OET interlinear TIT 1:5

1:5a

The reason I left you in Crete: This phrase introduces Paul’s purpose in leaving Titus on the island of Crete. Some time before Paul wrote this letter, he had been on the island of Crete with Titus. At some point Paul had to leave to go somewhere else. He left Titus in charge of helping the new churches and teaching the believers. So here in 1:5 Paul was reminding Titus of things he had already told him some time before.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

This is why I left you in Crete (RSV)

I left you in Crete, so that (GNT)

I left you in Crete: Paul asked Titus to stay in Crete to do a specific job. Avoid translating this in a way that suggests that Paul abandoned Titus without discussing it with him. It may be possible to translate this as:

When I left Crete, I asked you to remain there

In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech here. For example:

When I left Crete, I said to you, “I want you to stay here.”

Crete: Crete is a large island in the Mediterranean Sea. In some languages it may be natural to make this explicit:

Crete island

the island of Crete

1:5b

was that you would set in order what was unfinished: This verse part tells the reason why Paul left Titus in Crete. Paul wanted Titus to put in order some things that had not yet been completed. Here are some other ways to translate this:

was to set in order the remaining matters (NET)

to do what still needed to be done (GW)

so that you could put in order the things that still needed doing (GNT)

set in order: This phrase means “organize” or “cause things to be the way they should be.”

what was unfinished: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as what was unfinished is more literally “the left/remaining things.” There were some things that Paul thought should be done for the churches on Crete that had not yet been done. The churches needed to have proper leadership, false teachers needed to be corrected, and people needed to be taught proper doctrine and how Christians should behave. Paul had started this work and now asked Titus to continue it.

In your translation, avoid implying that someone was to blame for not finishing the task. Paul was not accusing Titus or anyone else of not finishing something. He was just saying that there was more yet to do. It may be helpful to translate this as:

the things that still need doing

the remaining tasks/items

1:5c

and appoint elders in every town: This was a further reason why Paul had left Titus on Crete. Appointing elders was probably one of the things that had not yet been done. Paul wanted Titus to appoint leaders in all the local congregations.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

so that you could appoint church leaders in each town

appointing spiritual leaders in every city (GW)

appoint elders: Paul told Titus to appoint or “select” men and put them in charge of each local congregation. The text does not say how this happened. If possible, you should use a term or expression which does not specify how Titus was to appoint them.

Here is another way this could be translated:

put them in the seat/position of elder

elders: The word elders literally means “old men.” Here it refers to church leaders, men who helped to teach the other believers and who made decisions in the church.

1:5d

as I directed you: Before Paul left Crete, he had given Titus instructions about choosing these elders. Now he reminded him of these previous instructions.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

as I told you before

Remember my instructions. (GNT)

Paul’s instructions included the things he went on to list in 1:6–9.

I: The Greek pronoun that the BSB translates as I has special emphasis. Paul used this pronoun to emphasize that he was saying these things because he had the authority of an apostle. If you use emphatic pronouns in your language, try to use one here.