Titus 1:5

5. Left I thee in Crete As he left Timothy in Ephesus on departing for Macedonia. 1 Timothy 1:3.

Set in order The Greek word implies a supplementary ordering in an incomplete work.

Wanting Left undone by St. Paul for want of time.

Ordain Constitute or appoint. Same word is used Acts 6:3, where see note, and Luke 12:14. The word itself decides nothing as to the mode; but undoubtedly all St. Paul’s ordinations were performed with the solemn laying on of hands. Adverse criticism has objected that St. Paul’s delineation of the eldership is not very complete or symmetrical, and that it says no more than Titus ought to have known without it. The portraiture consists, we may admit, of rough strokes rather than flowing lines. But it doubtless selects the points which most contrasted with the evil traits of the errorists; and furnished not so much information as reminder to Titus and to the elders.

In every city This implies that there were many cities in Crete in which one or more Churches existed. Christianity had been known for some time in the island, and St. Paul’s work had been revival and extension rather than first introduction. It was also Titus’s work to complete the reorganization. His alone was the work of ordaining. If we ask why no old Cretan presbyter or presbyters were authorized to ordain? a reason probably was, that, if there were such elders, not one was fully qualified to maintain Paul’s true apostolic type of Christian faith and order. A second reason may have been that an ordination, and the grade and office it authenticates, are more impressive and authoritative when coming from a higher organic authority.

I had appointed thee Titus was thus an apostle’s vicar, by an apostle appointed to do apostolic work.