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This section has 3 verses:
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:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife,
having faithful children not accused of riot or
unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of
God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to
wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
We will begin with the Barclay:
THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH
The reason why I left you in Crete was that any
deficiencies in the organization of the Church
should be rectified, and that you might appoint
elders in each city as I instructed you. An elder is
a man whose conduct must be beyond reproach, the
husband of one wife, with children who are also
believers, who cannot be accused of profligacy, and
who are not undisciplined. For he who oversees the
Church of God must be beyond reproach, as befits a
steward of God.
WE have already studied in detail the qualifications
of the elder as set out by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:1–7.
It is therefore not necessary to examine them in
detail again. [see
Lesson]
It was always Paul’s custom to ordain elders as soon
as a church had been founded (Acts 14:23). Crete was
an island of many cities. Homer called it ‘Crete of
the hundred cities’. It was Paul’s principle that
his little churches should be encouraged to stand on
their own feet as soon as possible.
Quoted verse:
Acts 14:23
And when they had ordained them elders in every
church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended
them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
In this repeated list of the qualifications of the
elder, one thing is especially stressed. He must be
someone who has taught his own family in the faith.
Christianity begins at home. It is no virtue to be
so engaged in public work that the result is neglect
of those at home. All the church service in the
world will not make amends for neglect of a church
official’s family. ~Barclay commentary
Now to the other commentaries. As usual, we begin
with the general and go to the specific. The first
from the Matthew Henry concise, which covers verses
5-9:
The character and qualification of pastors, here
called elders and bishops, agree with what the
apostle wrote to Timothy. Being such bishops and
overseers of the flock, to be examples to them, and
God's stewards to take care of the affairs of his
household, there is great reason that they should be
blameless. What they are not to be, is plainly
shown, as well as what they are to be, as servants
of Christ, and able ministers of the letter and
practice of the gospel. And here are described the
spirit and practice becoming such as should be
examples of good works. ~Matthew Henry
Concise
Now the Matthew Henry Main:
Here is the end expressed,
I. More generally: For this cause left I thee in
Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things
that are wanting. This was the business of
evangelists (in which office Titus was),
to water where the apostles had planted (1
Corinthians 3:6), furthering and finishing what they
had begun; so much epidiorthoun [setting
right] imports, to
order after another. Titus was to go on in settling
what the apostle himself had not time for, in his
short stay there.
Quoted verse:
1 Corinthians 3:6
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the
increase.
Observe,
1. The apostle's great diligence in the gospel; when
he had set things on foot in one place, he hastened
away to another. He was debtor to the Greeks and to
the barbarians, and laboured to spread the gospel as
far as he could among them all. And,
2. His faithfulness and prudence. He neglected not
the places that he went from; but left some to
cultivate the young plantation, and carry on what
was begun.
3. His humility; he disdained [he looked
upon with contempt]
not to be helped in his work, and that by such as
were not of so high a rank in the ministry, nor of
so great gifts and furniture, as himself; so that
the gospel might be furthered and the good of souls
promoted, he willingly used the hands of others in
it: a fit example for exciting zeal and industry,
and engaging to faithfulness and care of the flock,
and present or absent, living and dying, for
ministers, as much as in them lies, to provide for
the spiritual edification and comfort of their
people. We may here also observe,
4. That Titus, though inferior to an apostle, was
yet above the ordinary fixed pastors or bishops [we
use the word, "minister" instead of bishop],
who were to tend particular churches as their
peculiar stated charge; but Titus was in a higher
sphere, to ordain such ordinary [city]
pastors where wanting, and settle things in their
first state and form, and then to pass to other
places for like service as there might be need.
Others had power habitual, and in actu primo [having
a sense of vision],
to minister any where, upon call and opportunity;
but evangelists, such as Titus was, had power in
actu secundo et exercito [determination
and action], and
could exercise their ministry wherever they came,
and claim maintenance of the churches. They were
every where actually in their province, and had a
right to direct and preside among the ordinary
pastors and ministers. Where an apostle could act as
an apostle an evangelist could act as an evangelist;
for they worked the work of the Lord as they did (1
Corinthians 16:10), in a like unfixed and itinerant
[traveling from place to place]
manner. Here at Crete Titus was but occasionally,
and for a short time; Paul willed him to despatch
the business he was left for, and come to him at
Nicopolis, where he purposed to winter; after this
he was sent to Corinth, was with the apostle at
Rome, and was sent thence into Dalmatia, which is
the last we read of him in scripture, so that from
scripture no fixed episcopacy [duty
position] in him does
appear; he left Crete, and we find not that he
returned thither any more. But what power had either
Paul or Titus here? Was not what they did an
encroachment on the rights of civil rulers? In no
sort; they came not to meddle with the civil rights
of any. Luke 12:14, Who made me a judge or a divider
over you? Their work was spiritual, to be carried on
by conviction and persuasion, no way interfering
with, or prejudicing, or weakening, the power of
magistrates, but rather securing and strengthening
it; the things wanting were not such as civil
magistrates are the fountains or authors of, but
divine and spiritual ordinances, and appointments
for spiritual ends, derived from Christ the king and
head of the church: for settling these was Titus
left. And observe, No easy thing is it to raise
churches, and bring them to perfection. Paul had
himself been here labouring, and yet were there
things wanting; materials are out of square, need
much hewing and fitting, to bring them into right
form, and, when they are set therein, to hold and
keep them so. The best are apt to decay and to go
out of order. Ministers are to help against this, to
get what is amiss rectified, and what is wanting
supplied. This in general was Titus's work in Crete:
and,
Quoted verses:
1 Corinthians 16:10
Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you
without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord,
as I also do.
