Titus 1:5-9; Acts 20:26-32

An elder must be …

·        Sober-minded.  That is, he has a self-controlled, temperate approach to life, a man with right priorities.  This term is applied to all believers in Titus 2:2,5.

·        Just.  He is upright, fair, a man of integrity.  Matthew Henry says he must be “Just in things belonging to civil life, and moral righteousness, and equity in dealings, giving to all their due.” 

·        Holy.  This is not the usual set apart word for holy but rather means unspotted.  Strong’s definition is undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, religiously observing every moral obligation.  

·        Self-controlled.  He is temperate or disciplined, mastering his emotions, speech and choices.  It is the last of the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22-23.  This is the life of one who walks in the Spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24-27).

·        Holding fast the faithful word.  The word of God is reliable, infallible (it always accomplishes its purpose) and inerrant (it is without error).  The elder must hold fast to Scripture.  What this tells us about the man is first that he must be teachable.  He must be able to learn God’s word and to allow it to renew his mind; he must submit himself to all that God has said.  It also says that he must be sound in doctrine.  And, of course, that the entrance of God’s word into his life has brought about change.  As Titus 1:1 puts it, he has come to the full-knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness.  Let us be clear.  He is a disciple of God’s word.  He does not have to have a degree from a Bible college; but on the other hand having such a degree in itself will not satisfy what is called for.  He hides it in his heart (Ps. 119:11) and meditates on it regularly (Ps. 1:1-3).  Timothy learned the Scriptures from his childhood from his mother and grandmother.

The reason for this quality is that the elder must use it in both exhorting and convicting those who contradict the word.  Exhort is the positive term meaning to come along side someone and counsel them.  Convict is the negative term meaning to reprove with a reproof based not in the ideas of the elder but in the very word of God.  Given what we will learn about Cretan society in the closing verses of Titus 1 it certainly fits for elders in those churches to use God’s word.  But it is no different anywhere else or at any other time.  Counsel and reproof must bring people to God and this is done by the timely use of His word.  

Certainly Paul is calling on Titus to appoint some special men.  In another sense they are men who are just further along than most of us.  It is a path we must all walk.  So consider again these qualities and allow the Spirit to exhort and convict you with each of them.  Submit to God.  Submit to those He places over us in the Body of Christ.