“These kinds of elders.” Sometime after Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, he and Titus brought the gospel to the island of Crete. Their efforts were fruitful—believers arose in many cities. After Paul left the island, Titus was entrusted with the task of appointing elders in these cities. But not just any elders. Paul says, in effect, “Appoint these kinds of elders.” The list of qualifications, both negative and positive, is long. As we ponder Paul’s descriptors, we are encouraged to watch our own lives closely and to seek out and appoint such leaders in God’s household today.

⁵ Τούτου χάριν ἀπέλιπόν σε ἐν Κρήτῃ ἵνα τὰ λείποντα ἐπιδιορθώσῃ, καὶ καταστήσῃς κατὰ πόλιν πρεσβυτέρους, ὡς ἐγώ σοι διεταξάμην,  ⁶ εἴ τίς ἐστιν ἀνέγκλητος, μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἀνήρ, τέκνα ἔχων πιστά, μὴ ἐν κατηγορίᾳ ἀσωτίας ἢ ἀνυπότακτα.

Translation: For this reason I left you in Crete: so that you would set in order the things left unfinished and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you. An elder must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wild living or insubordination.

Paul’s mandate to Titus was clear: appoint elders for the churches in each town. To anyone asking, “Who gave you permission?” Titus could reply, “The Apostle Paul himself commanded me to do it.”

Paul will later say, “All Cretans are liars!” (Titus 1:12). And so, it surprises us that on an island with such a reputation, there could be in every town a pool of “blameless men”—men qualified and willing to serve as elders. But God’s arm is never too short. He supplied such men then, and he continues to do so today. It is the Holy Spirit who qualifies men for such a calling. The same Holy Spirit preserves and strengthens them, causing them to grow as they serve.

Serving as a husband and father in a family is the training ground for managing God’s household. A man who is not a faithful husband to his wife, or whose children are reckless and unruly, is not a suitable candidate for the office of elder.

⁷ δεῖ γὰρ τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνέγκλητον εἶναι ὡς θεοῦ οἰκονόμον, μὴ αὐθάδη, μὴ ὀργίλον, μὴ πάροινον, μὴ πλήκτην, μὴ αἰσχροκερδῆ,  ⁸ ἀλλὰ φιλόξενον, φιλάγαθον, σώφρονα, δίκαιον, ὅσιον, ἐγκρατῆ,  ⁹ ἀντεχόμενον τοῦ κατὰ τὴν διδαχὴν πιστοῦ λόγου, ἵνα δυνατὸς ᾖ καὶ παρακαλεῖν ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ καὶ τοὺς ἀντιλέγοντας ἐλέγχειν.

Translation: For an overseer must be above reproach as a steward of God’s household—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain, but hospitable, one who loves what is good, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy word in line with the (apostolic) doctrine, so that he may be able both to encourage (people) with sound teaching and to refute those who oppose it.

With the words ἐπίσκοπον and οἰκονόμον, Paul is not introducing new kinds of spiritual leaders. These words provide a fuller picture of the role of the elders to be appointed. They have authority in the church. They watch out for the souls of people. They have been entrusted with the management of God’s household.

While the culture and context of 1st-century Crete differ from ours, these terms apply to us as well. We serve as elders in the church, overseeing both the people and the affairs of God’s household. This sacred responsibility is placed into our hands by God in heaven. The more we ponder it, the more we marvel at his grace—and the more earnestly we plead for his help.

The help we need most is the work of God’s Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. To help us understand what it means to be “above reproach,” Paul provides a list of five negatives and seven positives—deal breakers and must-haves. The negatives are besetting sins that undermine a man’s ability to serve effectively among God’s people: a selfish, strong will; anger issues; addictions; a bullying attitude; and greedy hands. In 1 Samuel, Eli’s sons exhibited these kinds of traits. They served themselves—not the people, not God.

The seven positives are traits that all God’s people strive to cultivate. They are the opposite of selfishness and can be summarized by the word love: loving others; loving what is good for people; loving wisdom; loving the paths of God’s commands; loving God; and loving the defeat of one’s own sinful nature. These are the kinds of Christian men Titus was to appoint as elders, the kinds of people we seek to recruit for gospel ministry today, and the kinds of pastors we ourselves strive to be and remain.

In this section of Paul’s letter, there is no direct reference to Jesus, but Jesus Christ is implicit in every sentence. Paul is Christ’s apostle. The church is Christ’s church. That church is holy because Christ is holy and because the Holy Spirit dwells in believers. Jesus fills the church and her leaders with gospel confidence, holy joy, and eternal hope. The Lord Jesus Christ empowers us to pursue the traits he calls for in elders. Apart from him, we can do nothing.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we are blameless in your eyes only because of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Lord, have mercy. We can be blameless in the eyes of others in the church only by the powerful work of your Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. Lord, have mercy. Continue to raise up faithful gospel workers for your church. Lord, have mercy, and quickly come. Amen.

P.S. For further reading, we recommend Pres. emeritus David Valleskey’s recent book, The Splendid Task of the Ministry: A Pastoral Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles (NPH, 2023).