Titus 1:9b-16 …that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.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 always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
‘They of the circumcision.’ Jewish teachers of the law.
‘Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.’ So-called Christian leaders run cults through religion; they make decisions for their followers and control their lives in various ways. Everything they do, they do in God’s name and quote Scripture to back everything, but their whole intent is always for self-gain.
‘A prophet of their own.’ This was Epimenides, 538 b.c. He wrote many poems and uttered prophecies.
‘Slow bellies’ [Greek, argos] idle, doing nothing; lazy. Translated “idle” (1Tim. 5:13; Matt. 12:36; 20:3, 6) and “barren” (2Pet. 1:8).
‘Unto the pure all things are pure.’ For those who live in purity, that which they do will always be in purity still and they will never defile themselves with anything of this world that is unholy and defiled.
Living the Word 