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Selected Verse: Titus 1:5 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Tit 1:5	Strong Concordance	For this [5127] cause [5484] left I [2641] thee [4571] in [1722] Crete [2914], that [2443] thou shouldest set in order [1930] the things that are wanting [3007], and [2532] ordain [2525] elders [4245] in every [2596] city [4172], as [5613] I [1473] had appointed [1299] thee [4671]:
	King James	For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
I left thee--"I left thee behind" [ALFORD] when I left the island: not implying permanence of commission (compare Ti1 1:3). in Crete--now Candia. set in order--rather as Greek, "that thou mightest follow up (the work begun by me), setting right the things that are wanting," which I was unable to complete by reason of the shortness of my stay in Crete. Christianity, doubtless, had long existed in Crete: there were some Cretans among those who heard Peter's preaching on Pentecost (Act 2:11). The number of Jews in Crete was large (Tit 1:10), and it is likely that those scattered in the persecution of Stephen (Act 11:19) preached to them, as they did to the Jews of Cyprus, &c. Paul also was there on his voyage to Rome (Act 27:7-12). By all these instrumentalities the Gospel was sure to reach Crete. But until Paul's later visit, after his first imprisonment at Rome, the Cretan Christians were without Church organization. This Paul began, and had commissioned (before leaving Crete) Titus to go on with, and now reminds him of that commission. ordain--rather, "appoint," "constitute." in every city--"from city to city." as I . . . appointed thee--that is, as I directed thee; prescribing as well the act of constituting elders, as also the manner of doing so, which latter includes the qualifications required in a presbyter presently stated. Those called "elders" here are called "bishops" in Tit 1:7. Elder is the term of dignity in relation to the college of presbyters; bishop points to the duties of his office in relation to the flock. From the unsound state of the Cretan Christians described here, we see the danger of the want of Church government. The appointment of presbyters was designed to check idle talk and speculation, by setting forth the "faithful word."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

I left thee--"I left thee behind" [ALFORD] when I left the island: not implying permanence of commission (compare Ti1 1:3).

in Crete--now Candia.

set in order--rather as Greek, "that thou mightest follow up (the work begun by me), setting right the things that are wanting," which I was unable to complete by reason of the shortness of my stay in Crete. Christianity, doubtless, had long existed in Crete: there were some Cretans among those who heard Peter's preaching on Pentecost (Act 2:11). The number of Jews in Crete was large (Tit 1:10), and it is likely that those scattered in the persecution of Stephen (Act 11:19) preached to them, as they did to the Jews of Cyprus, &c. Paul also was there on his voyage to Rome (Act 27:7-12). By all these instrumentalities the Gospel was sure to reach Crete. But until Paul's later visit, after his first imprisonment at Rome, the Cretan Christians were without Church organization. This Paul began, and had commissioned (before leaving Crete) Titus to go on with, and now reminds him of that commission.

ordain--rather, "appoint," "constitute."

in every city--"from city to city."

