A Job for Titus

Titus 1:5–9 CSB

5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. 7 As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.

Ephesians–Philemon Section Overview

Paul reminds Titus of the reason why he left him in Crete. He intended for Titus to ensure that the church was provided with qualified elder leadership. Paul charges Titus with seeing that this leadership is put in place, and he explains to Titus the character qualifications for such elders. Elders must not only have godly character; they must also be competent to teach the faith and to confront false teachers who oppose the faith.

Section Outline

I. Appointing Elders (1:1–16) …

B. An Elder’s Qualifications (1:5–9)

1. How to Appoint an Elder (1:5)

2. How to Recognize an Elder (1:6–9)

1:4-9 represent three sentences.

The passage begins with an implied command in v. 5, i.e. I left you in Crete to do this, so do it! The rest of the passage, vv. 6-9, is a straight forward list of qualifications for the elder.

The text answers the question, “who is qualified to be an elder?” The answer to the question is a list of qualifications.

Notice the key verb in v. 5, epidiorthoo. This verb means “to put or to set.” Combined with ho leipo, “what remains”, it gives the sense of setting straight.

Think of the way a doctor will take a broken bone and “set a bone” or think of an orthodontist who sets teeth straight. Titus has inherited a situation that is very broken. He must begin the process of setting things right by finding the right elders.

Clearly this verb modifies more than what immediately follows, but it gives a sense of how important of a job Titus has. He must set things straight and will begin to do so through appointing men who have the right stuff to lead as elders.

So we have the purpose!

1:5 Paul’s saying that he left Titus in Crete suggests that Paul himself had visited Crete. Even though Acts 27 notes Paul’s brief stop in Crete on the way to Rome, Acts provides no record of Paul’s missionary work in Crete. For that reason, the visit referred to in Titus 1:5 seems to have taken place after the end of Acts but before Paul’s final imprisonment and death. During that visit, Paul left Titus in Crete so that he could “put what remained into order, and appoint elders.” Paul’s assignment to Titus accords with a threefold pattern we observe in Paul’s ministry recorded in Acts. For example, in Acts 14:21–23, Paul

1. makes converts through preaching the gospel,

2. strengthens new believers through discipleship and instruction, and

3. appoints pastors/elders “in every church” to carry on the work after he is gone. (Notice the plural “elders” in every single church, which suggests that each church should welcome a plurality of elders; cf. Acts 20:17, 28; Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess. 5:12, 13; 1 Tim. 5:17).

Paul’s instructions to Titus should be interpreted in light of this threefold pattern. To “put what remained into order” means to set in order the third and final item in Paul’s church-planting pattern: appointing pastors/elders.

Burk, D. (2018). Titus. In I. M. Duguid, J. M. Hamilton Jr., & J. Sklar (Eds.), Ephesians–Philemon (Vol. XI, pp. 502–503). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Now Paul gives Titus his purpose, to finish setting right things that were not complete or things that were broken.

He begins to instruct him in this by explaining to him the character and qualifications of an elder.

It is important to note that the qualifications are not skilled based, they are character based. The only exception is that he must be able to give instruction (v. 9) which, when seen with I Tim 3:2, implies a teaching gift. Yet even giving instruction is a result of antecho. That is, holding the deep conviction of the word. In other words the teaching act flows from the deep conviction to hold tightly to the word.

By the way, our church doesn’t have any “Elders” as we are a “congregational led church.” Though I believe that the bible is VERY plain that the church is supposed to have elders who oversee it rather than a congregation deciding for itself. “EVERY TIME THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL LED THEM SELVES IT LED TO IDOL WORSHIP BUT THAT IS A SERMON FOR ANOTHER DAY.

TODAY WE ARE CONTINUING OUR EXIGETICAL SERMON GOING VERSE BY VERSE THROUGH TITUS.

Paul lays out 3 traits that an Elder must have to be qualified to fill to position.

By the way, I know that this is the qualifications of an elder but wouldn’t it be nice if we held ALL church leadership to this standard?

I. Elders must be above reproach with their families (v. 6)

Titus 1:6 CSB

6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion.

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon 2. Qualifications for Church Leadership (1:6–9)

1:6. Paul told Titus the characteristics a person should have in order to assume leadership within the church. The standards for church leadership are consistently high; they do not change based on location or time. Paul wrote almost identical instructions to Timothy.

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (2. Qualifications for Church Leadership (1:6–9))

The same basic principles hold true in any circumstance. The inner spirit and outward life must be consistent, ethically pure, and morally innocent.

Why does Paul put such an emphasis on the home life of leadership?

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (2. Qualifications for Church Leadership (1:6–9))

He must also be the husband of but one wife. Literally, he must be a “one-woman man.”

In addition, he must be a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

In other words, the church leader must exhibit a dedication to family life. More of a person’s character and inner qualities are revealed at home than at work or in public.

Paul implied that those who do a good job at home possess the ability to do well in other arenas of leadership as well. The parent’s ability to secure the obedience of his children reflects his own faithfulness, commitment, and leadership capability.

If you home is in order, that leadership will translate to other areas of your life and ministry!

Elders/leaders must be above reproach with their families.

