SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:13
Este testimonio es verdadero; por tanto, reprndelos duramente, para que sean sanos en la fe,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Titus 1:13
Verse 13. 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. Rebuke them sharply] apotomwv? Cuttingly, severely; show no indulgence to persons guilty of such crimes.
That they may be sound in the faith] That they may receive the incorrupt doctrine, and illustrate it by a holy and useful life.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. This witness is true , etc.] 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, ( 1 Samuel 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-16 - False teachers are described. Faithful ministers must oppose such in good time, that their folly being made manifest, they may go no furthe They had a base end in what they did; serving a worldly interest unde pretence of religion: for the love of money is the root of all evil Such should be resisted, and put to shame, by sound doctrine from the Scriptures. Shameful actions, the reproach of heathens, should be fa from Christians; falsehood and lying, envious craft and cruelty, bruta and sensual practices, and idleness and sloth, are sins condemned eve by the light of nature. But Christian meekness is as far from cowardl passing over sin and error, as from anger and impatience. And thoug there may be national differences of character, yet the heart of man in every age and place is deceitful and desperately wicked. But the sharpest reproofs must aim at the good of the reproved; and soundnes in the faith is most desirable and necessary. To those who are defile and unbelieving, nothing is pure; they abuse, and turn things lawfu and good into sin. Many profess to know God, yet in their lives den and reject him. See the miserable state of hypocrites, such as have form of godliness, but are without the power; yet let us not be s ready to fix this charge on others, as careful that it does not appl to ourselves __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
η 3588 μαρτυρια 3141 αυτη 3778 εστιν 2076 5748 αληθης 227 δι 1223 ην 3739 αιτιαν 156 ελεγχε 1651 5720 αυτους 846 αποτομως 664 ινα 2443 υγιαινωσιν 5198 5725 εν 1722 τη 3588 πιστει 4102
Vincent's NT Word Studies
13. Sharply (apotomwv). Only here and 2 Cor. xiii. 10 (note). Paul has ajpotomia severity, Rom. xi. 22 (note). LXX, ajpotomwv severely, only Wisd. v. 22; ajpotomov severe (not in N.T.), Wisd. v. 20; xi. 10; xii. 9. From ajpotemnein to cut of. It signifies abrupt, harsh, summary dealing.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:13 {Testimony} (marturia). Of the poet Epimenides. Paul endorses it from his recent knowledge. {Sharply} (apotomws). Old adverb from apotomos (from apotemn", 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. {That they may be sound} (hina hugiain"Sin). Final clause with hina and present active subjunctive of hugiainw, for which verb see on 1Ti 1:10.
