Father Mike Schmitz

Like, what does it actually mean?

One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.

That is the number one principle when it comes to interpreting scripture.

This testimony is true.

Looking at the literal sense, what is this saying?

Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, instead of giving heed to Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject the truth.

For example...

If the Bible says something along the lines of David entered the city of Jerusalem, leaping and dancing before the ark, the literal interpretation of that is David entered the city of Jerusalem, leaping and dancing before the ark.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure.

their very minds and consciences are corrupted.

That's like the literal sense.

That is the number one thing, the first thing, the basis for the other senses.

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds.

They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed.

So we pay attention to that one first.

Everything builds off of the literal because the spiritual sense is divided into three different categories, right?

Chapter 2.

Teach Sound Doctrine But as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine.

So the spiritual sense has the allegorical, the moral, and the anagogical.

Bid the older men be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.