1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
1:4 To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus christ our Saviour.
1:5 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:
[1] {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 # Ac 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. Cf. v. 5, note.
[2] {elders} Elder (presbuteros) and bishop (episcopos= "overseer") designate the same office (cf v.7 # Ac 20:17 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 # 1Ti 3:4,5 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 # Ac 20:28 Joh 21:16 Heb 13:17 1Pe 5:2 Elders are made or "set" in the churches by the Holy Spirit # Ac 20:28 but great stress is laid upon their due appointment # Ac 14:23 Tit 1:5 At first they were ordained (Gr. cheirotoneo, "to elect," "to designate with the hand,") by an apostle; e.g. # Ac 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. # 1Ti 3:1-7
1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
1:12 One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
1:15 Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
