Titus 1:7

My Notes

What Does Titus 1:7 Mean?

Paul gives Titus a list of disqualifications for church leadership — and every item on the list is a character issue, not a competence issue. "For a bishop must be blameless" — anegkletos, above reproach, not open to accusation. This doesn't mean sinless. It means there's no outstanding, unaddressed charge against the person's character. "As the steward of God" — the bishop isn't the owner. He's a steward (oikonomos), a household manager entrusted with someone else's property. The house belongs to God. The leader manages it.

"Not selfwilled" (authade) — not arrogant, not insistent on having their own way. The selfwilled leader uses the church to serve their vision rather than serving God's. "Not soon angry" (orgilon) — not quick-tempered, not a person whose anger flares easily. Anger in leadership is a disqualifier because it reveals a character that prioritizes control over care.

"Not given to wine" (paroinon) — not a drinker, not someone whose judgment is compromised by alcohol. "No striker" (plekten) — not violent, not a person who uses physical force or verbal aggression. "Not given to filthy lucre" (aischrokerden) — not greedy, not motivated by money.

Every item describes who the leader is, not what the leader can do. Paul doesn't mention preaching ability, organizational skill, or theological education. The requirements are entirely about character — because a church entrusted to a gifted person with bad character will be destroyed from the inside.

Reflection Questions

• 1.If your character were evaluated by Paul's list — selfwilled, angry, violent, greedy — how would you measure up? What needs work?
• 2.Why do you think Paul focuses entirely on character rather than competence when describing leadership qualifications?
• 3.Have you been in a church led by a gifted person with bad character? What damage did it cause — and what did it teach you about what matters in leadership?
• 4.The bishop is a 'steward of God' — managing someone else's house. How does that change the way leaders should think about their authority?

Devotional

Paul didn't ask if the bishop could preach. He asked if the bishop could be trusted.

Every qualification on this list is a character trait. Not selfwilled — can he set aside his own agenda? Not soon angry — can he absorb frustration without exploding? No striker — can he lead without intimidation? Not given to filthy lucre — is he motivated by service or by money? The entire checklist is about who the person is when no one is watching, when they're under pressure, when they have the power to get their way.

This is radically countercultural — in Paul's day and ours. We evaluate leaders by their gifts: can they speak, organize, cast vision, build a following? Paul evaluates them by their temper, their greed, their selfishness, and their relationship with alcohol. The skills don't matter if the character is rotten. A gifted preacher who's selfwilled will build a church around himself. A charismatic leader who's soon angry will terrorize the people he's supposed to shepherd. A competent administrator who's given to filthy lucre will exploit the flock for personal gain.

"As the steward of God" — this is the phrase that governs everything. The leader doesn't own the church. God does. The leader manages God's household on God's behalf. And a steward who is selfwilled, angry, drunk, violent, or greedy isn't managing God's house — he's looting it.

If you're in leadership — or evaluating leadership — start here. Not with the resume. With the character. Because the most talented leader with the worst character will do more damage than no leader at all.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture