Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Titus. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Titus is here identified as being on the island of Crete when this letter was written. I left you implies that Paul and Titus were together in Crete some time before the writing of this letter; there is, however, no record of this event in the New Testament. The only record of Paul’s visit to the islands is during his long journey to Rome, when the ship he was in had to make an emergency landing in Crete because of a strong wind (see Acts 27.1-13).
The text clearly states the reason why Paul left Titus in Crete. Amend translates a verb that means “to set right,” “to correct,” “to put in order” (Good News Translation); while what was defective is literally “the things that are left (undone),” hence “the things that still needed doing” (Good News Translation), “what remained to be done” (New Revised Standard Version). The context shows clearly that this has reference to the condition of the Cretan church; in fact it is even possible to equate “the things that still needed doing” with appoint elders in every town, in which case the organization (or polity) of the church is the primary concern (compare Jerusalem Bible “for you to get everything organized there and appoint elders”; New Jerusalem Bible has changed the focus somewhat: “for you to organise everything that still had to be done and appoint elders”). It is, however, possible to take the statement in a more general sense to include many things (for example, sound doctrine, chapter 2), among which is church organization. This in fact is how Revised English Bible has rendered the text: “you should deal with any outstanding matters, and in particular should appoint elders….”
The word for appoint means to assign someone to a particular office, hence to designate. For elders see 1 Tim 4.14 and 5.1. The term here definitely refers to an office within the church; the translation “older men” is excluded by the context. Every town is literally “according to town,” which can be translated “town by town.” Town translates the word that is usually translated “city.” A city in biblical times would be somewhat different from a modern city, since modern cities are usually defined in terms of area, population, and importance; and if these criteria are used for biblical places, very few would qualify as cities. In the present context, therefore, town is a much more appropriate term to use. In cultures where towns do not exist, but only villages of various sizes, one may express towns as “large villages” or “places with many houses.” It is also possible to say “a large village with a strong wall (or, fence) around it.”
Two other issues need to be addressed. First, does this mean that for each town in Crete there would be one or more designated elders? We cannot be sure, of course, of the number of towns in Crete at that time. But it is doubtful whether Christianity had spread so widely that there was an organized Christian congregation in every town. Nor is it likely that there were towns where there were more than one congregation, as Contemporary English Version could imply (“to appoint leaders for the churches in each town”). More likely, then, Titus is being told to appoint elders for every church in Crete, that is, for every town where there is a church.
Secondly, there is the problem of the mechanics of appointing elders. Simply put, the question is, does Titus have the authority to appoint elders by himself, or are the congregations involved in some way? If Titus can appoint elders, what in fact is the position that he holds which gives him such authority? There are of course no clear answers to these questions, and every Christian group or denomination will give explanations that are in agreement with its own form of church government. Fortunately for translators, they do not have to come to any definite answers regarding these questions before they can translate the text in a clear and meaningful manner.
The word for directed occurs only here in the Pastoral Letters. There is a difference of opinion among interpreters as to what as I directed you is connected with. Revised Standard Version illustrates one option, identifying the appointment of elders as the antecedent of directed. Good News Translation represents a second option, where as I directed you points forward and refers to the qualifications of elders in verse 6. Both options are valid, and translators must make sure that the option they have chosen is clearly depicted in their translation.
Alternative translation models for the last part of this verse are:
• … and appoint church leaders in every town as I instructed you.
Or:
• … and appoint elders in every town where there is a group of believers. Remember what I told you, they….
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Titus. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .