Hold Fast to the Faithful Word

Titus 1:5-9    
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Paul put Titus over the church in Crete to complete the work he started there, going around to the local churches in the cities and appointive elders in each one.  There was to be a spiritual hierarchy for order and discipleship, and this required godly men appointed by God to be identified by their lives and prayerfully put in place to serve and guide the local churches of the universal church in each city.  Sound doctrine, godly discipline, and following the patterns of scripture as shown to the apostles all had to be passed on.  Disciples were being made as the church multiplied, and the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism along with teaching all things (Matthew 28:19-20) had to be grounded in the organized church.  The qualifications, therefore, for these leaders and under shepherds are set high for this great responsibility.  Being a blameless steward of the things of God meant they were men who took seriously the charge to follow Christ and to be holy because and after the example of Christ.  They must be driven by God’s will and not their own interests, slow to anger, not drunkards, not violent, caring for others in contentment and not for personal gain, and able to think clearly.  Elders are also to be fair with mercy, putting into practice all they have learned in Christ to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2), both to inspire following Christ and to correct those sinning or arguing against sound teaching.  They hold tight to the faithful word of God above all.