Titus: Grace Precedes Obedience - Week 2 (Titus 1:5-9)
Titus 1:5-9
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The Necessity of Elders
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Titus 1:5-9 〰️ The Necessity of Elders 〰️
We're now back in the book of Titus, picking up where we left off, in 1:5-9. Paul delves a little deeper into the meat of his message to his protege, Titus. In this passage, Paul is explaining the reasons for leaving Titus in Crete, as well as the purpose of writing to him. Titus' mission in Crete? To appoint elders in every town so that the church would be shepherded and be able to thrive there.
As a point of clarity, we at King's Table Church use the words elder/pastor synonymously. There is no specific use case for the word pastor over elder or elder over pastor, as they are both used to mean the same position in church leadership!
Paul continues, listing the qualifications of elders. There are eleven listed credentials in this passage, detailing the character and faithfulness that are required by a leader of a Christ-centered community. As we read a list like this, the most important thing to remember is that elders are heavily vetted and highly qualified; however, these characteristics are something all followers of Jesus should pursue out of love for Christ and for one another. While the list may seem simple on the surface, many of us know firsthand just how hard it is to white-knuckle our way through arrogance, a hot temper, or a lack of self-control. Ultimately, it is a transformation in Christ (Eugene Peterson called this a long obedience in the same direction).
"With faithful children" is an often over-analyzed portion of this passage, as it has raised some questions by scholars and believers alike, with the most common being "are pastors required to have believing children?" This is a worthwhile question to ask, and,
"The emphasis of the context here is on a man fulfilling his duties well. No father can guarantee the conversion of his own children. He can better ensure that they act in a "faithful" way while they live under his supervision. Also, the parallel passage in 1 Timothy 3 speaks only to the children being well behaved, not to their conversion. Thus, Paul was requiring pastors to govern the behavior of their children, not allowing them to be characterized by wildness or rebellion."¹
As with many things in life, some circumstances are beyond our control, and so the heart of this qualification is that a man is faithfully leading and teaching his family to follow Christ. It's not that conversion of children is a requirement in and of itself, but that walking in obedience with how we as believers are called to live in the household and in their daily lives with Christ and family.
Paul continues, sharing characteristics that any follower of Christ should love to be marked by: "blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled." (v7-8). Paul then emphasizes the importance of teaching in v9. One of the largest issues that Titus was facing in Crete was the routine teaching of false doctrine, namely from a group of people claiming that circumcision was required to follow Jesus (we'll read more on this in v10-16).
The bottom line for us as we approach this passage is that we can get a glimpse of God's character: He is always blameless (1 Pet. 2:22), not arrogant (John 13:14), slow to anger (Ps. 103:8), not a bully (Matt. 11:29), not greedy for money (Prov. 19:17). Our God is hospitable (Lev. 19:34), loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy (1 Pet. 1:16), and self-controlled (Ps. 86:15).
So as we enter into community and discussion together, our hope is that we as a people can consider and reflect on the ways our God is good to us in these things, as well as how we can respond in humility, asking the Lord to shape us to be more like Him. If time allows, I'd encourage you to read this passage aloud in your community group this week.
"Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
Discussion Questions
Could someone read Titus 1:5-9 for us?
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
What characteristics listed here in v6-9 do you see in God?
While these are a list of qualifications for elders in a local church, what are some of the characteristics that should mark all followers of Jesus?
Are there any characteristics listed here that you personally struggle with?
How might our community change if we all surrendered ourselves to God, asking Him to grow us in these ways?
How can we pray for one another in these things?
1. Ray Van Neste, CSB Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1936.