⁵For 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 …

The apostle Paul at times functioned like a field general, directing his disciples into specific ministry locations where there were needs. Titus’ sphere of ministry was Crete. The only reference we have of Paul visiting Crete is found in Acts 27, but his brief visit was not sufficient to establish churches. Probably an unrecorded visit there after Paul’s time in Rome is the most likely context for Paul’s statement here. We might surmise that the Cretan visitors to Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:11) had returned to the islands, shared the gospel, and begun meeting as fellowships of believers.

Paul reiterates the reason for Titus’ assignment was to “set in order what remains,” the implication being that the churches were not functioning in an orderly way. In particular, they needed elders to shepherd, lead, and guide them. The letter makes no mention of appointing “pastors,” and there is no hint that Titus was to be the “pastor” or “bishop” over the churches there. What the inspired apostle specifically says is that the churches were incomplete without elders. God may raise up those who are pastor-teachers, as Paul refers to certain men in Ephesians 4:11, who will equip the believers for their ministries. But in a letter that today is generally called a “pastoral epistle,” no mention is made of the modern-day concept of a pastor who presides over a congregation. Paul’s idea of local church leadership and shepherding was expressed in the role of elders. The sense here is that there was to be a plurality of “elders” in each city, not just one per congregation.

This appointment of elders required qualifications. Following Paul’s letter to Timothy, the list found here in Titus is similar to that of 1 Timothy 3. The former list had to do with the characteristics that existing elders should strive to incorporate into their lives, for Ephesus already had elders at the time of that writing. But Titus’ list can be said to outline the qualifications for becoming elders, for there were no elders yet in any of the churches on Crete.

Much has been written on these qualifications, and we recommend the booklet “Spiritual Maturity: Based on Elder Qualifications” by Biblical Eldership Resources. The church today would do well to take this list seriously and soberly. We don’t need CEO- or business-style leaders. We need Christlike leaders who lead the way in Christlikeness. In truth, this list of qualifications is a description of spiritual maturity to which all Christians should aspire. Elders are to be farther down the road in godliness, showing the rest of us the way.

Lord, I want to model these characteristics so others will also be Christlike.