Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Titus 1:7

"For the bishop must be blameless, as God`s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;" — Titus 1:7 (ASV)

The leader’s true position and personal qualifications are given in vv.7–9. The switch in v.7 from “elder” (GK 4565) to “overseers” (GK 2176) shows that these two terms are interchangeable (cf. also Ac 20:17 and 20:28). Yet both these words have a different connotation. “Elder” implies the maturity and dignity of the man, while “overseer” indicates his work of overseeing God’s flock.

Again Paul stresses that the overseer must be “blameless” (GK 441). This time the stress is on “it is necessary,” because of the elder’s position as being entrusted with “God’s work” (lit., “God’s steward”; GK 3874). A steward was the manager of a household or estate, appointed by and accountable to the owner. The picture of the steward embodies one of Paul’s favorite concepts of the ministry (1 Corinthians 4:1–2; 1 Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 1:25). The Christian minister is not merely the servant of the church; he exercises his office under God’s authority and is directly accountable to him. This high office makes high demands on the character of the man.

Five negative and six positive personal qualifications are listed in vv.7–8.

The overseer must not be (1) “overbearing” (GK 881), arrogantly disregarding the interests of others in order to please himself; (2) “quick-tempered” (GK 3975), readily yielding to anger, for pastoral work demands much patience; (3) “given to drunkenness” (GK 4232); i.e., he must not be an alcoholic; (4) “violent” (GK 4438), ready to assail an opponent, either with fists or by bellicose behavior; (5) “pursuing dishonest gain” (GK 153), using his office to profit in an underhanded and shameful way. The laborer is worthy of his hire (cf. 1 Timothy 5:17–18), but he must not turn his office into a moneymaking business.