This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Titus 1:5
5 For this [toutou] cause [charin] left I [kataleipo] thee [se] in [en] Crete [Krete], that [hina] thou shouldest set in order [epidiorthoo] the things that are wanting [leipo], and [kai] ordain [kathistemi] elders [presbuteros] in every [kata] city [polis], as [hos] I [ego] had appointed [diatasso] thee [soi]: KJV-Interlinear
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, NASB
Even though Crete is not mentioned in Acts, as one of the places visited by Paul, it is evident here that Paul was in Crete for a while. At least long enough to get local churches started in several of the cities on the island.
It is also evident that there was substantial positive volition and interest in Christianity among the people who lived there.
If the Cross occurred in 30 A.D., and if Pauls conversion occurred in 35 A.D., then by the time Paul had traveled around Asia Minor even as far as Spain and back to Jerusalem, combined with the travels of the other Apostles, as well as the travels of many other folks, then Christianity spread rapidly throughout that huge region in only a twenty year period.
Most certainly there were even more places visited, which did not get mentioned in the scriptures.
This would explain why Paul traveled continually, preaching the gospel and establishing some church format, but leaving the organizing of the church in local areas, to others, while he continued on his way to yet another city.
Crete was said to be the ‘land of a hundred cities,’ (Iliad, Odyssey). If that is accurate, and we presume that the island consisted of many small towns or villages, large enough to support a church, then Titus had his work cut out for him.
Paul introduced the gospel, but with most Christians, the gospel only wets the appetite for wanting to know more. Or at least they should want to know more. And even though that was a time (the Cross) of a historical low in faith, it was also the time, in the decades immediately following the Cross, of a new resurgence in the desire to know God.
And as we all know, the gospel consists of the story of Christ, and the ultimate goal of believing in Him for salvation. That is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, of the spiritual life. There is a great deal more to learn, following salvation, in order to grow up and advance oneself to spiritual maturity.
The ultimate goal of the spiritual life is maturity, which is the complete package of ones life for both now in this life and especially in eternity.
Therefore, it fell upon Titus, and others, to get these new local churches organized. They needed local leaders. They needed documents from which they could study. And these things just did not happen overnight. Especially back then.
Even in our current day, people do not generally pursue their spiritual knowledge with a vigor and an insatiable desire to learn, and know. And we have all of the technological advantages, which they did not have back in those days.
And certainly it is far easier to learn and grow up spiritually, when life is easy or trouble free. But even though we have our current economic problems, those folks back then were experiencing a melt down of anti-Jewish sentiment in Rome, topped only by an anti-Christian sentiment.
Once Rome invades Judea and slaughters literally millions, then the table will turn against Christians. So even our current troubles pale in comparison to theirs.
Titus had an insurmountable task placed in his hands. But positive volition will always triumph even when faced with phenomenal opposition.
Your life may be filled with difficulties now, or your life may be filled with ease. It makes no difference if you are open minded and have a genuine desire to pursue your spiritual life.
The world can attack you. The world can humiliate you. But the world can never defeat you when you are positive toward God, Christ, doctrine, and your spiritual life.
