Paul called Titus his, “own son after the common faith” (Titus 1:4). Likely, he was a convert of Paul, similar to Timothy whom Paul called his “own son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2). While Timothy’s mother was a Jewess and his father a Greek (Acts 16:1-3), Titus had Greek parents (Gal. 2:3). Paul refused to circumcise Titus, not yielding even for a moment to the demands of the Judaizing teachers who troubled the early church by demanding the Gentiles be circumcised and keep the law of Moses (Gal. 2:3-5; Acts 15:1-29). Titus was up against this type of trouble when Paul left him in Crete (Titus 1:5, 10, 14).

Paul had journeyed with Titus to Crete, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, and left him there to “set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city” (Titus 1:5). Paul gave an apostolic charge to Titus to finish some work in the churches of Crete. Paul had confidence in Titus. He could send him to congregations knowing he would walk in the same spirit and steps as the apostle himself (2 Cor. 12:18). Titus would, no doubt, give teaching so the congregations were sound in the faith. Also, every city with a congregation of the Lord’s church needed elders; Titus was charged with making sure qualified men were selected as leaders of each newly-planted congregation as Paul and Barnabas had done in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (Acts 14:20-23).

Among the qualifications Paul listed for these men in Titus 1:6-9 (cf. 1 Tim. 3:1-7), was the attribute of “holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (Titus 1:9). Paul then explained the reason for this:

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith (Titus 1:10-13).

False teachers, especially the aforementioned Judaizing teachers, were troubling the churches in Crete with valueless words—speaking with no substance. They deceived minds, causing entire households—houses being a regular meeting place for first-century congregations (Rom. 16:5)—to be troubled with no elders to defend the truth.

These false teachers would slip into these house meetings and not only promulgate false doctrine, but also make money off those present. Religious charlatans speak for base gain. They fleece the flock in order to line their own pockets. What about the exorbitant lifestyles of certain preachers today who are continually asking their poor audiences to give more to them? Many of this sort were in Crete. Paul evidently quotes Epimenides, a Greek poet who lived about 600 BC; he was regarded by the unbelieving as a prophet. While he was not a prophet of God, this much he said, according to Paul, was true: “The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies” (Titus 1:12). The lies these false teachers told to make money, live a gluttonous lifestyle, and pursue bestial passions fits this picture.

Thus, Paul encourages Titus and the elders who held the faithful word to “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13). There is a time for correction that cuts. Notice that the intention of this censure is so that the false teachers would be converted and be sound in the faith. Are we confident enough with the word of God that we could, if the situation presents itself, put to silence false teaching by a bold, sound appeal to the Scriptures? There may be times in your life when you are “left in Crete,” where you are left to stand for the truth and teach others to do the same.

-Mark Day