John Calvin Commentary Titus 1:12

"One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons." — Titus 1:12 (ASV)

One of themselves, a prophet of their own. I have no doubt that the person spoken of here is Epimenides, who was a native of Crete. For when the Apostle says that this author was “one of themselves” and “a prophet of their own,” he undoubtedly means that he belonged to the nation of the Cretans.

Why he calls him a Prophet is doubtful. Some think the reason is that the book from which Paul borrowed this passage bears the title Περὶ Χρησμῶν, “Concerning Oracles.” Others believe that Paul speaks ironically, saying that they have such a Prophet—a Prophet worthy of a nation that refuses to listen to the servants of God.

But as poets are sometimes called “prophets” by the Greeks (προφῆται), and as Latin authors call them Vates, I consider it to mean simply a teacher. The reason they were so called seems to have been that they were always regarded as (γένος θεῖον καὶ ἐνθουσιαστικόν) “a divine race and moved by divine inspiration.” Thus Adimantus also, in the Second Book of Plato’s treatise Περὶ Πολιτείας, after calling the poets υἵους Θεῶν (“sons of the gods”), adds that they also became their prophets. For this reason, I think Paul accommodates his style to the ordinary practice.

Nor is it important to inquire on what occasion Epimenides calls his countrymen liars—namely, because they boast of having the sepulcher of Jupiter. But since the poet takes it from an ancient and well-known report, the Apostle quotes it as a proverbial saying.

From this passage, we may infer that those persons are superstitious who do not venture to borrow anything from heathen authors. All truth is from God; consequently, if wicked men have said anything true and just, we should not reject it, for it has come from God. Besides, all things are from God; therefore, why should it not be lawful to dedicate to His glory everything that can properly be used for such a purpose? But on this subject, the reader can consult Basil’s discourse Πρὸς τοὺς Νέους, ὅπως ἂν ἐξ ἑλλ. etc.