Titus 1:6

Translations

Modern

An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.

Traditional

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

Literal

…if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having believing children, not under accusation of debauchery, or insubordinate.

Latin

…si quis sine crimine est, unius uxoris vir, filios habens fideles, non in accusatione luxuriæ, aut non subditos.

Original

Greek

English

An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.

Notes

Titus 1:6

the husband of one wife (or faithful to his wife): See study note on 1 Timothy 3:2.
indiscretion or insubordination (that is, reckless behavior or rebellion): This probably reflects Cretan culture with its low moral standards (Titus 1:12).

Titus 1:5–9

Titus was instructed to appoint leaders in order to complete what was unfinished—that is, to establish the church (compare 1 Timothy 3:1–13). Deacons are not mentioned, possibly because these were new, small churches.
These leadership qualities might be an accommodation to the newness of these converts and the roughness of their culture. It is assumed that the elders will be male (see 1 Timothy 3:4–5).

Titus 1:5–16

Strong, faithful leadership was needed in the churches of Crete to address the danger of false teachers (1:10–16). This part of Titus’s task coincides with the larger concern of the letter: to shape a community that bears witness to Christ by embodying God’s grace in its conduct. Compare 1 Timothy 3:1–7.

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) Church Leaders

Related verses

1 Timothy 3:2–7
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
1 Timothy 3:12
A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.
Titus 1:6–8
An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.
Proverbs 28:7
A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Genesis 18:19
For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
Titus 1:10
For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,
Ezekiel 44:22
And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow of a priest.
1 Samuel 2:22
Now Eli was very old, and he heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
Malachi 2:15
Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
1 Samuel 3:12–13
On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken about his house, from beginning to end.
Leviticus 21:7
A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.

Titus 1:6

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