Luke 12:14
And he said unto him, Man, who made me a
judge or a divider over you?
II. In special: To ordain elders in every city, that
is, ministers, who were mostly out of the elder and
most understanding and experienced Christians; or,
if younger in years, yet such as were grave and
solid in their deportment and manners. These were to
be set where there was any fit number of Christians,
as in larger towns and cities was usually the case;
though villages, too, might have them where there
were Christians enough for it. These presbyters or
elders were to have the ordinary and stated care and
charge of the churches; to feed and govern them, and
perform all pastoral work and duty in and towards
them. The word is used sometimes more largely for
any who bear ecclesiastical function in the church,
and so the apostles were presbyters or elders (1
Peter 5:1); but here it is meant of ordinary fixed
pastors, who laboured in the word and doctrine, and
were over the churches in the Lord; such as are
described here throughout the chapter. This word
presbyter some use in the same sense as sacerdos,
and translate it priest, a term not given to gospel
ministers, unless in a figurative or allusive way,
as all God's people are said to be made kings and
priests unto God (hiereis, not
presbuterous), to
offer up spiritual sacrifices of prayers, praises,
and alms. But properly we have no priest under the
gospel, except Christ alone, the high priest of our
profession (Hebrews 3:1), who offered up himself a
sacrifice to God for us, and ever lives, in virtue
thereof, to make intercession in our behalf.
Presbyters here therefore are not proper priests, to
offer sacrifices, either typical or real; but only
gospel ministers, to dispense Christ's ordinances,
and to feed the church of God, over which the Holy [Spirit]
has made them overseers.
Quoted verses:
1 Peter 5:1
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also
an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,
and also a partaker of the glory that shall be
revealed:
Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly
calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our
profession, Christ Jesus;
Observe,
1. A church without a fixed and standing ministry in
it is imperfect and wanting.
2. Where a fit number of believers is, presbyters or
elders must be set; their continuance in churches is
as necessary as their first appointment, for
perfecting the saints, and edifying the body of
Christ, till all come to a perfect man in Christ,
till the whole number of God's chosen be called and
united to Christ in one body, and brought to their
full stature and strength, and that measure of grace
that is proper and designed for them, Ephesians
4:12-13. This is work that must and will be doing to
the world's end, to which therefore the necessary
and appointed means for it must last.
What praise is due to God for such an institution!
What thankfulness from those that enjoy the benefits
of it! What pity and prayer for such as want it!
Pray the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth
labourers into his harvest. Faith comes by hearing,
and is preserved, maintained, and made fruitful,
through it also. Ignorance and corruption, decays of
good and increase of all evil, come by want of a
teaching and quickening ministry. On such accounts
therefore was Titus left in Crete, to set in order
the things that were wanting, and to ordain elders
in every city; but this he was to do, not ad
libitum, or according to his own will or fancy, but
according to apostolic direction.
Quoted verses:
Ephesians 4:12-13
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of
the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and
of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness
of Christ:
III. The rule of his proceeding: As I had appointed
thee, probably when he was going from him, and in
the presence and hearing of others, to which he may
now refer, not so much for Titus's own sake as for
the people's, that they might the more readily yield
obedience to Titus, knowing and observing that in
what he did he was warranted and supported by
apostolic injunction and authority. As under the law
all things were to be made according to the pattern
shown to Moses in the mount; so under the gospel all
must be ordered and managed according to the
direction of Christ, and of his chief ministers, who
were infallibly guided by him. Human traditions and
inventions may not be brought into the church of
God. Prudent disposals for carrying on the ends of
Christ's appointments, according to the general
rules of the word, there may, yea, must be; but none
may alter any thing in the substance of the faith or
worship, or order and discipline, of the churches.
