1) It must be noted that the saying came by way of one of their own prophets, which is often attributed to Epimenedes. Paul simply agreed with the assessment.

2) Therefore, not ALL inclusively, who lived on Crete were liars in everything they said else the pejorative description would also have been false. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

3) Although during Paul's time and sometime thereafter the caricature of Cretans being habitual liars continued and it seems from extra-biblical writings that this lying continued among them, the passage should not be taken as universally applicable without end.

4) Hendriksen sums up Paul's indictment against the Cretans as follows:

Quote
But certainly all that was meant by Paul was that Crete was notorious for its many constant liars. His statement leaves ample room for the following propositions:

a. Even Cretan liars sometimes speak the truth.
b. Some Cretans are not outstanding liars.
c. This particular Cretan, namely Epimenedes, spoke the truth when he described Cretans as being, generally speaking, constant liars.
In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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