A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of Titus Part 2

Titus 1:5-9 Church leaders

Titus 1:5-9 WEL I left you in Crete for this reason, that you should finish organizing and appoint elders in every city as I directed you. 6 So, if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of a riotous or unruly life. 7 For an overseer must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not consumed by money. 8 Instead, [he needs to be] a lover of hospitality, of what is good, reasonable, just, and holy, having self-control, 9 Being committed to the faithful word just as he has been taught, that he may be able with sound doctrine to plead and convince those who actively disagree with [the truth],

Notes

B1 Titus was left in Crete to finishing organizing the church and appointing the church leaders.

B2 The 16 qualifications of elders (pastors, overseers, bishops, etc.) Also see 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

C1 Blameless

D1 Blameless does not mean sinless. No one is sinless in this life, except Jesus Christ.

E1 Jesus was, is, and always will be without sin in thoughts, desires, words, or deeds: Hebrews 4:15 CSB For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

E2 1 Peter 2:22 NLT He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.

D2 Blameless is not committing nor repeatedly committing sin knowingly:

E1 Psalm 19:13 NET Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins; do not allow such sins to control me. Then I will be blameless, and innocent of blatant rebellion.

E2 Proverbs 12:2 NLT The LORD approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness.

C2 One wife. Most understand this to be one wife at a time. He is faithful to his wife. This is not referring to marriage after the spouse’s death or someone being disqualified because they are not married. But then, not all agree with this. Some understand this passage to teach that a qualified man must be married, faithfully to one woman, and have at least 2 children (the Greek word for children, τεκνα, is plural). This may have been preferred but hardly correct as Paul was unmarried.

C3 Faithful children

D1 Some understand the word faithful as the word for believing, so they are believers. Others understand the word to be faithful, which is the way I understand it.

D2 Two scenarios

E1 A man becomes a believer at age 12. He studies the Scriptures and doctrine faithfully. He is recognized as having the gift of pastor/teacher when he is 22. He marries at 23. He and his wife have 5 children. One is not a believer. Is this pastor required to resign and never preach again?

E2 A man who is qualified Scripturally as a pastor serves God faithfully, but one on his children leave the faith when they are in the 20’s. Is this pastor required to resign and never pastor again?

E3 There is much disagreement about this. I opt that Paul is speaking that the children be faithful as a character trait, not necessary all being believers.

E4 See a discussion of this here (PDF) and here. One could consult many other places, too.

C4 Does not live a riotous or unruly lifestyle

D1 Most understand this trait as referring to the children.

D2 This would be children who were unrestrained, out of control, having no self-control, doing whatever they please and what they desire, addicted to pleasure, etc. Having children like this would disqualify a man from being a church leader.

C5 Not self-willed

D1 Their attitude is that they are supreme. No one can question them. No one can correct them. They are right, and we are wrong.

D2 We have all met people like this. They are difficult to converse with, teach, show the errors of their thinking. We can appeal to them in mercies of Jesus, and they will not answer our questions. They only make demands.

D3 This is a person who commits pastoral abuse.

D4 Some articles. I do not necessarily endorse these writers but personally feel their points are well founded. Eight Signs of Spiritual Abuse by Rick Thomas. 10 Ways to Spot Spiritual Abuse by Mary DeMuth.

D5 This type of person is a controller, not a leader. They lead by force, power, and threat of pain. God leads by example, love, truth, etc. as I’ve written before on the two styles of leadership.

C6 Not easily angered

D1 Anger is a character trait of God. Anger is not necessarily a sin. The Lord Jesus showed anger.

E1 Mark 3:5 CSB After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

F1 Wilbur Pickering comments: They had no compassion, no agape; their only concern was to preserve their system, their position and authority.

F2 In Robertson’s Word Pictures, Dr. Robertson comments: Mark has a good deal to say about the looks of Jesus with this word (Mar 3:5, Mar 3:34; Mar 5:37; Mar 9:8; Mar 10:23; Mar 11:11) as here. So Luke only once, Luk 6:10. The eyes of Jesus swept the room all round and each rabbinical hypocrite felt the cut of that condemnatory glance. This indignant anger was not inconsistent with the love and pity of Jesus. Murder was in their hearts and Jesus knew it. Anger against wrong as wrong is a sign of moral health (Gould).