If an evangelist might not do any thing but by
appointment, much less may others. The church is the
house of God, and to him it belongs to appoint the
officers and orders of it, as he pleases: the as
here refers to the qualifications and character of
the elders that he was to ordain: “Ordain elders in
every city, as I appointed thee, such as I then
described and shall now again more particularly
point out to thee,” which he does from the sixth
verse to the ninth inclusive. ~Matthew
Henry Main
Now a thing or so from the Biblical Illustrator:
Set in order the things that are wanting
Church order
I. In every Christian community there should be the
maintenance of order. Confusion in a Church is a
calumny [kal-uh m-nee]
[malicious statement designed to injure
the reputation of someone]
of Christ, and obstructive at once to its peace,
power, prosperity, and usefulness.
II. The maintenance of church order may require the
ministry of special superintendents. The words
elder, bishop, pastor, etc., all refer to the same
office—that of overseer. Such a one is to maintain
order, not by legislating but by loving; not by the
assumption of authority, but by a humble devotion to
the spiritual interests of all.
III. The superintendents should be men of
distinguished excellence. ~Biblical
Illustrator
Here is another piece I found there:
Perfecting the order of the Church
1. It noteth what was the special work of an
evangelist; namely, that being the companions of the
apostles, they were to bring on the work of the Lord
to perfection, both by establishing that foundation
they had laid, and building on further by their
direction where they left off. The office was middle
between the apostle and the pastor: the calling was
immediate from the apostles, as the apostle was
immediate from Christ.
2. Notwithstanding many defects and wants in this
Church and those great ones, and that in
constitution, for we see their cities were destitute
of elders and Church governors; yet was it neither
neglected by Paul, nor separated from by Titus as a
cage of unclean birds; teaching us not presently to
condemn a number and society of men (much
less of Churches) for
want of some laws or government (for no
Church is not wanting in some),
if they join together in the profession of truth of
doctrine and worship; for so many of the Churches,
planted by the apostles themselves, might have been
refused for wanting some offices for a time,
although they were after supplied.
3. We learn hence, that no Church is hastily brought
to any perfection. The apostles themselves, the
master builders, with much wisdom and labour, and
often in long time, made not such proceedings; but
that, had they not provided labourers to follow them
with a diligent hand, all had been lost. Much ado
had they to lay the foundation, and prepare matter
for the building; and yet this they did, by
converting men to the faith and baptizing them; but
after this to join them into a public profession of
the faith, and constitute visible faces of Churches
among them, required more help and labour, and for
most part was left to the evangelists. So as the
building of God’s house is not unlike to the
finishing of other great buildings, with what labour
are stones digged out of the earth? with what
difficulty depart they from their natural roughness?
what sweat and strength is spent ere the mason can
smooth them? As it is also with the timber; and yet,
after all this, they lie a long time here and there
scattered asunder and make no house, till, by the
skill of some cunning builder, they be aptly laid,
and fastened together in their frame. So every man’s
heart, in the natural roughness of it, is as hard as
a stone; his will and affections, like the crabbed
and knotty oaks, invincibly resisting all the pains
of God’s masons and carpenters, till the finger of
God in the ministry come and make plain, and smooth
way, working in their conversion. ~Biblical
Illustrator
Now to one of the specific commentaries. We will go
to the John Gill
For this cause left I thee in Crete -
Not in his voyage to Rome, Acts 27:7 but rather when
he came from Macedonia into Greece, Acts 20:2. Crete
is an island in the Mediterranean sea, now called
Candy. Here Paul preached the Gospel to the
conversion of many; but not having time to finish
what he begun, left Titus here for that purpose:
Quoted verses:
Acts 27:7
And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce
were come over against Cnidus, the wind not
suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against
Salmone;
Acts 20:2
And when he had gone over those parts, and had given
them much exhortation, he came into Greece,
That thou shouldest set in order the things
that are wanting - that
is, form the young converts into Gospel order, into
a regular Gospel church state; settle a proper
discipline among them; instruct them more largely
into the doctrines of the Gospel; and correct their
manners, and direct them in everything, both with
respect to faith and practice:
And ordain elders in every city -
for this island, though it was not above fifty miles
in breadth, and two hundred and seventy in length,
yet had an hundred cities in it; and it seems as if
the Gospel had been preached in most, if not all of
them, and churches were formed: however, in as many
of them as there were churches, the apostle would
have Titus see to it, and take care that they had
proper officers fixed in them, particularly elders,
pastors, or overseers, to preach the Gospel, and
administer the ordinances to them, to watch over
them in the Lord, and put the laws of Christ's house
in execution, and keep up a strict discipline in it,
according to the will of God. What Titus was to do
in this affair, was to put the churches upon looking
out, and choosing from among themselves proper
persons for such service, and to direct, assist, and
preside at the elections and ordinations of them:
for we are not to suppose, that the ordination of
elders was the sole act of Titus, or alone resided
in him; but in like manner as Paul and Barnabas
ordained elders in every church, by the suffrages of
the people, signified by the stretching out of their
hands; in which they directed, presided, and also
assisted in prayer, with fasting, Acts 14:23 ~John
Gill
Quoted verse:
Acts 14:23
And when they had
ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on
whom they believed. |