Paul limits his use of the poet's line to the true charge about Cretans
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Severianus opens the fragments by explaining why Paul, after quoting the Cretan poet's saying about Cretans, adds that this testimony is true.
The poet who said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons” (Titus 1:12) was attacking them for pointing to a tomb of Zeus that does not exist.Paul used that same line, but so that he would not be thought to agree with the poet and testify to the immortality of the so-called Zeus, he added, “This testimony is true” (Titus 1:13).That poet lied in defending Zeus, but I speak the truth when I say that Cretans are always liars and idle gluttons.This testimony is true, not that one.