TIT 1:5 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For this purpose I left you in Crete, that you might set in order the things not yet being complete and ordain elders in every city as I directed you—

UST I left you on the Island of Crete for this reason: that you do the work that is still unfinished and also appoint elders for the group of believers in every city, just as I told you to do.

BSB 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.

MSB 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.

BLB On account of this I left you in Crete, that you might set in order the things lacking and might appoint elders in every town, as I directed you,

AICNT For this reason I left you in Crete, so that you might put in order what remains and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you,

OEB My reason for leaving you in Crete was that you might put in order what had been left unfinished, and appoint church elders in the various towns, as I myself directed you.

CSB The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town.

NLT I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you.

NIV The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

CEV I left you in Crete to do what had been left undone and to appoint leaders for the churches in each town. As I told you,

ESV This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

NASB For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

LSB For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

WEBBE I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you—

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG A Good Grip on the Message (5-9) I left you in charge in Crete so you could complete what I left half-done. Appoint leaders in every town according to my instructions. As you select them, ask, “Is this man well-thought-of? Is he committed to his wife? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?” It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to—not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.

NET The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

LSV For this cause I left you in Crete, that you may arrange the things lacking, and may set elders down in every city, as I appointed to you,

FBV The reason I left you in Crete was for you to organize what was still needed and to appoint elders in every town, as I told you.

TCNT The reason I left yoʋ in Crete was for yoʋ to put in order what remained to be done and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed yoʋ.

T4T When I asked you to stay on Crete island, I wanted you to do these things: Teach the believers what they need to know so that they can understand correctly the spiritual matters about which some are teaching wrongly. Appoint elders in the congregation in each town in the manner in which I told you to do.

LEB ¶ On account of this, I left you behind in Crete, in order that what remains may be set in order and you may appoint elders in every town, as I ordered you.

NRSV I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you:

NKJV For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

NAB For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you,

BBE I did not take you with me when I went away from Crete, so that you might do what was necessary to put things in order there, placing men in authority over the churches in every town, as I said to you;

Moff I left you behind in Crete in order to finish putting things right and to appoint presbyters in every town as I told you,

Wymth I have left you behind in Crete in order that you may set right the things which still require attention, and appoint Elders in every town, as I directed you to do;

ASV ¶ 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;

DRA For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and shouldest ordain priests in every city, as I also appointed thee:

YLT For this cause left I thee in Crete, that the things lacking thou mayest arrange, and mayest set down in every city elders, as I did appoint to thee;

Drby For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou mightest go on to set right what remained [unordered], and establish elders in each city, as I had ordered thee:

RV 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;
(For this cause left I thee/you in Crete, that thou/you shouldest/should set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee/you charge; )

SLT For this I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest rectify things left behind, and set elders in the city, as I directed thee:

Wbstr For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

KJB-1769 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:
(For this cause left I thee/you in Crete, that thou/you shouldest/should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee/you: )

KJB-1611 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that [fn]are wanting, and ordaine Elders in euery citie, as I had appointed thee.
(For this cause left I thee/you in Crete, that thou/you shouldest/should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordaine Elders in every city, as I had appointed thee/you.)

1:5 Or, left vndone.

Bshps For this cause left I thee in Creta, that thou shouldest refourme ye thynges that are left, and ordayne elders in euerye citie, as I had appoynted thee:
(For this cause left I thee/you in Creta, that thou/you shouldest/should reform ye/you_all things that are left, and ordain elders in everye city, as I had appointed thee/you:)

Gnva For this cause left I thee in Creta, that thou shouldest continue to redresse the thinges that remaine, and shouldest ordeine Elders in euery citie, as I appointed thee,
(For this cause left I thee/you in Creta, that thou/you shouldest/should continue to redresse the things that remain, and shouldest/should ordeine Elders in every city, as I appointed thee/you, )

Cvdl For this cause left I the in Creta, that thou shuldest perfourme that which was lackynge, and shuldest ordeyne Elders in euery cite, as I appoynted ye.
(For this cause left I the in Creta, that thou/you shouldest/should perform that which was lacking, and shouldest/should ordain Elders in every city, as I appointed ye/you_all.)

TNT For this cause left I ye in Creta that thou shuldest performe that which was lackynge and shuldest ordeyne elders in every citie as I apoynted the.
(For this cause left I ye/you_all in Creta that thou/you shouldest/should perform that which was lacking and shouldest/should ordain elders in every city as I appointed them. )

Wycl For cause of this thing Y lefte thee at Crete, that thou amende tho thingis that failen, and ordeyne preestis bi citees, as also Y disposide to thee.
(For cause of this thing I left thee/you at Crete, that thou/you amend those things that fail, and ordain priests by cities, as also I disposide to thee/you.)

Luth Derhalben ließ ich dich in Kreta, daß du solltest vollends anrichten, da ich‘s gelassen habe und besetzen die Städte hin und her mit Ältesten, wie ich dir befohlen habe;
(Therefore left/let I you/yourself in Kreta, that you(sg) should fullds cause/wreak/arrange, there I...it calm/calmly have and besetzen the cities there/therefore and her with elders, as/like I you/to_you(sg) ordered have;)

ClVg Hujus rei gratia reliqui te Cretæ, ut ea quæ desunt, corrigas, et constituas per civitates presbyteros, sicut et ego disposui tibi,[fn]
(Huyus of_the_thing grace I_left you(sg) Cretæ, as them which desunt, corrigas, and constituas through cities priests, like and I disposui to_you, )

1.5 Presbyteros. Pluraliter dicit presbyteros, non autem singulariter, ut scilicet pastoralis curæ onus facilius sustineatur, per multos divisum.

