Titus 1:9, commentary and pictures

The verse gives the Holy Spirit's standard for fitness for a bishop or elder as God's steward set over the flock, to be used in choosing officers for responsible leadership with prayer and care. Holding fast means clinging firmly to the trustworthy message as taught and knowing Scripture well through close, diligent study. By so holding fast, the leader is able by healthy teaching both to encourage believers and to convince, correct, and refute those who oppose the truth. Such a leader must be blameless, faithful in marriage and family, not self-willed or quick-tempered or greedy for gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sober, just, holy, and self-controlled. His fitness is proved in governing his own house and training his children, for one who cannot rule his family well lacks wisdom to manage the larger church.

Qualified Stewards for Leadership

Titus 1:9 is the Holy Spirit's important instruction to the church giving what a bishop as God's steward must be. It sets one of the qualifications required of elders and bishops placed in charge of the flock of God in every city, that he cling firmly to the trustworthy message as taught so that by healthy teaching he can encourage believers and refute, convince and convert those who oppose the truth. Holding firmly to the faithful teaching received is the qualification for responsible church leadership, and it is the standard for judging whether a person is fit to lead. In choosing church officers this qualification must be considered with prayer and care.

The same charge is written for all whom God has called to preach the Word and also for the benefit of the people who hear it. Those who preach the truth must hold fast the faithful word as taught so they are able by sound doctrine to exhort and to convince opposers. It gives part of the requirements for the ministry that must be regarded in granting ministerial license, setting the standard candidates must meet before being licensed to preach publicly. Its qualification is applied to the examination of prospective teachers, whose Christian experience, knowledge of Scripture, grasp of present truth, and real, living experience in the things of God must be made evident before they are accepted as workers.

The qualified leader must be blameless as God's steward in character. He must be the husband of one wife with faithful children not accused of riot, rebellion, unruliness or unruly conduct. He must be not self-willed, not soon angry or quick to anger, not given to wine, no striker, not violent, and not greedy for money or shameful gain. He must be hospitable and a lover of hospitality, loving what is good and loving good men, sober, just, holy, temperate and self-controlled.

Those chosen as elders are to be men of experience who know the truth and are sound in the faith. They draw godliness from God's Word and no human fountain, and the Word of eternal life is to be preached in its purity as contained in God's Word so that many are made sound in the faith. They present the truth in its purity and clearness, refined in manners and shunning oddities and eccentricities, and live in a way consistent with what they teach. Ministers who bear this character are to be respected, honored, and loved.

Fitness is proved by wisdom in governing his own house and managing the church in his own home, including the education and training of his children. A man who cannot govern his own children shows lack of wisdom for managing the larger church outside and bearing its responsibilities. Neglecting their education and training sets a defective example before church members, and he will not have God's blessing on his ministry. A leader's character and influence at home matter in choosing officers, because the influence shown in family life will also be carried into the church.

Holding Fast Sound Doctrine

Holding fast means clinging firmly to the trustworthy message as taught and remaining firmly committed to it. It means knowing Scripture well through close, diligent study. The faithful word so held is the basis for guiding people back to Christ and rescuing those who have wandered.

By holding fast, the leader is made able by healthy, sound teaching to encourage believers and to exhort, convince, convert, correct, and refute those who oppose the truth. He presents the biblical reasons for faith in its purity and with clearness, living consistently with what he teaches, so that many are made sound in the faith and truth prevails. Sound doctrine equips him to encourage and correct others and to answer opponents, which is especially needed because unruly talkers and deceivers abound.

The verse sets forth two classes: true workers whose work is to present the truth in its purity, and unconsecrated opposers who bring a spurious religion to counterwork God's appointed work. The opposers include many unruly and empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped because they overturn whole households by teaching what they should not for shameful gain. Sound doctrine equips leaders to address such unruly talkers and deceivers whose influence threatens the church, and upholds the church's duty to confront persistent troublemaking and protect its fellowship.

The Word of God is to be applied not merely in preaching but in ministering to preserve order and unity in the church. This reaches professed believers who in works deny God, who are unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, busybodies speaking evil and sowing doubt and disaffection and counterworking the minister of Christ. The faithful minister must labor personally and faithfully with such a one, and if after the steps required by Christ he will not hear and change, separate him from fellowship and suspend those who sympathize and choose the wrong side. In this way their mouths are stopped so the church is not defiled and God's name is not dishonored.