SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
Key verse: 9
NIV
Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good(A)
5 The reason I left you in Crete(B) was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint[a] elders(C) in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless,(D) faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe[b] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer(E) manages God’s household,(F) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(G) 8 Rather, he must be hospitable,(H) one who loves what is good,(I) who is self-controlled,(J) upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly(K) to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine(L) and refute those who oppose it.
Cross references
- Titus 1:5 : 1:6-8Ref — 1Ti 3:2-4
- Titus 1:5 : Ac 27:7
- Titus 1:5 : S Ac 11:30
- Titus 1:6 : S 1Th 3:13; 1Ti 3:2
- Titus 1:7 : S 1Ti 3:1
- Titus 1:7 : 1Co 4:1
- Titus 1:7 : S 1Ti 3:3, 8
- Titus 1:8 : S Ro 12:13
- Titus 1:8 : 2Ti 3:3
- Titus 1:8 : Tit 2:2, 5, 6, 12
- Titus 1:9 : S 1Co 16:13; 1Ti 1:19; 2Ti 1:13; 3:14
- Titus 1:9 : S 1Ti 1:10
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Qualifications for Elders
5 (A)This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and (B)appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 (C)if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,[a] and his children are believers[b] and not open to the charge of (D)debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer,[c] (E)as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not (F)be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent (G)or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, (H)and disciplined. 9 He must (I)hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in (J)sound[d] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Read full chapterFootnotes
Cross references
- Titus 1:5 : [1 Tim. 1:3]
- Titus 1:5 : [Acts 14:23; 2 Tim. 2:2]
- Titus 1:6 : For ver. 6-8, see 1 Tim. 3:2-4
- Titus 1:6 : See Eph. 5:18
- Titus 1:7 : Luke 12:42; 1 Cor. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:10
- Titus 1:7 : 2 Pet. 2:10
- Titus 1:7 : 1 Tim. 3:8; 1 Pet. 5:2
- Titus 1:8 : [1 Cor. 9:25]
- Titus 1:9 : [2 Thess. 2:13, 15]; See 1 Tim. 1:15; 2 Tim. 1:13
- Titus 1:9 : See 1 Tim. 1:10
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Appoint elders in every town (5)
A church needs spiritual order; so there must be leaders. Strong spiritual leaders make an environment in which God's people can grow and do God's work. Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders in every town. The selection of elders was not a popularity contest; they were to be appointed by God's servant, on the basis of spiritual qualifications.
2. Qualifications for leadership (6-9)
A leader's personal life is important. He should be faithful to his wife and he should discipline his children. (See 1 Sa 3:13.) He should not give in to anger nor should he use violence. He should not use his position to lord it over others, nor to get personal gain. He must open his heart and his home to all of God's people. Above all, he must study and obey God's word, and encourage others by teaching the Bible as it is.
Prayer: Father, raise up 10,000 Bible teachers who love the Bible and know that it is your word of truth, and teach it diligently to others.
One Word: Shepherds for God's flock
