Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

3:1 The terms overseer, "elder," and "pastor" (or "shepherd") are all used in the NT to refer to the same office. In Titus 1:5-9 "elder" and "overseer" are used interchangeably. In Acts 20:28 Paul tells the Ephesian elders (Gk. presbyteros, Acts 20:17) that "the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [Gk. episkopos], to care for [Gk. poimainō, "to pastor, serve as shepherd of"] the church of God." Peter also writes, "I exhort the elders [Gk. presbyteros] among you, as a fellow elder . . . : shepherd [Gk. poimainō, "to pastor"] the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight" (1 Pet. 5:1-2). Paul commends the role of serving the church in this way as a noble task. "Overseer" stresses the role of watching over the congregation (see Heb. 13:17).

3:2-3 Above reproach heads the list as the key qualification for an overseer; it is then expounded by the words and phrases that follow in these verses (see note on Titus 1:6). The meaning of husband of one wife (Gk. mias gynaikos andra) is widely debated. The Greek phrase is not common, and there are few other instances for comparison. The phrase literally states, "of one woman [wife] man [husband]." (1) Many commentators understand the phrase to mean "having the character of a one-woman man," that is, "faithful to his wife." In support of this view is the fact that a similar phrase is used in 1 Tim. 5:9 as a qualification for widows (Gk. henos andros gynē; "one-man woman," i.e., "wife of one husband"), and in that verse it seems to refer to the trait of faithfulness, for a prohibition of remarriage after the death of a spouse would be in contradiction to Paul's advice to young widows in 5:14. Interpreters who hold this first view conclude that the wording of 3:2 is too specific to be simply a requirement of marriage and not specific enough to be simply a reference to divorce or remarriage after divorce. In the context of this passage, the phrase therefore prohibits any kind of marital unfaithfulness. (2) Another view is that "husband of one wife" means polygamists cannot be elders. Interpreters who hold this view note that there is evidence of polygamy being practiced in some Jewish circles at the time. On this view, the phrase means "at the present time the husband of one wife," in line with other qualifications which refer to present character. On either of these views, Paul is not prohibiting all second marriages; that is, he is not prohibiting from the eldership a man whose wife has died and who has remarried, or a man who has been divorced and who has remarried (these cases should be evaluated on an individual basis). (3) A third view is that Paul is absolutely requiring that an elder be someone who has never had more than one wife. But that does not fit the context as well, with its emphasis on present character. On any of these views, Paul is speaking of the ordinary cases and is not absolutely requiring marriage or children (cf. v. 4) but is giving a picture of the typical approved overseer as a faithful husband and father. able to teach. This is the one requirement in this list that is not necessarily required of all believers. It is also not required of deacons. Thus, it is a distinguishing skill required of the pastor/elder. It yields the only reference in this list to his actual duties (see note on Titus 1:9).

3:4-5 The management of one's own household is highlighted as a qualification for eldership by the greater amount of discussion given to it. The home is the proving ground of Christian character and therefore the preparation field for ministry. This makes further sense in light of the picture of the church as "the household of God" (v. 15).

3:6 not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit. No matter the level of giftedness, time is needed to demonstrate maturity and character.

3:7 The concern for the opinion of outsiders emerges again. There is a concern throughout this letter for how the church (and therefore the gospel) is portrayed to the watching world (cf. 2:2, 10; 5:7, 14; 6:1).