as I . . . appointed thee--that is, as I directed thee; prescribing as well the act of constituting elders, as also the manner of doing so, which latter includes the qualifications required in a presbyter presently stated. Those called "elders" here are called "bishops" in Tit 1:7. Elder is the term of dignity in relation to the college of presbyters; bishop points to the duties of his office in relation to the flock. From the unsound state of the Cretan Christians described here, we see the danger of the want of Church government. The appointment of presbyters was designed to check idle talk and speculation, by setting forth the "faithful word."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For this cause left I thee in Crete - Compare the notes, Ti1 1:3. On the situation of Crete, see the Introduction, Section 2. That thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting - Margin, "left undone." The Greek is: "the things that are left;" that is, those which were left unfinished; referring, doubtless, to arrangements which had been commenced, but which for some cause had been left incomplete. Whether this had occurred because he had been driven away by persecution, or called away by important duties demanding his attention elsewhere, cannot now be determined. The word rendered "set in order", ἐπιδιορθώσῃ epidiorthōsē, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, "to make straight upon, and then to put further to rights, to arrange further." Robinson, Lexicon - There were things left unfinished which he was to complete. One of these things, and perhaps the principal, was to appoint elders in the various cities where the gospel had been preached. And ordain - The word "ordain" has now acquired a technical signification which it cannot be shown that it has in the New Testament. It means, in common usage, to "invest with a ministerial function or sacerdotal power; to introduce, and establish, and settle in the pastoral office with the customary forms and solemnities" (Webster); and it may be added, with the idea always connected with it, of the imposition of hands. But the word used here does not necessarily convey this meaning, or imply that Titus was to go through what would now be called an ordination service. It means to set, place, or constitute; then, to set over anything, as a steward or other officer (see Mat 24:45; Luk 12:42; Act 6:3), though without reference to any particular mode of investment with an office; see the word, "ordain," explained in the notes at Act 1:22; Act 14:23. Titus was to appoint or set them over the churches, though with what ceremony is now unknown. There is no reason to suppose that he did this except as the result of the choice of the people; compare the notes at Act 6:3. Elders - Greek: Presbyters; see the word explained in the notes at Act 14:23. These "elders," or "Presbyters," were also called "bishops" (compare the notes at Ti1 3:1), for Paul immediately, in describing their qualifications, calls them bishops: - "ordain elders in every city - if any be blameless - for a bishop must be blameless," etc. If the elders and bishops in the times of the apostles were of different ranks, this direction would be wholly unmeaningful. It would be the same as if the following direction were given to one who was authorized to appoint officers over an army: "Appoint captains over each company, who shall be of good character, and acquainted with military tactics, for a Brigadier General must be of good character, and acquainted with the rules of war." - That the same rank is denoted also by the terms Presbyter and Bishop here, is further apparent because the qualifications which Paul states as requisite for the "bishop" are not those which pertain to a prelate or a diocesan bishop, but to one who was a pastor of a church, or an evangelist. It is clear, from Tit 1:7, that those whom Titus was to appoint were "bishops," and yet it is absurd to suppose that the apostle meant prelatical bishops, for no one can believe that such bishops were to be appointed in "every city" of the island. According to all modern notions of Episcopacy, one such bishop would have been enough for such an island as Crete, and indeed it has been not infrequently maintained that Titus himself was in fact the Bishop of that Diocese. But if these were not prelates who were to be ordained by Titus, then it is clear that the term "bishop" in the New Testament is given to the Presbyters or elders; that is, to all ministers of the gospel. That usage should never have been departed from. In every city - Crete was anciently celebrated for the number of its cities. In one passage Homer ascribes to the island 100 cities (Iliad ii. 649), in another, 90 cities (Odyssey xix. 174). It may be presumed that many of these cities were towns of not very considerable size, and yet it would seem probable that each one was large enough to have a church, and to maintain the gospel. Paul, doubtless, expected that Titus would travel over the whole island, and endeavor to introduce the gospel in every important place. As I had appointed thee - As I commanded thee, or gave thee direction - διεταξάμην dietaxamēn - This is a different word from the one used in the former part of the verse - and rendered "ordain" - καθίστημι kathistēmi. It does not mean that Titus was to ordain elders in the same manner as Paul had ordained him, but that he was to set them over the cities as he had directed him to do. He had, doubtless, given him oral instructions, when he left him, as to the way in which it was to be done.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
wanting It is not at all a question of the presence in the assembly of persons having the qualifications of elders, made overseers by the Holy Spirit (Act 20:28) that such persons were in the churches of Crete is assumed; the question is altogether one of the appointment of such persons. These assemblies were not destitute of elders; but were "wanting," in that they were not duly appointed. There is a progress of doctrine in respect of the appointing of elders. Compare (Tit 1:5), note. elders Elder (Greek, "presbuteros") and bishop (Greek, "episcopos" means "overseer") designate the same office, (compare (Tit 1:7); (Act 20:17); (Act 20:28), the former referring to the man, the latter to a function of the office. The eldership in the apostolic local churches was always plural. There is no instance of one elder in a local church. The functions of the elders are: to rule; (Ti1 3:4); (Ti1 3:5); (Ti1 5:17) to guard the body of revealed truth from perversion and error (Tit 1:9) to "oversee" the church as a shepherd his flock; (Act 20:28); (Joh 21:16); (Heb 13:17). (Pe1 5:2). Elders are made or "set" in the churches by the Holy Spirit, (Act 20:28), but great stress is laid upon their due appointment. (Act 14:23); (Tit 1:5). At first, they were ordained (Greek, "kathistēmi", "to elect," "to designate with the hand,") by an apostle; for example, (Act 14:23), but in Titus and First Timothy, the qualifications of an elder become part of the Scriptures for the guidance of the churches in such appointment. (Ti1 3:1-7).

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
In Crete Crete is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean. By the mythological writers it was called Aeria, Doliche, Idaea, Telchinia. According to tradition, Minos first gave laws to the Cretans, conquered the Aegean pirates, and established a navy. After the Trojan war the principal cities of the island formed themselves into several republics, mostly independent. The chief cities were Cnossus, Cydonia, Gortyna, and Lyctus. Crete was annexed to the Romans Empire b.c. 67. About Paul's visiting the island we have no information whatever beyond the hints in this Epistle. There is no absolute proof that Paul was ever there before the voyage to Rome. Although on that voyage some time appears to have been spent at Crete, there is no notice of Paul having received any greeting from the members of the Christian churches there. According to this Epistle, Paul and Titus had worked there together. Paul went away, and left Titus to organize the churches founded by himself. He sent this letter by Zenas and Apollos (Tit 3:13), and announced in it the coming of Artemas or of Tychicus. On their arrival Titus was to join Paul at Nicopolis, where Paul was proposing to winter. Shouldst set in order (ἐπιδιορθώσῃ) N.T.o. Lit. to set straight besides or farther; that is, should arrange what remained to be set in order after Paul's departure. Used by medical writers of setting broken limbs or straightening crooked ones. Διόρθωσις reformation, Heb 9:10 : διόρθωμα correction, Act 24:3. Ordain elders (καταστήσῃς πρεσβυτέρους) Καθιστάναι appoint or constitute. In Paul only Rom 5:19. For the sense here comp. Mat 24:45, Mat 24:47; Luk 12:14; Act 6:3. The meaning of the injunction is, that Titus should appoint, out of the number of elderly men of approved Christian reputation, certain ones to be overseers (ἐπίσκοποι) of the churches in the several cities. The eldership was not a distinct church office. See on Ti1 5:1. I had appointed (διεταξάμην) Better, I gave thee charge. Mostly in Luke and Acts.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The things which are wanting - Which I had not time to settle myself. Ordain elders - Appoint the most faithful, zealous men to watch over the rest. Their character follows, Tit 1:6-9. These were the elders, or bishops, that Paul approved of; - men that had living faith, a pure conscience, a blameless life.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For this cause left I thee in Crete - That St. Paul had been in Crete, though nowhere else intimated, is clear from this passage. That he could not have made such an important visit, and evangelized an island of the first consequence, without its being mentioned by his historian, Luke, had it happened during the period embraced in the Acts of the Apostles, must be evident. That the journey, therefore, must have been performed after the time in which St. Luke ends his history, that is, after St. Paul's first imprisonment at Rome, seems almost certain. Set in order the things that are wanting - It appears from this that the apostle did not spend much time in Crete, and that he was obliged to leave it before he had got the Church properly organized. The supplying of this defect, he tells Titus, he had confided to him as one whose spiritual views coincided entirely with his own. Ordain elders in every city - That thou mightest appoint, καταστησῃς, elders - persons well instructed in Divine things, who should be able to instruct others, and observe and enforce the discipline of the Church. It appears that those who are called elders in this place are the same as those termed bishops in Tit 1:7. We have many proofs that bishops and elders were of the same order in the apostolic Church, though afterwards they became distinct. Lord Peter King, in his view of the primitive Church, has written well on this subject. In every city. - Κατα πολιν. This seems to intimate that the apostle had gone over the whole of the hecatompolis or hundred cities for which this island was celebrated. Indeed it is not likely that he would leave one in which he had not preached Christ crucified.

