Titus 1:5
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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: | The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. | For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge; |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedPaul tells Titus why he left him in Crete. There were things still lacking in the churches, and Titus was to set them in order. Above all, he was to ordain elders in every city, as Paul had directed him. Titus 1:5
SpeakingPaul, who calls himself "a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ." Titus 1:1Titus overview
ToTitus, Paul's "own son after the common faith," whom Paul had left in Crete to set the churches in order. Titus 1:4Titus 1:5Titus overview
Also involvedThe elders to be ordained in every city of Crete, and the churches they would lead. Titus 1:5Titus 1:9
Paul gives Titus his task: set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city. The qualities those elders need follow at once (1:6-9). Acts records elders likewise ordained "in every church" (Acts 14:23). Titus 1:5Titus 1:6Titus 1:9Acts 14:23
Crete, a large island in the Mediterranean, where there were believers in many cities. Titus 1:5CreteTitus overview
The eventsPaul had already been in Crete with Titus and left him there. The verse does not say when that visit happened. Titus 1:5Titus overview
WrittenTraditional: about AD 63-65, after Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment. Scholarly: many hold that a follower wrote the letter in Paul's name about AD 80-100; others accept that Paul wrote it. Titus overview
HereThis verse gives the reason Paul left Titus in Crete. Elders were needed because "many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers" were subverting whole houses (1:10-11). Titus 1:5Titus 1:10Titus 1:11
In the whole of ScripturePaul cared that churches be ordered and led, not left on their own. He told the Corinthians, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40), and he gave Timothy a similar charge at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). 1 Corinthians 14:401 Timothy 1:3Acts 14:23
For readersA church needs faithful leaders who hold to sound teaching. Setting things in order is part of caring for God's people, not a matter of mere organisation. Titus 1:5Titus 1:9
- set in orderἐπιδιορθόω
The word means to set in order further. The lexicon lists this verse as its only place in the New Testament. Titus was to finish putting right what was still lacking. Strong's G1930Titus 1:5
- ordainκαθίστημι
The word means to set down, or to appoint someone to a position. Titus was to appoint elders, as Paul had directed. Strong's G2525Titus 1:5
- eldersπρεσβύτερος
The word means an older man and, in the church, an elder. In 1:7 Paul calls the same leader a "bishop," an overseer. Strong's G4245GTitus 1:7
Takeaway
Paul left Titus in Crete to finish what was lacking and to appoint elders in every city. Godly order and faithful leaders protect a church. Titus 1:5Titus 1:91 Corinthians 14:40
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
Where
- Crete islandMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| of this | Τούτου | Toutou | G3778 | this/he/she/itοὗτος (ohutos) οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; 1. as subst., this one, he; (a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; (b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; … |
| Because | χάριν | charin | G5484 | because ofχάριν (charin) therefore, because of this, for this reason the acc. sg form of the noun χάριν which can be used as an improper preposition, on account of, because of, for this reason Lk. 7:47; Eph. 3:1, 14; 1Jn. 3:12; for the sake of, in order to, Gal. 3:19; Tit. 1:5, 11; Jude 16; on the score of, 1Tim. 5:14* |
| I left | ἀπέλιπόν | apelipon | G0620 | to leaveἀπολείπω (apoleipō) ἀπο-λείπω [in LXX for H2308 יָתַר, etc. ;] 1. to leave, leave behind (in π. a term. techn. in wills; see MM, see word): 2Ti.4:13 4:20, Tit.1:5; pass., to be reserved, remain: Heb.4:6, 9 10:26. 2. to desert, abandon: Ju 6.† (AS) |
| you | σε | se | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| in | ἐν | en | G1722 | in/on/amongἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af … |
| Crete, | Κρήτῃ, | Krētē | G2914 | CreteΚρήτη (Krētē) Κρήτη, -ης, ἡ (Lat.), Crete: Act.27:7, 12-13 27:31, Tit.1:5.† (AS) |
| so that | ἵνα | ina | G2443 | in order that/toἵνα (hina) ἵνα, I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), 1. of place, where, whither. 2. of circumstance, when. II. Conjunction, 1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); (a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); … |
