Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Paul had left Titus in Crete just like he had Timothy in Ephesus - to set things in order. Obviously there were some issues there that needed to be attended to, as Paul says Titus was to put into order "what remained." There were some pieces that needed to be repaired, set right. For Timothy, the first priorities were to make clear the Gospel in addressing false teaching, get the people praying, quiet down rebellious women, and then establish new elders. For Titus the first order of business was to "establish elders in every town." The setting here was different. Timothy was at a large church in a large city, with problems contained. Titus was in a more rural setting with scattered, smaller fellowships, and timeliness demanded that he get help promptly so he could address the issues of false teaching through them in each location. The qualifications for these elders are pretty consistent with those in I Timothy 3, though stated in different order. The overriding character quality is that they be "above reproach" so as to not bring shame on themselves, the church, or Christ. Their occupation was to maintain sound doctrine in the congregation.
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