Titus 1:5 (ASV)

Passage

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

Nearby Context

Titus 1:3 but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Titus 1:4 to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

Titus 1:6 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.

Titus 1:7 For the bishop must be blameless, as God`s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "cause", "left", "thee", "crete", "thou", "shouldest", "order", and "things". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "cause" and "left", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "to Titus my true child after a..." into verse 6's "if any man is blameless the husband...", so "cause" and "left" belong inside that flow. In Titus context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "cause" and "left" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.