Titus 1:12 (GNV)

Passage

One of themselues, euen one of their owne prophets said, The Cretians are alwaies liars, euill beastes, slowe bellies.

Nearby Context

Titus 1:10 For there are many disobedient and vaine talkers and deceiuers of mindes, chiefly they of the Circumcision,

Titus 1:11 Whose mouthes must bee stopped, which subuert whole houses, teaching things, which they ought not, for filthie lucres sake.

Titus 1:12 One of themselues, euen one of their owne prophets said, The Cretians are alwaies liars, euill beastes, slowe bellies.

Titus 1:13 This witnesse is true: wherefore conuince them sharply, that they may be sound in ye faith,

Titus 1:14 And not taking heede to Iewish fables and commandements of men, that turne away from the trueth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "themselues", "euen", "owne", "prophets", "said", "cretians", "alwaies", and "liars". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "themselues" and "euen", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "Whose mouthes must bee stopped which subuert..." into verse 13's "This witnesse is true wherefore conuince them...", so "themselues" and "euen" belong inside that flow. In Titus context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "themselues" and "euen" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.