Tit 1:5-9 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Titus 1:5-16: 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 . Summary for Titus 1:5-9: 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 Crete was located in the Mediterranean, south of the Aegean Sea. It was an important location for travel and trade by sea, so it had a mix of influences, including a Jewish population. Some from Crete had been at Pentecost (Acts 2:11 ), but this letter seems to deal with an infant church. • elders in each town: There may have been more than one house church in a given town and possibly more than one elder in a given house church. Clearly, there were churches in at least two towns and the leadership was specific to each town.

Summary for Titus 1:5-16: 1:5-16 ^a Strong, faithful leadership was needed in the churches of Crete to address the danger of false teachers (1:10-16 ^b). 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 ^c.
Summary for Titus 1:5-9: 1:5-9 ^d 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 ^e). 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 ^f). 1:5 ^g Crete was located in the Mediterranean, south of the Aegean Sea. It was an important location for travel and trade by sea, so it had a mix of influences, including a Jewish population. Some from Crete had been at Pentecost (Acts 2:11 ^h), but this letter seems to deal with an infant church.

• elders in each town: There may have been more than one house church in a given town and possibly more than one elder in a given house church. Clearly, there were churches in at least two towns and the leadership was specific to each town.
1:6 ⁱ must be faithful to his wife: See study note on 1 Tim 3:2.

• wild or rebellious: This probably reflects Cretan culture with its low moral standards (Titus 1:12 ^j).
1:7 ^k A church leader (or An overseer, or A bishop) is a manager of God’s household: See 1:11 ^l; 2:2-10 ^m; 1 Tim 1:4 ⁿ; 3:4-5 ^o, 12 ^p, 15 ^q; 2 Tim 2:20-21 ^r.

• These qualities indicate that an elder should not be running with the Cretan masses (see Titus 1:12 ^s).
1:9 ^t The elders had a leading role in teaching the community. This may have been necessary in dealing with the immediate threat to these particular communities (as also in Ephesus; see 1 Tim 3:1 ^u).

• Only with a strong belief in the Good News would an elder be able to provide wholesome teaching. Paul’s specific concerns are addressed in Titus 2:1–3:11 ^v, in light of the problems mentioned in 1:10-16 ^w and 3:9-11 ^x (see also 1 Tim 1:10 ^y).

• Titus had a similar role (cp. Titus 1:13 ^z; 2:15 ^aa; 3:10-11 ^ab). The local leadership would carry on where Paul and his delegates left off.

• Those who oppose it are described in 1:10-16 ^ac.