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⁷ For [1063] a bishop [1985] must [1163] be [1511] blameless [410], as [5613] the steward [3623] of God [2316]; not [3361] selfwilled [829], not [3361] soon angry [3711], not [3361] given to wine [3943], no [3361] striker [4131], not [3361] given to filthy lucre [146];

⁷ And [1161] when we had sailed slowly [1020] [1722] many [2425] days [2250], and [2532] scarce [3433] were come [1096] over against [2596] Cnidus [2834], the wind [417] not [3361] suffering [4330] us [2248], we sailed under [5284] Crete [2914], over against [2596] Salmone [4534];
⁸ And [5037], hardly [3433] passing [3881] it [846], came [2064] unto [1519] a [5100] place [5117] which is called [2564] The fair [2570] havens [2568] [3040]; nigh [1451] whereunto [3739] was [2258] the city [4172] of Lasea [2996].
⁹ Now [1161] when much [2425] time [5550] was spent [1230], and [2532] when sailing [4144] was [5607] now [2235] dangerous [2000], because [1223] the fast [3521] was [3928] now [2532] already [2235] past [3928], Paul [3972] admonished [3867] them,
¹⁰ And said [3004] unto them [846], Sirs [435], I perceive [2334] that [3754] this voyage [4144] will be [3195] [1510] with [3326] hurt [5196] and [2532] much [4183] damage [2209], not [3756] only [3440] of the lading [5414] and [2532] ship [4143], but [235] also [2532] of our [2257] lives [5590].
¹¹ Nevertheless [1161] the centurion [1543] believed [3982] the master [2942] and [2532] the owner of the ship [3490], more [3123] than [2228] those things which were spoken [3004] by [5259] Paul [3972].
¹² And [1161] because [5225] the haven [3040] was [5225] not commodious [428] to [4314] winter in [3915], the more part [4119] advised [1012] [5087] to depart [321] thence also [2547], if [1513] by any means [4458] they might [1410] attain [2658] to [1519] Phenice [5405], and there to winter [3914]; which is an haven [3040] of Crete [2914], and lieth [991] toward [2596] the south west [3047] and [2532] [2596] north west [5566].

¹⁹ Now [3767] [3303] they which were scattered abroad [1289] upon [575] the persecution [2347] that arose [1096] about [1909] Stephen [4736] travelled [1330] as far as [2193] Phenice [5403], and [2532] Cyprus [2954], and [2532] Antioch [490], preaching [2980] the word [3056] to none [3367] but [1508] unto the Jews [2453] only [3440].

¹⁰ For [1063] there are [1526] many [4183] unruly [506] and [2532] vain talkers [3151] and [2532] deceivers [5423], specially [3122] they of [1537] the circumcision [4061]:

¹¹ Cretes [2912] and [2532] Arabians [690], we do hear [191] them [846] speak [2980] in our [2251] tongues [1100] the wonderful works [3167] of God [2316].

³ As [2531] I besought [3870] thee [4571] to abide still [4357] at [1722] Ephesus [2181], when I went [4198] into [1519] Macedonia [3109], that [2443] thou mightest charge [3853] some [5100] that they teach [2085] no [3361] other doctrine [2085],

¹ This is a true [4103] saying [3056], If a man [1536] desire [3713] the office of a bishop [1984], he desireth [1937] a good [2570] work [2041].

