Titus 1:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

NIV: An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

NASB: namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion.

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

NLT: An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious.

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

NKJV: if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

Paul commanded Titus to select elders for each house church on the island of Crete. Verses 6–9 list qualifications for Christian elders. This list is very similar to the one given in 1 Timothy 3:1–7. Verse 6 includes three major qualifications:

First, the individual must stand out for strong moral character.

Second, the elder was to be known as "the husband of one wife." The Greek phrase can literally be rendered as a "one woman man." Though this phrase has produced controversy, it simply includes two aspects. First, elders were male. Women would not have been accepted as leaders of a local house church, either in Jewish culture or among Gentile Christians on Crete. Though a man did not have to be married, an elder could only be male. The phrase implies a man known for faithful commitment to one wife. The requirement says nothing about past marriages, or divorce. The focus is on the person's current marital relationship.

Third, any children an elder has must not reject God. This is not the same as children who are young and don't yet have well-defined personal faith in Christ. Nor does it seem to include those old enough to live on their own, apart from their father's control. The elder's children were not to be known for partying, disobedience, or unbelief. These statements also imply that Paul's focus was on men whose children were older, rather than men with young children. In other words, very young men would probably not be appropriate choices for an elder.

Titus 1:5–9 explains the requirements of those who lead a church. Elders and pastors must meet these criteria in order to serve in those roles. Paul lists issues such as moral character, control over their family, and an ability to teach the truth. Paul gives a similar, equally important list in 1 Timothy 3:1–7. Also crucial is the ability to confront and correct those who teach false doctrines.

Chapter 1 introduces the letter from Paul to Titus. Paul describes the requirements for being appointed a church leader, such as an elder or pastor. The text then transitions into a description of how to “rebuke” false teachers. These are the requirements Paul expects Titus to follow when selecting leaders for the local churches of Crete.

Chapter 1 focuses on the character traits of a church leader, contrasted to the immoral culture of Crete. Specific instructions are given for elders, and a means for dealing with false teachers. Chapter 2 explains the ideal traits of church members, especially in their acts towards each other. Chapter 3 will focus on the relationship between Christians and their surrounding culture.

The book of Titus is a letter written by the apostle Paul, to a Christian leader on the island of Crete. This is one of Paul’s three Pastoral Epistles, where he offers instructions to younger believers caring for large groups of others. Paul uses the book of Titus to emphasize the importance of selecting church elders carefully. Many of the topics discussed in Titus are mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. Though the details of this message are specifically for Titus, and the believers of Crete, they offer insight useful for churches today.