:12.† (AS) |
| [are] always | ἀεὶ | aei | G0104 | alwaysἀεί (aei) ἀεί, adv., [in LXX: Isa.42:14 (מֵעוֹלָם) 51:13 (תָּמִיד), Ps 94(95):10, al. ;] ever; 1. of continuous time, unceasingly, perpetually: Act.7:51, 2 Co.4.11; 6:10, Tit.1:12, Heb.3:10. 2. Of successive occurrences, on every occasion (MM, VGT, see word): 1Pe.3:15, 2Pe.1:12. † (AS) |
| liars, | ψεῦσται, | pseustai | G5583 | liarψεύστης (pseustēs) ψεύστης, -ου, ὁ (ψεύδω), [in LXX: Psa.116:11 (כָּזַב), Pro.19:22 A N2 (כָּזָב), Sir.15:8 25:2 * ;] a liar: Jhn.8:44, 55, Rom.3:4, 1Ti.1:10, Tit.1:12, 1Jn.1:10 Jn 2:4 Jn 2:22 Jn 4:20 Jn 5:10 .† (AS) |
| evil | κακὰ | kaka | G2556G | evil/harm: evilκακός (kakos) κακός, -ή, -όν [in LXX chiefly for רַע ;] 1. in general, opposite to ἀγαθός, καλός, in various senses, bad, mean, base, worthless (cl.). 2. In ethical sense, base, evil, wicked: of persons, Mat.21:41 24:48, Php.3:2, Rev.2:2; διαλογισμοί, Mrk.7:21; ὁμιλίαι, 1Co.15:33; ἐπιθυμία (Pro.12:12), Col.3:5; ἔργον, Rom.13:3; neut., κακόν, τὸ κ., evil: Jhn.18:23, Act.23:9, Rom.7:21 14:20 16:19, 1Co.13:5, Heb.5:14, 1Pe.3:10-11, 3Jn.11; pl., Rom.1:30, 1Co.10:6, 1Ti.6:10, Jas.1:13; κ. (τὸ, τὰ κ.) ποιεῖν (πράσσειν), Mat.27:23, Mrk.15:14, Luk.23:22, Jhn.18:30, Rom.3:8 7:19 13:4, 2Co.13:7, 1Pe.3:12; κατεργάζ … |
| beasts, | θηρία, | thēria | G2342 | wild animalθηρίον (thērion) θηρίον, -ου, τό (dimin. of θήρ), [in LXX chiefly for חַי ;] a wild beast, beast: Mrk.1:13, Act.11:6 28:4-5, Tit.1:12, Heb.12:20, Jas.3:7, Rev.6:8; of Antichrist, Rev.11:7, 13-19.† (AS) |
| gluttons | γαστέρες | gasteres | G1064 | bellyγαστήρ (gastēr) γαστήρͅ, -τρός, ἡ, [in LXX for בֶּטֶן, ἐν γ. ἔχειν for הרה, ἐν γ. λαμβάνειν for חרה ;] 1. the belly: metaphorically, a glutton, Tit.1:12. 2. the womb: ἐν γ. ἔχειν, to be with child, Mat.1:18, 23" (LXX) 24:19, Mrk.13:17, Luk.21:23, 1Th.5:3, Rev.12:2; εν γ. συλλαμβ., to conceive, Luk.1:31. † (AS) |
| lazy. | ἀργαί. | argai | G0692 | idleἀργός (argos) ἀργός, -όν (in late Gk., incl. NT, -ή, -όν; ἀ- neg., ἔργον) [in LXX: 3Ki.6:7 (מַסָּע), Wis.14:5 15:15, Sir.37:11 38:28 * ;] inactive, idle: Mat.20:3, 6, 1Ti.5:13, Tit.1:12, 2Pe.1:8. Metaphorical, of things, inactive, ineffective, worthless: ῥῆμα, Mat.12:36; πίστις, Jas.2:20 (see Cremer, 259 f.).† SYN.: βραδύς, slow; νωθρός, sluggish (Tr., Syn., § civ) (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.