One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Wrongdoers are to be rebuked sharply and not passed over with leniency. The rebuke is to name the specific sin plainly and directly, leaving no doubt about the wrong condemned. Such plain dealing is required because concealment or softening would leave the fault uncorrected. The purpose of this sharpness is restorative, that those reproved may become sound in the faith.
Wrongdoers are to be rebuked sharply and not passed over with leniency. The rebuke is to name the specific sin plainly and directly, leaving no doubt about the wrong condemned. Such plain dealing is required because concealment or softening would leave the fault uncorrected. The purpose of this sharpness is restorative, that those reproved may become sound in the faith.