Teks -- Titus 1:13 (NET)

1:13 Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith

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Robertson: Tit 1:13 - Testimony

Testimony ( marturia ).

Of the poet Epimenides. Paul endorses it from his recent knowledge.

Robertson: Tit 1:13 - Sharply

Sharply ( apotomōs ).

Old adverb from apotomos (from apotemnō , to cut off), in N.T. only here and 2Co 13:10, "curtly,""abruptly."It is necessary to appear rude sometimes for safety, if the house is on fire and life is in danger.

Robertson: Tit 1:13 - That they may be sound

That they may be sound ( hina hugiainōsin ).

Final clause with hina and present active subjunctive of hugiainō , for which verb see note on 1Ti 1:10.

Vincent: Tit 1:13 - Sharply

Sharply ( ἀποτόμως )

Only here and 2Co 13:10 (note). Paul has ἀποτομία severity , Rom 11:22 (note). lxx, ἀποτόμως severely , only Wisd. 5:22; ἀποτόμος severe (not in N.T.), Wisd. 5:20; 11:10; 12:9. From ἀποτέμνειν to cut off . It signifies abrupt , harsh , summary dealing.

JFB: Tit 1:13 - This witness

"This testimony (though coming from a Cretan) is true."

JFB: Tit 1:13 - sharply

Gentleness would not reclaim so perverse offenders.

JFB: Tit 1:13 - that they

That those seduced by the false teachers may be brought back to soundness in the faith. Their malady is strifes about words and questions (Tit 3:9; 1Ti 6:4).

Clarke: Tit 1:13 - This witness is true

This witness is true - What Epimenides said of them nearly 600 years before continued still to be true. Their original character had undergone no moral change

Clarke: Tit 1:13 - Rebuke them sharply

Rebuke them sharply - Αποτομως· Cuttingly, severely; show no indulgence to persons guilty of such crimes

Clarke: Tit 1:13 - That they may be sound in the faith

That they may be sound in the faith - That they may receive the incorrupt doctrine, and illustrate it by a holy and useful life.

Calvin: Tit 1:13 - This testimony is true // Wherefore rebuke them sharply // That they may be sound in the faith

13.This testimony is true ²³⁰ How worthiness soever the witness may have been, ²³¹ yet the truth which has been spoken by him is acknowledged by Paul. The inhabitants of Crete, of whom he speaks with such sharpness were undoubtedly very wicked. The Apostle, who is wont to reprove mildly those who deserved to be treated with extreme severity, would never have spoken so harshly of the Cretans, if he had not been moved by very strong reasons. What term more reproachful than these opprobrious epithets can be imagined; that they were “lazy, devoted to the belly, destitute of truth, evil beasts?” Nor are these vices charged against one or a few persons, but he condemns the whole nation.

It was truly a wonderful purpose of God, that he called a nation so depraved, and so infamous on account of its vices, to be among the first who should partake of the gospel; but his goodness is not less worthy of admiration, in having bestowed heavenly grace on those who did not even deserve to live in this world. ²³² In that country so corrupt, as if in the midst of hell, the Church of Christ held a position, and did not cease to be extended, though it was infected by the corruption of the evils which prevailed there; for here Paul not only reproves those who were strangers to the faith, but expressly reproves those who had made a profession of Christianity. Perceiving that these vices so hateful have already taken root, and are spreading far and wide, he does not spare the reputation of the whole nation, that he may attempt the care of those whom there was some hope of healing.

Wherefore rebuke them sharply Of that circumspection and prudence with which a bishop ought to be endowed, it is not the least part, that he regulate his manner of teaching by the dispositions and conduct of men. We must not deal with obstinate and unruly persons in the same manner as with those who are meek and teachable; for, in instructing the latter, we ought to use such mildness as is suitable to their teachable disposition, while the stubbornness of the former must be severely corrected, and (as the saying is) for a bad knot there must be a bad wedge. ²³³ The reason why Titus ought to be more sharp and severe in rebuking them has been already stated, namely, that they are “evil beasts.”

