S) "12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.' 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,"
Titus 1:12-13 (NASB)
O) After giving Titus a reminder about the qualifications of an elder, one of which is the ability to accurately exhort sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it (v.9), he moves into a warning about false teachers and the destruction they have wrought. Paul wrote many warnings about false teaching, but this is a little unique, in that he gives an example. In v.10, he says "those of the circumcision," meaning Jews, were upsetting whole families and must be silenced (v.11). Then, he gives the example above (v.12). This is particularly notable, because Christianity started with the Jews, but quickly the gospel spread to Gentiles. Classically speaking, Jews (even the faithful ones) were very exclusive with their faith. While a gentile could convert to join Israel's covenant with the LORD, it wasn't exactly common. So, when the faith started to spread to the Gentiles, it was a difficult thing for some Jews to accept. In v.13, it's important to understand that Paul is not affirming the statement that their "prophet" made, but he is affirming that it was said. But, Paul tells Titus to reprove false teachers severely, so that they are sound in their faith. The topic of this false teaching is quite clear - this was about racism, which has absolutely no place in Christianity. God is not a racist (see Acts 10:34). Even in the Old Covenant, the true Israel (i.e., those who were in, and kept, covenant with God) was never exclusively for descendants of Jacob, only. While the covenant started with Abraham (a Canaanite), it was fully defined with Moses (a Levite of Israel), who himself was married to the daughter of a Midianite priest (see Exodus 2:16-21). Also, during the Exodus, the people who were leaving to form the nation of God was described as a mixed multitude (see Exodus 12:38). God's not concerned with ethnicity, He's concerned with faithfulness. What is striking about this instruction to Titus, though, is the strong language used. It conveys how destructive this false teaching was, and just how important it was that Titus address this lie.
A) Racism is not a social issue, it is a Christian issue. The problem, of course, is that the false teaching of racism has persisted through the ages. Wicked people have used their power to malign the word of truth, teaching people who don't know any better, the lie that God is racist, all for their own sordid gain. But, here's the real point - it is the responsibility of every Christian, every person who has put their faith in Christ, to proclaim the truth about this. I have a personal responsibility to the Truth, a personal obligation to Christ Himself, to silence these empty talkers, these rebellious men, these deceivers. I cannot sit idly by, silently watching whole families be upset by racism - especially regarding the gospel and the character of God. A person's morals, or lack of morals (like the Cretans mentioned in v.12) does not change their need for the gospel. No person needs Jesus any more, or less, than any other person. Ultimately, as a Christian, this should be my number one concern. Furthermore, every person has intrinsic value because every person bears the image of God. That has always been true. But, almost as if to validate the point forevermore, the gospel shows us this in another beautiful display. Jesus died for the sins of all mankind. Everyone. That means that every person, regardless of race, class, age, ability, or education, is worth the blood of Christ. There is no other way to accurately see the gospel. The blood of Jesus Christ was spilled because God so loved the world. I have a responsibility to teach my kids, that every person is made in the image of God, every person was valuable enough to Him that Jesus died for them all, and every person needs that redemption just as much as everyone else. God hates injustice. God opposes partiality. God desires us to be merciful, gracious, and compassionate. That is for all people. Furthermore, we are especially supposed to weep with our brothers and sisters who weep. We are supposed to rejoice with those who rejoice (see Romans 12:15). Racial tensions plague the entire globe. It would be ignorant and naïve, for me to think that my nation is immune. My city is not immune, either. Unfortunately, even the church is not immune. There are still some within Christianity who fail to see issues of racism. Make no mistake, I know that my own circumstances mean that I am not likely to ever see them perfectly, but I need to try. I need to speak up and speak out against racist dogma, against partiality, against injustice. I need to do this for the sake of my brothers and sisters, for the sake of the gospel, and for the sake of Christ Jesus.
P) Father, thank You first and foremost, for Your perfect character. Thank You for the all-encompassing love You have for Your creation. You are patient and slow to anger, great in lovingkindness, and willing to forgive. Thank You for the grace of the gospel. Thank You for softening my heart, to understand my own need for the redemptive blood of Jesus. Please keep me humble, to always remember my need for Your mercies to be new each morning. Father God, this issue of racism, and the way it's talked about, and the way it's minimized - especially among so many Christians - Father, this is grieving me. It's so messy, and people seem to have such a hardness of heart about it. I want to follow the Holy Spirit about this. Lead me to teach my children first. Open their eyes and ears, to better understand both Your character and the plight of so many people, so many brothers and sisters, who are so much more than upset by evil, racist teachings. Help me to raise compassionate people. Help me to set the culture of my family, that they would have a heart for the sufferings of other people. Help us, especially, to influence the church around us. Help us to silence rebellious, deceitful, empty-talkers. Help us to accurately talk about Your character, and to accurately share the gospel. Help me and Kristin begin to set that culture, that our children would learn to speak against racism and every form of partiality and injustice. Help us teach them, to teach their children. Let this be a part of who we are as people, as Canneloras, and as Christians. Let Your will be done, Lord. Please comfort my brothers and sisters, right now, who are suffering because of racism. Please heal the rifts that have opened, especially between believers, because of this issue. Let Your truth prevail. Stir the hearts of Your people, about this. Father, please give me courage, Lord. Give me the courage to step into the arena, that I may severely reprove those who speak wrongly about this. Let me keep Your purpose in mind, that reproof is for the purpose of bringing about sound faith. It's all about Your glory, Lord. It's all about Your ways. I want to honor Your name with how I live this out. Help me stay focused on doing Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
Hey Nic, I'm researching folk's thoughts on Tit 1:12-13 and came across your blog. I'm a pastor and I preached partially from this text last Sunday. I basically used it just like your are, that Paul was instructing Titus to severely rebuke racism.