E2 God’s anger is righteous, so as humans, we must be careful.

E3 Ephesians 4:26 WEL When you are angry, do not sin. Don’t let the sun set on your anger.

D2 I understand the anger written about in our passage is the anger of abuse. It is an anger used to control, to shame, to manipulate.

D3 An example of this anger is John 9:34 GW The Jews answered him, "You were born full of sin. Do you think you can teach us?" Then they threw him out of the synagogue.

C7 Not given to wine

D1 It is not wine that Paul writes against; he writes against the misuse of wine.

D2 Addiction is evil.

D3 If the wine controls the person, then the person is disqualified.

D4 We, as Christians, are to find our joy, help, comfort God’s way, not the way of alcohol.

D5 Alcohol destroys judgment, discernment, self-control, etc.

D6 Alcohol was forbidden kings and priests.

E1 Isaiah 28:7 NIV And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.

E2 Leviticus 10:9-10 NIV You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,

E3 Proverbs 31:4-5 NLT It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.

C8 Not violent

D1 This is the use of force to control whether by words, physical violence, or both.

D2 Psalm 11:5 NIV The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.

C9 Not consumed by money

D1 Consider the number of “teachers” on the conference circuit who promote each others books.

D2 Fleecing the flock in frequent appeals for money, fake promises of God’s blessings for money, or even stealing it.

D3 Psalm 11:5 NIV The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.

C10 Lover of hospitality

D1 This is especially true for traveling church workers.

D2 This is in meeting the needs of believers primarily.

D3 This is if we are able. Some might say they are not able as an excuse even though they are able.

C11 Loves what is good

D1 Good is defined by God.

D2 Mark 10:18 NET Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

D3 We read of God pronouncing His creation as good in Genesis 1:31

D4 The Lord Jesus showed us by example: John 10:32 NET Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?"

C12 Good as above. The church not only must love good but do and be good, as God defines good, which would be one in compliance with His rules and beliefs.

C13 Sober, reasonable

D1 This has the idea of thinking and living in moderation.

D2 This is an attitude.

D3 He doesn’t go to extremes in eating, drinking, work, etc.

D4 It is translated as sensible, prudent, discreet, temperate, and of a sound mind.

C14 Just

D1 Treats all evenly and without bias or prejudice.

D2 Making decisions without favoritism.

D3 Doesn’t have any “yes” men whose loyalty is to the church leader instead of God.

D4 Being just like this would be in compliance with God’s rules and desires.

C15 Holy

D1 Even though we all are wicked, after salvation we are to be holy as God is holy. This is God’s standard.

D2 Someone who lives their life avoiding or deliberately disobeying God is a failure and are not qualified.

D3 There are leaders who when confronted with error will stonewall, cover-up, or abuse. They have completely failed this command for leaders and failed all of us.

C16 Self-control

D1 We need the grace of God to help, so we can show restraint and control.

D2 An out of control church leader is not favored by anyone.

D3 It is being self-disciplined. Someone like this doesn’t need someone to constantly prod them to do their job, to study, to encourage, etc. Having self-control would include self-discipline in Bible study, prayer, and service to God first, then wife, then children, then believers, then those outside the church.

D4 1 Corinthians 9:24 CSB Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.

D5 Hebrews 12:1 CSB Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

C17 Committed to the faith

D1 This is commitment to the Gospel as taught by our Lord Jesus. This is commitment to His teaching. This is commitment to the style of life taught in the New Testament.

D2 It deals with a worldview that is in align with God’s worldview.

C18 Knows apologetics

D1 The church leader must be able to gently defend the faith.

D2 To defend the faith, one must know it. This entails reading and studying the Bible primarily but also theology, philosophy, and other apologists. One doesn’t need to have a doctorate in these areas, just a basic understanding.

D3 Studying the truth is more important than studying error.

D4 The Bible must be interpreted in its plain, normal sense. God is omniscient, omnisapient, and knows how to communicate perfectly. He does not deceive or deliberately have some hidden meaning that only those in the higher class of religion can understand.

D5 All believers need to be taught, so all must defend the faith. We do not defend it physically; we defend it spiritually. 1 Peter 3:15-16 CSB but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.

D6 We see Apollos doing this: Acts 18:28 CSB For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.