II. Elders must be above reproach with their character (v. 7)

Titus 1:7 CSB

7 As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money,

Paul now moves from the home life to looking at the actual character of the church leaders.

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit The Godly Example of Leaders (vv. 6–8)

Although the natural human inclination is to limit responsibility to one’s own concerns, Paul makes it clear that church leaders live as examples for others. As exemplars, the elders that Titus appoints must be “blameless” (v. 6) in their relationships and in their conduct.

In their commentary on timothy and Titus. Bryan Chapell and Kent Hughes note:

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit The Godly Example of Leaders (vv. 6–8)

The word “blameless” needs careful examination since it is repeated twice in this text and explains much of the apostle’s expectation for leaders (vv. 6a, 7). The word cannot mean “sinless,” for then no one could qualify for leadership. At the same time, the apostle obviously has some measure of godliness in mind that requires definition from us. Scholars have long debated whether the standards for leadership in the early church were high or low. Although the list as it stands may appear daunting by modern measures, it could have been made far more intimidating. Note that among the Christian leadership qualifications there are no mountains to climb, no alligators to wrestle, no pilgrimages to make, no prophecies to utter, no ancient manuscripts to decode, no visions to conjure, no tortures to endure, and no miracles to perform. The standards for Christian leadership strictly relate to one’s example before others.

With the understanding that these requirements relate to how our lives are lived help us to better understand the term blameless.

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit The Godly Example of Leaders (vv. 6–8)

A “blameless” person in Paul’s usage is one whom others have no obvious reason to accuse for living inconsistently with his faith commitments. Paul’s “blameless” standard is based upon what others in the church see and observe. It is not so much a standard for one’s own internal assessment (which would be required by a term such as sinless or even good-intentioned) but rather reflects the assessment of external community observation. What others observe about a man being considered for office bears on his qualification for office.

Its not about being sinless because that is impossible, one example: My personal stance about not touching money in the church. Not being alone with another woman.

Finally Paul notes, and we would all do well to apply:

III. Elders must have a deep conviction to the word (v. 9)

Titus 1:9 CSB

9 holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit (The Gospel Witness of Leaders (v. 9))

Not only does Paul require an elder to behave blamelessly but also, “He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught” (v. 9).

What is “the faithful message” (literally, “the faithful word”) that has been passed on to the Cretan church?

Paul’s salutation has already provided a reminder—“grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (v. 4). An elder must practice godliness but must not portray it as the reason that he is God’s.

The “faithful message” that has been passed from and proclaimed by the apostle is that peace with God results from his grace, not from our actions (cf. 3:5).

While godliness in our lives indicates the reality and power of the gospel, godly church leaders constantly discount the ability of those actions to qualify them for Heaven.

Our lives should express the power of the gospel, but our lips should express the hope of the gospel. The foundation of this hope is that God loves us not because of our goodness but because of his—not because of our work but because of our Savior’s.

Though the church’s leaders live so as to give others the hope that changed lives are possible, they never point to their actions as the basis of God’s acceptance

Ephesians–Philemon (Comment)

He must also have the ability through his teaching to protect the sheep: “to rebuke those who contradict” sound doctrine. Thus there is both the positive role of instruction and the negative role of confrontation.

It has well been said that “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Church Leaders must not be “do-nothing good men.” They must be willing to confront false teachers, confront gossip, confront backbiting!

Application

FOCUS on your family

If you are not leading well at home, you are not going to lead well anywhere else. Mom, Dad, Husband, Wife, The first calling in your life that title!

Live it well!

No one knows you better than your immediate family. If you are not leading well at home but put on a “leadership” hat in the world, you are simply loosing authenticity at home!

When your wife sees you take stances against “ungodly” things in the world but you wont even have her back in helping to discipline the kids, your loosing respect!

Wife, when you are complementing everything about everyone but NEVER your husband about anything, you are loosing respect.

When you put everything in your life before your children, you are loosing your children!

Focus on your family!

It DOES matter what people think of you.

I hear this all the time, It doesn’t matter what others think of you!

This was started with a very good concept in mind. Don’t let the way others put you down affect your mental health.

I get it.

But this is what it has become. “I don’t care what others think of me, I am just going to be myself.”

Never fix your hair for work

Never iron, hang up, or fold your clothes.

Don’t brush your teeth

Don’t care if you amount to anything.

If they don’t like the way I look they can just get over it.

NOW THE WAY THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKED AT IS LIKE THIS.

I dont care what the world says, I’m going to pray, I don’t care what the world says, I am going to sing my worship music at the top of my lungs. I don’t care what the world thinks, I am going to serve Jesus!

I don’t care what the people around me say, I am going to give my life to Jesus!

Your testimony speaks louder than anything you will ever say so make sure it is speaking truth.

you NEED to be studied in the Word and SHARING the Gospel

This should be a staple in the life of every Christian but especially those who desire to be leaders in the church!

What is the purpose of “leaders?” to lead!

Where are you leading them? TO JESUS!

How will you lead them how will you fulfil the Great Commission that says to 1. Make disciples, which means bring them to Jesus, 2. Teach them EVERYTHING Jesus commanded!

If you don’t have a strong grasp on the word then you will not lead people where they need to be lead!