Articles
Appoint Elders - Titus 1
Appoint Elders - Titus 1
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—“. (Titus 1:5)
When a church did not have elders, it was lacking in the way God intended. Paul calls such men ‘elders’ in vs. 5 and ‘overseer’ in vs. 7. What is an overseer? According to Bauer’s Lexicon we read:
① one who has the responsibility of safeguarding or seeing to it that something is done in the correct way, guardian… ② In the Gr-Rom. world ἐ. freq. refers to one who has a definite function or fixed office of guardianship and related activity within a group.
To be such an overseer among God’s people one must himself be of godly character hence vs. 6-8 lay out some of the moral character traits that are required for one to be appointed to this work. They are able to influence the disciples by their example; showing by their godly lives how Christians ought to conduct themselves.
Being an example is not the only way one does the work of overseeing God's people. In overseeing God’s people the importance of sound teaching is always at the foundation. Paul has visited this concept over and over again in these letters to Timothy and Titus. In verse 9 Paul puts forth the practical side of being an elder, one must know, practice, teach, and defend the apostolic teaching.
An elder is to hold FIRM the trustworthy word as taught”. Elders are not born with such knowledge, they themselves have been taught. All of God’s people come to a knowledge of right and wrong through the inspired teaching of the apostles.
The elder is to then give instruction in sound doctrine. People are overseen primarily through teaching and not by demands. Following Jesus is a matter of individual will. Elders ought to be constantly involved in such teaching of each member under their care. This is even more urgent as Paul mentions that there are ‘many… insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers’ (vs. 10). The safest course of an overseer is to ensure that the members know truth and thus are prepared against such false teaching.
In addition, the elders are to rebuke and silence such false teachers. Here we see the moral character and the teaching coming together. Such reproving must be done without being haughty, without losing one’s temper, and without losing self-control (cp. vs. 7-8 again).
The health (soundness) of a local congregation is thus to be found in the character and activities of its elders. It is sad to watch as young men go through their early years without being trained, taught, and encouraged to prepare for such work among God’s people. It is sad to see so many churches that simply are lacking in such order because there are no men qualified or willing to look after God’s people.
Hugh DeLong
