Free Bible Commentary
“Titus 1:5-9”
Categories: Titus“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”
---End of Scripture verses---
The Apostle Paul temporarily left the young evangelist, Titus, on the Island of Crete to “set in order” some things that were “wanting” or “lacking” in the local churches of Christ there (verse 5). This statement and appointment necessarily implies that God fully intends local congregations to exist, and for them to function properly, according to a determined plan or design. The Lord did not leave the structure, organization and leadership of local churches up to the whim and discretion of the merely mortal, human mind.
Paul wrote to the very dysfunctional church in the city of Corinth that, “all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner” (1 Corinthians 14:40). There is a proper way to do things in the Lord’s church and that is the Lord’s way that He revealed in the New Testament. There are many improper ways to do things and those are the ways that feel right to the human will. Paul left the young preacher, Titus, at Crete to set things right in the churches in each city on that island. But know for certain that this was not Titus’ determination, nor did the Lord leave the ordering of congregational structure and worship up to the discretion of preachers. Titus merely did what Paul “directed” him to do by the apostolic authority granted to Him by his Master, Jesus Christ.
An important aspect of the Lord’s design and pattern for His local churches is that each of them have a set (a plurality, at least two or more) of elders to “rule well” over them (1 Timothy 5:17). These elders must meet the qualifications placed within the pattern by the Designer. They must be men, they must be married to “one wife” and they must have “children who believe” (verse 7). These are some of the “objective” qualifications that are not open for debate or negotiation. There are other qualifications that are more “subjective” or “relative” in nature, and some latitude should be given. Some people are more “hospitable” than others, so there are varying degrees of hospitality that are acceptable.
The one qualification that leaps off the page to me in this passage is that an elder must be “above reproach” (verses 6 and 7). Anytime a statement is repeated in a short context, it appears to me that the Lord is stressing this characteristic. This does not mean that the man must be perfect, but he must be quick to admit and repent and make things right when he is wrong. This does not mean that accusations will not be leveled against his character, but that the charges will prove to be unwarranted. A “blameless” man is one with a great track record of being a solid, upstanding person of proven character and worth in the Lord’s kingdom.
Please read Titus 1:10-16 for tomorrow.
Hope you all have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
Share
