This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word "sharply" here isn't about being mean or yelling, but about being precise and cutting straight to the heart of the issue, like a surgeon's knife removing diseased tissue to heal the body. This severe correction isn't an attack, but a radical act of love aimed at restoring spiritual health and soundness in the faith.
This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing Titus, who is in Crete to set things in order. He's already warned Titus about the deceptive nature of some teachers there, particularly those of the circumcision party who were causing trouble by undermining families and seeking personal gain. Before this verse, Paul quotes an ancient Cretan poet's assessment of his own people as "lazy gluttons," and now he confirms that this harsh judgment holds truth even among those who claim to be Christians.
Paul doesn't mince words when it comes to confronting error. What does it mean to speak 'sharply' in a way that heals rather than harms?
The verse commands Titus to 'rebuke them sharply.' The Greek word used here, 'apotomōs,' literally means 'cutting off' or 'abruptly.' Think of a surgeon's sharp knife, which cuts away diseased tissue to save the body.
Paul uses this powerful imagery to convey the necessity of direct, sometimes severe, correction. This isn't about angry outbursts or personal attacks. Instead, it's about a firm, decisive confrontation with falsehood and sin that aims at spiritual health. The goal is not to wound, but to 'cut away' whatever is corrupting the faith and causing spiritual sickness.
The Cretan culture had a reputation for certain vices, and some Christians there were falling back into them. Paul recognized that gentle persuasion wouldn't be enough; a 'cutting' word was needed to get their attention and address the deep-seated issues.
Why would Paul connect sharp correction to spiritual 'health'? Discover the profound connection between truth and well-being in the Christian life.
The ultimate aim of this sharp rebuke is stated clearly: 'that they may be sound in the faith.' The Greek word translated 'sound' here is the same word used for 'healthy.' Paul uses a consistent metaphor of health and sickness throughout his letters, especially in Titus.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
elenchein · Greek Verb
A stern or authoritative correction, often used in the context of church discipline to restore doctrinal or moral integrity.
hygiainousin · Greek Adjective
A state of spiritual health, orthodoxy, and adherence to the apostolic teaching of the Gospel.
c. 1000 BC - 600 BC
Cretan Reputation for Deceit
Ancient Greek culture widely regarded the inhabitants of Crete with suspicion, associating them with deceit and falsehood. This reputation was such that 'to Cretanize' became a proverb for lying.
c. 600 BC
Epimenides' Testimony
The Cretan poet Epimenides, considered a prophet by some, famously described Cretans as 'always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.' This unflattering portrait reflected the prevailing negative perception of the island's people.
c. AD 40 - 60
Paul's Ministry and Travel
The Apostle Paul traveled extensively throughout the Roman Empire, establishing churches and appointing leaders. His journeys likely brought him into contact with Cretans and the island's reputation.
c. AD 62-67— this verse
Paul's Letter to Titus
During his ministry, Paul entrusted Titus with the task of organizing the church in Crete. This verse comes from a letter to Titus, likely written during this period, addressing the challenges of false teachers and unruly behavior within the Cretan congregations.
This passage echoes Titus 1:13 by commanding Timothy to 'preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching,' highlighting the need for strong, clear communication in ministry.
Proverbs 15:4This verse states, 'A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit,' which, while emphasizing gentleness, also implies that a harsh or 'perverse' tongue can cause damage, offering a contrast and nuance to the 'rebuke them sharply' command in Titus.
Galatians 2:11Here, Paul describes how he 'opposed Peter to his face, because he stood condemned' to show that sometimes direct, sharp confrontation is necessary for the sake of truth and the integrity of the gospel, paralleling the situation Titus faces in Crete.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5Paul's instruction to the Corinthian church to 'drive out the wicked person from among you' by delivering him to Satan shows a severe, corrective action for the health of the community, similar to the sharp rebuke Titus is commanded to administer for the soundness of the faith.
pooleTitus 1:13: "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;"
This witness is true; this testimony of Epimenides is true, what I have found by experience, and those of them that in profession have embraced the Christian faith may have some tincture of their nation’s vices. Wherefore rebuke them sharply; if thou meetest with any such, reprove or convince them apotomwv, cuttingly, that is, sharply, severely: the metaphor possibly is fetched from surgeons,…
ellicottTitus 1:13: "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;"
(13) This witness is true. —St. Paul emphatically here endorses the very severe judgment which their own great prophet-poet had written on the national Cretan character. He (St. Paul) had lived long enough in their midst to be able to bear his grave testimony to the truth of Epimenides’ words. He had witnessed the sad havoc in Christian life which their evil national propensities had caused.…
The word "sharply" here isn't about being mean or yelling, but about being precise and cutting straight to the heart of the issue, like a surgeon's knife removing diseased tissue to heal the body. This severe correction isn't an attack, but a radical act of love aimed at restoring spiritual health and soundness in the faith.
Paul is addressing Titus, who is in Crete to set things in order. He's already warned Titus about the deceptive nature of some teachers there, particularly those of the circumcision party who were causing trouble by undermining families and seeking personal gain. Before this verse, Paul quotes an ancient Cretan poet's assessment of his own people as "lazy gluttons," and now he confirms that this harsh judgment holds truth even among those who claim to be Christians.
Paul is addressing Titus, who is in Crete to set things in order. He's already warned Titus about the deceptive nature of some teachers there, particularly those of the circumcision party who were causing trouble by undermining families and seeking personal gain. Before this verse, Paul quotes an ancient Cretan poet's assessment of his own people as "lazy gluttons," and now he confirms that this harsh judgment holds truth even among those who claim to be Christians.
"This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith," — The word "sharply" here isn't about being mean or yelling, but about being precise and cutting straight to the heart of the issue, like a surgeon's knife removing diseased tissue to heal the body. Th…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026