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.
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