Titus 1:5

“For this cause left I thee in Crete, etc.] Not in his voyage to Rome, (<442707>Acts 27:7) but rather when he came from Macedonia into Greece, (<442002>Acts 20:2). Crete is an island in the Mediterranean sea, now called Candy; (see Gill on “<440211>Acts 2:11”). Here Paul preached the Gospel to the conversion of many; but not having time to finish what he begun, left Titus here for that purpose: that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting; that is, form the young converts into Gospel order, into a regular Gospel church state; settle a proper discipline among them; instruct them more largely into the doctrines of the Gospel; and correct their manners, and direct them in…”

“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…”

“For this cause left I thee in Crete - Compare the notes, 1 Timothy 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…”

“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. Titus 1:6”

“1:5-16 Strong, faithful leadership was needed in the churches of Crete to address the danger of false teachers (1:10-16). This part of Titus’s task dovetails with the larger concern of the letter: to shape a community that bears witness to Christ by embodying God’s grace in its conduct. Cp. 1 Tim 3:1-7. 1:5-9 Titus was directed to appoint leaders in order to complete our work there—i.e., to establish the church (cp. 1 Tim 3:1-13). Deacons are not mentioned, possibly because these were new, small churches. • These leadership qualities might be an accommodation to the newness of these converts and the roughness of their culture. It is assumed that the elders will be male (see 1 Tim 3:4-5). 1:5…”

“I left, Ti1 1:3 Crete: Act 2:11, Act 27:7, Act 27:12, Act 27:21 set: Ch1 6:32; Ecc 12:9; Isa 44:7; Co1 11:34, Co1 14:40; Col 2:5 wanting: or, left undone and: Act 14:23; Ti2 2:2 Titus 1:6”