1.5 Presbyteros. Pluraliter he_says priests, not/no however uniquely/especially, as namely pastoralis curæ burden/load easier hold_onatur, through many divisum.

UGNT τούτου χάριν, ἀπέλιπόν σε ἐν Κρήτῃ, ἵνα τὰ λείποντα ἐπιδιορθώσῃ, καὶ καταστήσῃς κατὰ πόλιν πρεσβυτέρους, ὡς ἐγώ σοι διεταξάμην;
(toutou ⱪarin, apelipon se en Kraʸtaʸ, hina ta leiponta epidiorthōsaʸ, kai katastaʸsaʸs kata polin presbuterous, hōs egō soi dietaxamaʸn;)

SBL-GNT Τούτου χάριν ⸀ἀπέλιπόν σε ἐν Κρήτῃ ἵνα τὰ λείποντα ἐπιδιορθώσῃ, καὶ καταστήσῃς κατὰ πόλιν πρεσβυτέρους, ὡς ἐγώ σοι διεταξάμην,
(Toutou ⱪarin ⸀apelipon se en Kraʸtaʸ hina ta leiponta epidiorthōsaʸ, kai katastaʸsaʸs kata polin presbuterous, hōs egō soi dietaxamaʸn,)

RP-GNT Τούτου χάριν κατέλιπόν σε ἐν Κρήτῃ, ἵνα τὰ λείποντα ἐπιδιορθώσῃ, καὶ καταστήσῃς κατὰ πόλιν πρεσβυτέρους, ὡς ἐγώ σοι διεταξάμην·
(Toutou ⱪarin katelipon se en Kraʸtaʸ, hina ta leiponta epidiorthōsaʸ, kai katastaʸsaʸs kata polin presbuterous, hōs egō soi dietaxamaʸn;)

TC-GNT Τούτου χάριν [fn]κατέλιπόν σε ἐν Κρήτῃ, ἵνα τὰ λείποντα ἐπιδιορθώσῃ, καὶ καταστήσῃς κατὰ πόλιν πρεσβυτέρους, ὡς ἐγώ σοι διεταξάμην·
(Toutou ⱪarin katelipon se en Kraʸtaʸ, hina ta leiponta epidiorthōsaʸ, kai katastaʸsaʸs kata polin presbuterous, hōs egō soi dietaxamaʸn; )

1:5 κατελιπον ¦ απελιπον NA SBL ¦ απελειπον TH WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Church Leaders

Spontaneity and spiritual giftedness characterized the first church gatherings (see 1 Cor 14:26-33). The apostles exercised general oversight of the Christian communities (Acts 6:2; 8:14; 14:23) together with the elders in Jerusalem (Acts 15:4, 6, 22-23), whose function was drawn from the Jewish synagogue and Greco-Roman models. The titles and functions of Christian leaders in communities outside of Jerusalem appear to have been fluid (e.g. Acts 6:1-6; 13:1-3), but local leaders were dependent on the apostles when possible. Teachers and prophets also had important roles in guiding the church (see Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor 14:26-40). Churches were often founded before their leaders were appointed (Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23). Such appointments were related to spiritual gifting (see 1 Cor 12:28-30; Eph 4:11-13) and (in some situations) to age.

There were likely always community leaders, whether or not they occupied a formal office. In the letters to Timothy and Titus, however, there is a strong emphasis on the offices of elder, overseer, and deacon. How these offices developed over the years is unclear, and even the practices described in 1 Timothy and Titus might not have been universal. Elders in Ephesus and on Crete may have carried more of a teaching role because the false teachers had to be decisively counteracted. Otherwise, the problems implied in 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 might have prevailed. These letters are more concerned with ensuring that the Good News be faithfully transmitted than with perpetuating a specific form of church government.

The apostle Paul exercised influence and control over his entire mission field, but there is no evidence that he intended to build or leave a regional or mission-wide infrastructure of governance. Apparently, the overseers were to carry on the teaching and disciplinary roles of Paul and his delegates without the wider responsibilities and authority of the apostles. As leaders of the local church, they wielded real and distinctive authority within their communities (see 1 Cor 5:3-5; 1 Tim 4:11-16; 5:19-22; 2 Tim 2:14-19, 25-26; Titus 2:15; 3:10-11). Yet it was not long after the death of the apostles that church structure began to take a more centralized form—largely around the office of bishop—as evidenced in Christian writings from the early second century.

Passages for Further Study

Acts 6:1-6; 13:1-3; 14:23; 15:4-35; 1 Cor 12:28-30; 14:26-33; Eph 4:11-13; 1 Tim 3:1-13; 4:11-16; 5:17-22; 2 Tim 2:2, 25-26; Titus 1:5-9; 2:15

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 1:5–9: Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders in the churches

In this section Paul began the main content of his letter, which continues through 3:11. He made a general statement about what he wanted Titus to do and then talked about how to choose men to be the leaders in the local churches. This section, especially 1:6–8, is very similar to 1 Timothy 3:1–7. If you have already translated 1 Timothy, you should compare your work there with the list here in Titus. Both lists talk about the character and behavior of elders in the church.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Paul writes to Timothy concerning the appointment of church leaders

Instructions on how to select men to be elders in the churches

Qualifications for church leaders

1:5a

The reason I left you in Crete was

¶ I asked you to remain on the island of Crete
¶ When I left Crete, I asked you to stay there.

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

that you would set in order what was unfinished

so that you could continue doing the work that I had not had time to finish.
I wanted you to organize the matters in the local churches that still needed attention.

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,

In every town you should put elders in charge of each church,
I asked you to choose men to lead the congregations in every town on Crete where there are believers.

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.

as I told you to do .
Remember how I instructed you to do this.

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.

Parallel TIT 1:5

Section 1:5–9: Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders in the churches

1:5a

1:5b

1:5c

1:5d