Titus 1:6-10

 

Titus 1:6 (KJB)

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

 

Blameless - "To be of good reputation, above accusation, respectable" The elder needs to have a blameless reputation with the outside also. If an elder of a church goes to a casino to gamble and his neighbor sees him, then he is a hypocrite, because how can he counsel others to live a straight life when he himself does not? He needs to have a good reputation at work and at home.

The husband of one wife - He must be married to only one woman and not be divorced and remarried, since that would make him the husband of two women according to the Scriptures. This does not mean one wife at a time but refers to the first marriage, a second marriage while the wife still lives is adultery and that disqualifies a man from being a church leader.

 

(Mat 19:9 KJV) And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

 

(Mark 10:11-12 KJV) And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. {12} And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

 

(Luke 16:18 KJV) Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

 

Having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly - Faithful means "believing" children. "Riot" means "riotous living or riotous excess, living dissolutely." "Unruly" means "rebellious, not subject to rule, independent." If a child lives under the roof of a Pastor and he cannot control his children and they are constantly in trouble, then it is obvious he lost control of his family and that disqualifies him for church leadership. (1 Tim 3:4-5 KJV) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; {5} (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) The family is the training ground to see if a man has the ability to rule well in the church. If he cannot control his own family, then he cannot control the church and weak leadership is a death knell for the church.

 

Titus 1:7 (KJB)

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

 

Bishop - Overseer

 

The term Bishop means overseer and the Bishop is the chief elder of the local congregation. In today’s churches you may see someone with a title of Bishop and they may have the oversight of a number of churches. We see this in the major denominations. However, this should not be because these Bishops are not involved with the individual congregations, and therefore, they lack the knowledge on how to minister in these congregations because each congregation has its own problems. The Bishop, not the Pastor, is the ruler in the individual congregation. If you will notice, the office of Pastor is a spiritual gift and not a ruling gift. The Pastor’s responsibility is to have spiritual oversight of the flock but he is in subjection to the Bishop and the Elders. (Eph 4:11 KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; The pastor is not included among the ruling offices in the church which are made up of only three, they are, the Deacons, the Elders, and the Bishop. Paul lays down some strict guidelines for the office of Bishop.

blameless - "To be of good reputation, above accusation, respectable"

 

not selfwilled - "Arrogant or Pleasure lover"

not soon angry - "Quick tempered"

not given to wine - "Drunkenness or Excess wine"

no striker - "A contentious man who loves to fight, a violent man"

not given to filthy lucre - A man who despises dishonest gain (lotteries?)

Titus 1:8 (KJB)

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

lover of hospitality - A man who likes to serve the needs of others.

lover of good men - The context of this word is a man who loves good things or goodness, The exact full translation is "lover of good."

sober - A man with a sound mind who can behave and rule in a rational manner.

just - "Upright, righteous, principled, virtuous"

holy - "Devout, pious, one who fulfills duty and obligations"

temperate - A person who is disciplined and self-controlled

 

Titus 1:9 (KJB)

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Holding fast the faithful word - One who adheres to the true Word of God with undivided or unquestioned devotion.

by sound doctrine both to exhort - A person who is an encourager in the truth. The Bishop must hold to true doctrine, whether it is popular or not and is ready to admonish anyone, including the Pastor, if they hold to an erroneous doctrine.

convince the gainsayers - A man with the ability to refute or contradict those who oppose the truths of the Gospel. This is why the Bishop must be a person who knows the Bible for they are to protect the congregation against the incursion of false gospels.

 

Titus 1:10 (KJB)

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

 

Unruly - Independent, rebellious, not subject to rule

Vain talkers - Idle, senseless talker

Deceivers - One who deceives the mind

Circumcision - An alternative expression describing the Jews

 

Paul writes to Titus telling him that there are false teachers on Crete who refuse to be subject to anyone. Normally false teachers are never subject to authority because they consider themselves to be the authority. They normally speak with much vanity which is done with many words to impress their hearers. (Prov 10:19 KJV) In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. When people use an excess of words, it is normally for the purpose of deceiving their hearers. If they came to the point quickly, those who hear them could make a decision as to whether they were telling the truth but if they continue to ramble, they are able to hide their true intentions. This must have been a major characteristic of the Judaizers that Paul has in view here. Paul was constantly plagued by the Judaizers wherever he went and here in Crete, Titus would have to contend with them too.

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