| lacking | λείποντα | leiponta | G3007 | to lackλείπω (leipō) λείπω [in LXX: Job.4:11, Pro.19:4 (פָּרַד), al. ;] 1. trans., to leave, leave behind; pass., to be left behind, to lack before prep. (as more usual in cl.), ἐν, Jas.1:4; with genitive of thing(s), Jas.1:5 2:15. 2. Intrans., to be gone, to be wanting: with dative of person(s), Luk.18:22, Tit.3:13; τὰ λείποντα, Tit.1:5 (cf. ἀπο-, δια-, ἐκ-, ἐπι-, κατα-, ἐν-κατα-, περι-, ὑπο-λείπω).† (AS) |
| you may set in order | ἐπιδιορθώσῃ | epidiorthōsē | G1930 | to straighten outἐπιδιορθόω (epidiorthoō) ἐπι-δι-ορθόω to set in order further: Tit.1:5 (Inscr.; Cremer, 8O8).† (AS) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| may appoint | καταστήσῃς | katastēsēs | G2525 | to appoint/conductκαθίστημι (kathistēmi) καθ-ίστημι (and καθιστάνω, Act.17:15), [in LXX for פָּקַד, קוּם, שׂוּם, etc., 24 words in all* ;] 1. (a) to set down; (b) to bring down to a place (Hom., Xen., al.; 2Ch.28:15, 1Ki.5:3): Act.17:15. 2. to set in order, appoint, make, constitute: Tit.1:5, 2Pe.1:8; with dupl. accusative, κριτήν, Luk.12:14; ἡγούμενον, Act.7:10; ἄρχοντα, Act.7:27, 35" (LXX) ; ἀρχιερεῖς, Heb.7:28; before ἐπί, with genitive, Mat.24:45 25:21, 23, Luk.12:42, Act.6:3; id. with dative, Mat.24:47, Luk.12:44; id. with accusative, Heb.2:7 (LXX) (WH, R, mg. omit); pass. (see Mayor, Ja., 115 f.), Rom.5:19, Jas.3:6 4:4; bef … |
| in every | κατὰ | kata | G2596 | according toκατά (kata) κατά (bef. a vowel κατ᾽, καθ᾽; on the frequently neglect of elision, see Tdf., Pr., 95; WH, App., 146a), prep. with genitive, accusative, down, downwards. I. C. genitive (WM, §47, k; Bl., §42, 2). 1. C. genitive of thing(s), in local sense; (a) down, down from: Mat.8:32, Mrk.5:13, Luk.8:33, 1Co.11:4; (b) throughout (late usage; Bl, l.with): κ. ὅλης κ.τ.λ., Luk.4:14 23:5, Act.9:31 10:37; (with) in a peculiar adjectival phrase: ἡ κ. βάθους, deep or extreme poverty, 2Co.8:2. 2. C. genitive of person(s), usually in hostile sense; … |
| town | πόλιν | polin | G4172 | cityπόλις (polis) πόλις, -εως, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for עִיר ;] a city: Mat.2:23, Mrk.1:45, Luk.4:29, Jhn.4:8, al. mult.; opposite to κῶμαι (κ. καὶ ἀγροί), Mat.9:35 10:11, Mrk.6:56, Luk.8:1 13:22; with nom. propr. in appos. (cl.), Act.11:5 16:14; with id. in genitive appos. (BL, §35, 5), Act.8:5, 2Pe.2:6; genitive, of the region, Luk.1:26 4:31, Jhn.4:5; of the inhabitants, Mat.10:5, 23 Luk.23:51, Act.19:35, 2Co.11:32; with genitive of person(s), of one's residence or native place, Mat.22:7, Luk.2:4, 11 4:29 10:11, Jhn.1:45, Act.16:20, Rev.16:9; of Jerusalem: ἡ ἁγία π., Mat.4:5 27:53, Rev.11: … |
| elders | πρεσβυτέρους | presbuterous | G4245G | elder: Elderπρεσβύτερος (presbuteros) πρέσβυς, -εως, ὁ poët. form of πρεσβύτης (which see), [in LXX (= πρεσβευτής, an ambassador): Num.21:20 (21), al. (מֲלְאָךְ), Isa.13:8 57:9 (צִיר), 1Ma.9:70, al. ;] an old man. Compar., πρεσβύτερος, -α, -ον, [in LXX chiefly for זָקֵן ;] 1. of age, elder: ὁ νἱὸς ὁ π., Luk.15:25; as subst., opposite to νεανίσκοι, Act.2:17; to νεώτερος, 1Ti.5:1-2; of the religious leaders of the past, Mat.15:2, Mrk.7:3, 5, Heb.11:2 (= οἱ πατέρες, Heb.1:1). … |
| as | ὡς | hōs | G5613 | as/whenὡς (hōs) ὡς, adverbial form of the relative pron. ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. I. As relat. adv. of manner, as, like as, just as, even as; 1. with a demonstrative, like οὕτως, expressed or understood: οὕτως . . . ὡς, Mrk.4:26, 1Co.3:15, Eph.5:28, Jas.2:12, al.; ὡς . . . οὕτως, Act.8:32, 1Co.7:17, al.; elliptically (sc. οὕτως, οὕτω), with nom., Mat.6:29, al.; with accusative, Mat.19:19, Mrk.12:31, al.; with prep., Mat.26:55, Mrk.14:48, Luk.22:52, Jhn.7:10, al.; with verb., Jhn.15:6, 2Co.3:1, Eph.2:3, 1Th.5:6, al.; with ptcp. (the ptcp. however not having the special force wh. it has in cl.; see Bl., §73, 5; 74, 6), Mat. … |
| I myself | ἐγώ | egō | G1473 | I/weἐγώ (egō) ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. (a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). … |
| you | σοι | soi | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| directed; | διεταξάμην· | dietaxamēn | G1299 | to directδιατάσσω (diatassō) δια-τάσσω [in LXX for שׂוּם, שָׁמַר, etc. ;] to charge, give orders to, appoint, arrange, ordain: with dative, Mat.11:1, 1Co.9:14 16:1; before inf., Luk.8:55, Act.18:2. Mid., 1Co.7:17, Act.20:13; with accusative, 1Co.11:34; with dative, Tit.1:5; before inf., Act.7:44 24:23. Pass., τὸ διατεταγμένον, Luk.3:13, Act.23:31; τὰ διαταχθέντα, Luk.17:9-10; διαταγείς, Gal.3:19.† (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.