Set In Order

Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee

‘Crete’ – An island in the Aegean Sea about 225 kilometres long and 48 kilometres wide. If Paul had been to Crete and established congregations during the period of Acts it no doubt would have been recorded by Luke. Therefore, it seems clear that this was done after the close of Acts. If so, then Paul was liberated from prison for a time. It seems that he left Crete before the congregation was fully established.

‘Ordain’ [Greek, kathistemi] Translated “ordain” (1:5; Heb. 5:1; 8:3); “appoint” (Acts 6:3); “conduct” (Acts 17:15); “set” (Heb. 2:7); “make ruler” (Matt. 24:45-47; 25:21-23; Luke 12:42-44); and “make” (Luke 12:14; Acts 7:10, 27, 35; Rom. 5:19; Heb. 7:28; 2Pet. 1:8).

‘Elders’ [Greek, presbuteros] The word “elders” in the Old Testament meant the heads or rulers of the tribes, cities, and nations (Deut. 1:13). In the Gospels and Acts it generally refers to the Sanhedrin (Matt. 15:2; 16:21; 21:23; 26:3; Acts 4:5, 8, 23). In the early congregational era, elders were the ministers and deacons of the local congregations (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 16:4; 20:17, 28; 21:18; 1Tim. 5:17; Tit. 1:5; Jas. 5:14). All apostles were elders (Acts 11:30; 1Pet. 5:1; 2Jn. 1:1; 3Jn. 1:1), but all elders were not apostles (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23; 16:4). The elders of Acts 20:17, were the overseers of Acts 20:28. The elders of 1Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5-10 and 1Peter 5:1-2 were thr preaching elders or bishops, the ones who read (teach) from the written Word, the written books of the apostles. The business elders were deacons (Acts 6:1-15). Bishops and deacons are mentioned in Philippians 1:1 and 1Timothy 3:1-13. The word presbuteros is also used of older men and women (Luke 15:25; John 8:9; Acts 17:1-34; 4:22; 1Tim. 5:2). It is used also of heavenly ranks (Rev. 4:4, 10; 5:6, 8, 11, 14; 7:11, 13; 11:16; 14:3; 19:4). It is found 68 times and is translated “elder” except in John 8:9; Acts 2:17; 4:22.

‘Appointed’ [Greek, diatasso] Translated “appoint” (1:5; Luke 3:13; Acts 7:44; 20:13); “ordain” (1Cor. 7:17; 9:14; Gal. 3:19); “give order” (1Cor. 16:1); “command” (Matt. 11:1; Luke 8:55; 17:9-10; Acts 18:2; 23:31; 24:23); and “set in order” (1Cor. 11:34). Timothy was appointed to chose elders (bishops) as those to oversee the congregations.