English
Português
Español
Français
Response
The statement “all Cretans are liars” is mentioned in Titus 1:12. Crete is an island in the Mediterranean Sea where Paul had preached, leading many to embrace Christianity. In his letter to Titus, the apostle Paul explained that he had left him in Crete to “put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town” «For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: », (Titus 1:5). As new churches were being established, the selection of righteous leaders to oversee them was crucial to Paul.
Starting from Titus 1:6, Paul outlines the requirements for elders to Titus, including the ability to “encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (verse 9). He further mentions that in Crete, there were numerous rebellious individuals and deceivers who needed to be silenced because they were spreading false teachings for personal gain (verses 10–11). At this juncture, Paul cites a well-known Cretan who stated, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons” (verse 12). This individual was Epimenides of Gnossus, a seventh-century BC poet, prophet, and native Cretan who portrayed his fellow Cretans as dishonest.
Epimenides was not the sole person to depict Cretans in such a manner. Various ancient writers and philosophers shared this view, and Paul’s evaluation reinforces the perception of the Cretans as generally wicked. The Roman poet Ovid labeled Crete as mendax Creta, meaning “lying Crete.” The Greeks even used the term cretize as a synonym for lying. While all individuals may lie on occasion, not everyone is a chronic liar, as it appears the ancient Cretans were. Deceit seemed to be a prevalent vice among them. They were not just occasionally dishonest but consistently so. They were,In the realm of psychology, compulsive liars are individuals who fabricate falsehoods without any external incentive. Lying becomes their default behavior in various situations.
Dishonesty is fundamentally incompatible with a relationship with the God of Truth. This is why Paul instructs Titus to “rebuke [the Cretans] sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith” «This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; », (Titus 1:13). A person whose life is marked by deceit cannot be firmly rooted in the Christian faith or follow Jesus, who identifies Himself as “the truth” «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). We worship a God who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2;Hebrews 6:18). The Christian faith is founded on the assurances of a God whose commitments are always upheld. He is a God of truth, and those who revere Him must do so in truth «God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. », (John 4:24).
The Scriptures convey that God detests falsehood (Proverbs 6:16-17), that deceivers will not evade retribution «A false witness shall not be unpunished, And he that speaketh lies shall not escape. », (Proverbs 19:5), and that their final destination is the lake of fire «But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.», (Revelation 21:8). Understanding this, Paul encouraged Titus to warn the Cretans in the most severe manner possible, to rescue their souls from hell.