ReplyDeleteBut one of my elders approached me the following day and said he felt I had misinterpreted the text. Uh oh, after closer examination I see that I did. And I believe you are too.
The points you are making about God not being a racist are totally on point. It's just not Paul's point in Titus 1:12-13. What I have come to see is that Paul is actually making a statement that a lot of people would criticize as racism, but it's not. It is a generalization based on probabability. It is not a prejudicial and hateful remark.
the fact apparently was that Crete was at that point a really messed up culture. Sinful and iniquitous behaviors gripped it. Paul was saying that even one of Crete's own recognized spiritual authorities confessed that "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." Paul goes on to say that it is true that Crete is a wicked place. titus's work was definitely going to be challenging.
But this is not racism. It is simply wisely approaching the mission field. Both Paul and titus were not racists, or they would not even be talking about raising up Cretan elders and building a church in that culture that would honor God. They loved Crete. But it was no pie-in-the-sky assignment. It was dangerous and notorious. If I was sending a missionary into a far away land to reach a remote tribe, and I knew that most of the people were head-hunters, wouldn't I be obligated to tell him? Even if only 65% of the people had actually cut somebody's head off? I say it would be important to speak of that tribe as a dangerous people.
Sometimes racially or ethnically profiling is essential to the safety of others. Not the systematic condemnation of an entire race or religion, but the awareness of what the data shows. If the mushroom looks like the poisonous variety, I'd do well to avoid it, until I am for sure it's safe.
Dane, thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. I am absolutely most concerned that I understand the truth about any topic, and I take the Bible the most seriously of all.
DeleteRespectfully, I must disagree with the elder who approached you. The fundamental, defining difference, is who Paul meant when he said, "One of themselves..." If Paul really had meant a Cretan gave this quote, then I could see, to some extent, where the elder would have the opinion he had. No doubt, having a firm understanding of culture is a crucial part of a successful mission. However, Paul had just said in the previous two verses, that there were those of the circumcision that were rebellious, deceiving, empty talkers. They were disrupting whole families by what they had said. Their false teaching needed to be stopped. Then, it makes the most contextual sense to me, that he continues describing the same group of people in giving an example of what they have said.
Also, the context of the following verses seems to further my original point. Paul tells Titus to reprove them severely, so they will turn from Jewish myths and commandments of men (which sounds very much like what Jesus said to the Pharisees and Saduccees). One of those myths/traditions, was a conceited point of view that the Jews were morally superior to other cultures, most notably, because of their monotheism. Reproving Cretans, telling them to stop paying attention to Jewish myths and traditions, isn't a very coherent instruction. This seems to further indicate that the "prophets" who were saying these things, were Jews, not Cretans.
When just examining the quote itself, and what it says, i think it shows us that Paul was not giving a warning about the culture, but a warning about false teaching. Otherwise, the quote Paul gives, doesn't match the instruction that follows. The quote mentions them being liars, and Paul does say there were false teachers and instructs Titus to reprove them for their wrong understandings (myths and traditions). However, the quote also says they are evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. However, if Paul thought that was true, and thought to warn Titus, why wouldn't he also give Titus instruction in this same passage, about teaching them to be hard workers, denying gluttony or drunkeness, and and using reason to gain an understanding of righteousness?
I think Paul was warning Titus about the Jews in Crete, not the Cretans in Crete. The last verse of the chapter seems to make it clear. They said they knew God, but they didn't know His heart for Crete.
Please know, that I'm willing to be wrong. I invite correction, because I'm more concerned with knowing truth than winning arguments. I have also been corrected by an elder after preaching. That was humbling, and I thanked him for it.
Please pray for me, that if I'm still missing the context and my exegesis is wrong, that God will open my eyes.
Thank you, brother.
God bless you.
Praise Jesus.
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ReplyDeleteI was formerly thinking exactly as you are on this, for the same very good reasons. BTW, Paul does a little later say quite a bit to Titus about challenging the Cretans to get to work. He says they need to learn how to engage in goods and to not live unproductive lives (3:14).
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how the "authorities" know who the quote came from, but everyone I've read says the "prophet" was the Cretan, Epimenedes (500BC). If it is that famous Cretan poet and prophet, and Paul is quoting him, then I think the argument that Paul is addressing more than just Judaizers in this context, but also the wider lazy culture of native Crete.
Regardless of which way one goes on this, both treatments are solid doctrinally. Of course both interpretations cannot be literally what Paul meant. He had one or the other in mind. I find it a lot easier in this current climate to do the racism interpretation! A bit harder to justify Paul possibly making a statement about an entire culture that was very far from God's righteousness.
Keep up the good work and the thoughtful exegesis, my brother.