Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Titus 1:6

"if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly." — Titus 1:6 (ASV)

“An elder must be blameless” marks the basic qualification, demanding an irreproachable reputation in the community. This demand is elaborated in what follows, which begins with two domestic qualifications. The precise implications of “the husband of but one wife” have been debated through the centuries (see comment on 1 Timothy 3:3). Most natural is the view that an elder must be the husband of only one living woman.

Since older men would be chosen for leadership, it is assumed that the elder would have children. The latter must share their father’s Christian faith by having made a personal decision. Their remaining pagan would throw into question the father’s ability to lead others to the faith. Moreover, the children must personally fulfill the ethical requirements of the Christian life. They must not be chargeable as being “wild” (self-indulgent and wasteful in their manner of life, like the prodigal son) or “disobedient” (refusing to bow to parental authority). An elder’s inability to train and govern his children would also place in question his ability to train and govern the church.