²³ And [1161] when they had ordained [5500] them [846] elders [4245] in every [2596] church [1577], and had prayed [4336] with [3326] fasting [3521], they commended [3908] them [846] to the Lord [2962], on [1519] whom [3739] they believed [4100].

³ Wherefore [3767], brethren [80], look ye out [1980] among [1537] you [5216] seven [2033] men [435] of honest report [3140], full [4134] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] and [2532] wisdom [4678], whom [3739] we may appoint [2525] over [1909] this [5026] business [5532].

²² Beginning [756] from [575] the baptism [908] of John [2491], unto [2193] that same day [2250] that [3739] he was taken up [353] from [575] us [2257], must [1163] one [1520] be ordained [1096] to be a witness [3144] with [4862] us [2254] of his [846] resurrection [386].

⁴² And [1161] the Lord [2962] said [2036], Who [5101] then [686] is [2076] that faithful [4103] and [2532] wise [5429] steward [3623], whom [3739] his lord [2962] shall make ruler [2525] over [1909] his [846] household [2322], to give [1325] them their portion of meat [4620] in [1722] due season [2540]?

⁴⁵ Who [5101] then [686] is [2076] a faithful [4103] and [2532] wise [5429] servant [1401], whom [3739] his [846] lord [2962] hath made ruler [2525] over [1909] his [846] household [2322], to give [1325] them [846] meat [5160] in [1722] due season [2540]?

¹ This is a true [4103] saying [3056], If a man [1536] desire [3713] the office of a bishop [1984], he desireth [1937] a good [2570] work [2041].
² A bishop [1985] then [3767] must [1163] be [1511] blameless [423], the husband [435] of one [3391] wife [1135], vigilant [3524], sober [4998], of good behaviour [2887], given to hospitality [5382], apt to teach [1317];
³ Not [3361] given to wine [3943], no [3361] striker [4131], not [3361] greedy of filthy lucre [146]; but [235] patient [1933], not a brawler [269], not covetous [866];
⁴ One that ruleth [4291] well [2573] his own [2398] house [3624], having [2192] his children [5043] in [1722] subjection [5292] with [3326] all [3956] gravity [4587];
⁵ (For [1161] if a man [1536] know [1492] not [3756] how [1492] to rule [4291] his own [2398] house [3624], how [4459] shall he take care of [1959] the church [1577] of God [2316]?)
⁶ Not [3361] a novice [3504], lest [3363] being lifted up with pride [5187] he fall [1706] into [1519] the condemnation [2917] of the devil [1228].
⁷ Moreover [1161] [2532] he [846] must [1163] have [2192] a good [2570] report [3141] of [575] them which are without [1855]; lest [3363] he fall [1706] into [1519] reproach [3680] and [2532] the snare [3803] of the devil [1228].

⁵ For this [5127] cause [5484] left I [2641] thee [4571] in [1722] Crete [2914], that [2443] thou shouldest set in order [1930] the things that are wanting [3007], and [2532] ordain [2525] elders [4245] in every [2596] city [4172], as [5613] I [1473] had appointed [1299] thee [4671]:

²⁸ Take heed [4337] therefore [3767] unto yourselves [1438], and [2532] to all [3956] the flock [4168], over [1722] the which [3739] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] hath made [5087] you [5209] overseers [1985], to feed [4165] the church [1577] of God [2316], which [3739] he hath purchased [4046] with [1223] his own [2398] blood [129].

² Feed [4165] the flock [4168] of God [2316] which is among [1722] you [5213], taking the oversight [1983] thereof, not [3361] by constraint [317], but [235] willingly [1596]; not [3366] for filthy lucre [147], but [235] of a ready mind [4290];

¹⁷ Obey [3982] them that have the rule [2233] over you [5216], and [2532] submit yourselves [5226]: for [1063] they [846] watch [69] for [5228] your [5216] souls [5590], as [5613] they that must give [591] account [3056], that [2443] they may do [4160] it [5124] with [3326] joy [5479], and [2532] not [3361] with grief [4727]: for [1063] that [5124] is unprofitable [255] for you [5213].

¹⁶ He saith [3004] to him [846] again [3825] the second time [1208], Simon [4613], son of Jonas [2495], lovest thou [25] me [3165]? He saith [3004] unto him [846], Yea [3483], Lord [2962]; thou [4771] knowest [1492] that [3754] I love [5368] thee [4571]. He saith [3004] unto him [846], Feed [4165] my [3450] sheep [4263].

⁹ Holding fast [472] the faithful [4103] word [3056] as [2596] he hath been taught [1322], that [2443] he may be [5600] able [1415] by [1722] sound [5198] doctrine [1319] both [2532] to exhort [3870] and [2532] to convince [1651] the gainsayers [483].

¹⁷ Let [515] the elders [4245] that rule [4291] well [2573] be counted worthy [515] of double [1362] honour [5092], especially [3122] they who labour [2872] in [1722] the word [3056] and [2532] doctrine [1319].

⁵ (For [1161] if a man [1536] know [1492] not [3756] how [1492] to rule [4291] his own [2398] house [3624], how [4459] shall he take care of [1959] the church [1577] of God [2316]?)

⁴ One that ruleth [4291] well [2573] his own [2398] house [3624], having [2192] his children [5043] in [1722] subjection [5292] with [3326] all [3956] gravity [4587];

¹⁷ And [1161] from [575] Miletus [3399] he sent [3992] to [1519] Ephesus [2181], and called [3333] the elders [4245] of the church [1577].

¹ Rebuke [1969] not [3361] an elder [4245], but [235] intreat [3870] him as [5613] a father [3962]; and the younger men [3501] as [5613] brethren [80];

¹⁴ And [1161] he said [2036] unto him [846], Man [444], who [5101] made [2525] me [3165] a judge [1348] or [2228] a divider [3312] over [1909] you [5209]?

⁴⁷ Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], That [3754] he shall make [2525] him [846] ruler [2525] over [1909] all [3956] his [846] goods [5224].

¹⁹ For [1063] as [5618] by [1223] one [1520] man's [444] disobedience [3876] many [4183] were made [2525] sinners [268], so [3779] [2532] by [1223] the obedience [5218] of one [1520] shall [2525] many [4183] be made [2525] righteous [1342].

³ [5037] We accept [588] it always [3839], and [2532] in all places [3837], most noble [2903] Felix [5344], with [3326] all [3956] thankfulness [2169].

¹⁰ Which stood only [3440] in [1909] meats [1033] and [2532] drinks [4188], and [2532] divers [1313] washings [909], and [2532] carnal [4561] ordinances [1345], imposed [1945] on them until [3360] the time [2540] of reformation [1357].

¹³ Bring [4311] Zenas [2211] the lawyer [3544] and [2532] Apollos [625] on their journey [4311] diligently [4709], that [2443] nothing [3367] be wanting [3007] unto them [846].

⁶ If any [1536] be [2076] blameless [410], the husband [435] of one [3391] wife [1135], having [2192] faithful [4103] children [5043] not [3361] accused [1722] [2724] of riot [810] or [2228] unruly [506].
⁷ For [1063] a bishop [1985] must [1163] be [1511] blameless [410], as [5613] the steward [3623] of God [2316]; not [3361] selfwilled [829], not [3361] soon angry [3711], not [3361] given to wine [3943], no [3361] striker [4131], not [3361] given to filthy lucre [146];
⁸ But [235] a lover of hospitality [5382], a lover of good men [5358], sober [4998], just [1342], holy [3741], temperate [1468];
⁹ Holding fast [472] the faithful [4103] word [3056] as [2596] he hath been taught [1322], that [2443] he may be [5600] able [1415] by [1722] sound [5198] doctrine [1319] both [2532] to exhort [3870] and [2532] to convince [1651] the gainsayers [483].