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Paul shows utter contempt for the people of Crete

A SCEPTICAL READING OF THE BIBLE – PAUL’S EPISTLE TO TITUS

Chapter 1

Paul commences by declaring that (verse 1) God promised us ‘eternal life’ even before the World began, suggesting that Paul had access to an edition of Genesis unread by anyone else, or that this is his own pet theory. No such pledge or promise is declared elsewhere. The deaths of millions over history suggests it was never kept, as does God’s banishment of Adam & Eve, The mass extermination Flood, Sodom & Gomorrah, etc.

Titus is addressed as ‘Paul’s son’, though he is more likely to be a convert made by Paul than a literal son. Titus was last seen by Paul in Crete, where Paul left his friend (son) with the arduous ambitious task of converting the Cretans to Christianity, establishing priests, etc. Titus was effectively the first Bishop of Crete.

Now Paul, having had a rethink, has some reservations and advice for his son. Paul holds the Cretans in some contempt. He accuses them of being “always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies” (Verse 12). His vitriolic tone is actually quite repulsive reading, especially when he gets anti-Semitic, accusing Cretans of listening to too many ‘Jewish Fables’. (Verse 14).

Chapter 2

This repeats much seen in Chapter 1, calling on Titus to make the Cretans reform and repent for their wicked ways. He tells him to implore slaves to be obedient to their masters (verse 9).

Chapter 3

Paul calms down a little and remembers that he, and Titus were once hopeless sinners too, and no better than the Cretans until they found their own salvations in Christ. (There is a holier than though tone to this).

Titus is advised that if a man is not converted after three attempts to persuade him, Titus should give up trying to convert that man and move on to deal with others.

This is the New Testament at its most fanatical, bigoted and aggressive. Paul holds the Cretans in great contempt and sends Timothy among them as a firebrand. Quite what Timothy and the Cretans (then and today) made of this is anyone’s guess.

The full text to Titus King James edition - http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/titus-kjv.html

Arthur Chappell

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