That they may be sound in the faith Whether the “soundness” or “healthfulness” is here contrasted with the diseases which he has mentioned, or whether he simply commands them to remain in the sound faith, is uncertain. I prefer the latter view. As they already are exceedingly vicious, and may easily be corrupted more and more, he wishes them to be more closely and strictly kept within the pure faith. ²³⁴

TSK: Tit 1:13 - rebuke // that

rebuke : Tit 2:15; Pro 27:5; 2Co 13:10; 1Ti 5:20; 2Ti 4:2

that : Tit 2:2; Lev 19:17; Psa 119:80, Psa 141:5; 2Co 7:8-12; 1Ti 4:6

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Poole: Tit 1:13 - This witness is true // Wherefore rebuke them sharply // That they may be sound in the faith

This witness is true this testimony of Epimenides is true, what I have found by experience, and those of them that in profession have embraced the Christian faith may have some tincture of their nation’ s vices.

Wherefore rebuke them sharply if thou meetest with any such, reprove or convince them apotomwv , cuttingly, that is, sharply, severely: the metaphor possibly is fetched from surgeons, who cut out dead flesh to the quick.

That they may be sound in the faith that they may be sound in the doctrine of the gospel, or in their minds, not infected with any vice.

Haydock: Tit 1:13 - This testimony

This testimony, or character, says the apostle, is true, by public fame of them, and therefore they must be rebuked sharply, [10] their condition and dispositions requiring it; which, therefore, is not contrary to the admonition he gave to Timothy, to be gentle towards all. (2 Timothy ii. 24.) (Witham)

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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]

Dure, Greek: apotomos; a metaphor from surgeons cutting.

Gill: Tit 1:13 - This witness is true // Wherefore rebuke them sharply // that they may be sound in the faith

This witness is true,.... The apostle confirms what the poet had said; he knew it to be fact from his own experience, and by the observation he had made when in the island: he does not say, that all that Epimenides had said, in the poem referred to, was true; but this character, which he had given of the Cretians, and which he cites, and uses to a good purpose; from whence it may be observed, that the writings of the Heathen poets may be read with profit, and be used to advantage, if carefully and prudently attended to; for what is truth, let it come from whom, or by what means it will, ought to be received.

Wherefore rebuke them sharply: not merely upon the testimony of the poet, but upon the confirmation of it by the apostle; and not because of these general and national characters, but because these things personally and particularly belonged to the persons before described; whom the apostle would have rebuked, both for their bad principles, teaching things that they ought not; and for their immoralities, their lying and deceit, their intemperance, luxury, and idleness, things very unbecoming the Christian name; and therefore since their offences were of an heinous nature, and they lived in them, and were hardened and obstinate, and were like to have a bad influence on others, they must be rebuked "sharply": rebukes ought to be given according to the nature of offences, and the circumstances of them, and the offenders; some are to be given privately, others publicly; some should be reproved with gentleness and meekness, and be used in a tender and compassionate way; others more roughly, though never in a wrathful and passionate manner, yet with some degree of severity, at least with great plainness and faithfulness; laying open the nature of the evils guilty of in all their aggravated circumstances, without sparing them in the least; doing, as surgeons do by wounds, though they take the knife, and use it gently, yet cut deep, to the quick, and go to the bottom of the wound, and lay it open: and so the phrase may be rendered here, "rebuke them cuttingly"; cut them to the quick, and spare them not; deal not with them as Eli with his sons, 1Sa 2:23 but speak out, and expose their crimes, severely reprove them, that others may fear: and

that they may be sound in the faith; that they may be recovered from their errors, to the acknowledgment of the truth; that they may receive the sound doctrine of faith, the wholesome words of Christ, and speak the things which become them, and use sound speech, which cannot be condemned; and that they may be turned from their evil practices, and appear to be sound, as in the doctrine, so in the grace of faith; or that that by their works may appear to be genuine, true, and unfeigned; and that they may be strong and robust, hale and healthful, and not weak and sickly in the profession of their faith. Rebukes being to persons infected with bad principles and practices, like physic to sickly constitutions, a means of removing the causes of disorder; and in rebukes, admonitions, and censures, this always ought to be the end proposed, the good of the persons rebuked, admonished, and censured.