Titus 1--Some Questions and Answers

Yesterday I read through three chapters of Titus and hoped that my anticipatory questions would be answered.  This morning, I reviewed these questions and began re-reading just Titus 1.  In some ways, the book/letter seemed straightforward when I read it yesterday, but as I examined my questions this morning and tried to tease out direct answers, it all became more nuanced.  

Here are the questions and answers I began to work out this morning:

Q: What exactly is an elder?  Were they appointed by a committee, the congregation, or by the main leader?

Answer: The elders at Crete were appointed by Titus (Titus 1:5)---here I don't see them being chosen by the congregation.  

Answer from Believer's Bible Commentary: "It is clear that in the early church, elders were appointed by the apostles and their representatives (Act_14:23; Tit_1:5). This does not mean, however, that the apostles and their delegates had the power to make a man an elder. In order to become a bishop, there must be both divine enablement and human willingness. Only the Holy Spirit can make a man a bishop or guardian (Act_20:28), but the man must aspire to the work (1Ti_3:1). There must be this mingling of the divine and the human."

Further Question: Is there precedence elsewhere for this appointing by the congregation?

Answer from John Gill's Commentary: "What Titus was to do in this affair, was to put the churches upon looking out, and choosing from among themselves proper persons for such service, and to direct, assist, and preside at the elections and ordinations of them: for we are not to suppose, that the ordination of elders was the sole act of Titus, or alone resided in him; but in like manner as Paul and Barnabas ordained elders in every church, by the suffrages of the people, signified by the stretching out of their hands; in which they directed, presided, and also assisted in prayer, with fasting, Act_14:23."

Scripture: "When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they believed [and joyfully accepted as the Messiah]." Acts 14:23

Q: What exactly is an assembly of Christians?  Is there a suggested way that Christians should assemble and organize themselves?

Answer: The structure here is governance by a group of leaders selected by an apostle/higher leader of Paul.

Answer from Believer's Bible Commentary regarding the modern sense of pastor: "It is generally acknowledged that there was no such person in the early church. The primitive assemblies were composed of saints, bishops, and deacons (Php_1:1)—that is all. The clerical system did not rise until the second century."

Q: What was Titus like as a person? What were his strengths and weaknesses?

A: Paul describes him as "a genuine child" Titus 1:4 (Wuest translation),  "My true child in a common faith" (ESV)

Me: Paul considered Titus an authentic son in faith, as much as a biological son, if not more.

A: Paul trusted Titus.  He left him behind in Crete to finish what he began (Titus 1:5)

Obviously there is much, much more to think through....