Paul's letter addressed to Titus is entirely devoted to the theme of ordering church life on Crete, where the apostle...
Paul's letter addressed to Titus is entirely devoted to the theme of ordering church life on Crete, where the apostle had once preached. In touching on this theme, Paul mentions first of all bishops and presbyters, who, as can be seen, largely determined the face of the church community. The requirements set for presbyters turn out to be quite ordinary, and the chief one is righteousness: according to the apostle's word, a presbyter must be above reproach ("blameless," vv. 5-6). There is nothing surprising here if we remember that large groups of churches in one region or another, judging by the data that have come down to us thanks to the New Testament books, were apparently headed by a council of elders ("presbyters"), who were their representatives in those cases when a churchwide council gathered. The spiritual life of the local church depended greatly on them, just as the spiritual life of a particular church community depended greatly on the minister ("deacon") who headed it.
But Paul requires blamelessness, as can be seen, not only from presbyters but also from bishops, whose office was essentially purely administrative (vv. 7-9). Moreover, judging by the fact that the appointment of presbyters turns out to be directly connected with the selection of bishops, one can conclude that episcopal ministry, despite its administrative and managerial character, received great attention in the early Christian church, and candidates for episcopal positions were selected carefully, with the participation of the local church council of elders ("presbyters"). Such attention to an issue that, for spiritual life, would seem secondary was of course no accident.
And the point is not only that there are no trifles in either spiritual or church life: administrative, managerial, or legal omissions or violations, not to mention financial dishonesty or anything similar, are just as unacceptable for a church community as they are for an individual Christian. The point, above all, is that every administrative and managerial activity, especially one connected with flows of money, is a kind of spiritually dangerous work. There are jobs and kinds of work that are physically or psychologically harmful, creating increased strain on the body or the soul; in the same sense one can speak of jobs and kinds of work that are spiritually dangerous, which, while by no means sinful in themselves, require from those engaged in them special attentiveness and prudence when it comes to keeping the Torah. Such was the ministry of a bishop, who needed special spiritual vigilance in order not to stray from the path of righteousness and not to lose his salvation. For if this were to happen, such an outcome would be the most terrible thing that could happen to a church community. And not only because any event of this kind inevitably becomes a counter-witness, but also because with every such incident there is less of the Kingdom in our world, which is being transformed but has not yet been transformed.
1
1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ - Titles suitable to the person of Paul, and the office he was assigning to Titus. According to the faith - The propagating of which is the proper business of an apostle. A servant of God - According to the faith of the elect. An apostle of Jesus Christ - According to the knowledge of the truth. We serve God according to the measure of our faith: we fulfil our public office according to the measure of our knowledge. The truth that is after godliness - Which in every point runs parallel with and supports the vital, spiritual worship of God; and, indeed, has no other end or scope. These two verses contain the sum of Christianity, which Titus was always to have in his eye. Of the elect of God - Of all real Christians
1:2 In hope of eternal life - The grand motive and encouragement of every apostle and every servant of God. Which God promised before the world began - To Christ, our Head.
1:3 And he hath in his own times - At sundry times; and his own times are fittest for his own work. What creature dares ask, "Why no sooner?" Manifested his word - Containing that promise, and the whole "truth which is after godliness." Through the preaching wherewith I am intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour - And who dares exercise this office on any less authority?
1:4 My own son - Begot in the same image of God, and repaying a paternal with a filial affection. The common faith - Common to me and all my spiritual children.
1:5 The things which are wanting - Which I had not time to settle myself. Ordain elders - Appoint the most faithful, zealous men to watch over the rest. Their character follows, Tit 1:6-9. These were the elders, or bishops, that Paul approved of; - men that had living faith, a pure conscience, a blameless life.
1:6 The husband of one wife - Surely the Holy Ghost, by repeating this so often, designed to leave the Romanists without excuse.
1:7 As the steward of God - To whom he intrusts immortal souls. Not selfwilled - Literally, pleasing himself; but all men "for their good to edification." Not passionate - But mild, yielding, tender.
1:9 As he hath been taught - Perhaps it might be more literally rendered, according to the teaching, or doctrine, of the apostles; alluding to Act 2:42.