Proper leadership: (1:5-9):
Paul had successful evangelistic campaigns in the island of Crete. Crete consists of several cities numbering about 100, and Paul desire was to build stable churches in every city to take care of the congregation. Further it was very much needed that the people of Crete were a wild bunch, well known liars and lazy people. So Paul left Titus in Crete for a limited time to appoint elders and leaders who can handle the congregations in every city in Crete. The job was really hard and only a person like Titus who was a local and a tuff man can handle them. Paul says: “the reason I left you in Crete is to straighten out what was left unfinished” (1:5a). “That phrase is a medical term; it was applied to the setting of a crooked limb.” (Wiersbe). There were crooked thngs that had to be set straight among the congregation of Crete. Further he was like a Bishop to appoint elders or leaders or Presbyters in every city. Titus was given the apostle’s authoritative endorsement. Timothy’s authority in the Cretan church was an extension of Paul’s own. Such authority ended with the close of the Apostolic age. This was a very big and hard job because Crete had many cities. The churches cannot safely remain without the ministry of pastors or overseers. Paul’s desire was that no town should be without a pastor. Further Paul gives qualifications needed for every pastor or leader who is appointed to oversee the congregation in the churches of Crete. They are:
- Blameless: (1:6a): Not subjected to any shortcoming. Although every human being has shortcomings, but here the word pictures a person’s integrity in managing the affairs of the Church.
- Husband of but one wife: (1:6b): He should have been married only once. He should not be in a position for the temptation and attraction. Paul mentioned these virtues even for the churches in the city of Ephesus which shows that God’s measure for leaders does not fluctuate. A big city church and a small town church both need godly people of God’s measure in places of worship.
- Godly children: (1:6c): His household must be under his control. The children must be believers and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. This had been explained even in (1Tim.3:5).
- A steward of God’s property: (1:7a): Paul switched from the term elder (presbyteros) to overseer (episkopos). The overseer serves as a steward of God. Any damage to the church is damage to God’s reputation.
Paul was simply affirming that these qualifications are required for all overseers. The need for blamelessness is repeated from (1:6). The reason this quality is so important is that an overseer serves as a steward of God. Damage to a church leader’s reputation is damage to God’s reputation.
Then Paul resumed his list with five vices which must not characterize an overseer:
- Not overbearing, not arrogant and self-willed: Having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride. Self-willed is nothing but selfish people. Such people can never qualify for the overseer. There are many proud pastors always judging others or looking down other servants of God.
“Not one who is determined to have his own way in everything; setting up his own judgment to that of all others; expecting all to pay homage to his understanding.” (Clarke)
2. Not quick-tempered: A sudden outburst of anger. A short tempered pastor can do more harm than to build up the church. He must ask God to cultivate patience and perseverance ( Gal.5:22). It speaks of a man who has a constant simmering anger and who nourishes his anger against others – close to the idea of a bitter man.
3. Not given to much wine (also given in 1 im.3:3): Pastors taking intoxicating drinks are not tolerable for any church. Paul’s clear warning to Ephesians “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Eph.5:18)
4. Not violent (also given in 1 Tim 3:3): Those who are having extreme intensity of emotions. This include violence in action, violence in speech.
“The word came to mean that one who browbeats his fellow-men, and it may well be that it should be so translated here.” (Barclay)
5. Not pursuing dishonest gain: (also in 1 Tim. 6:5): Not greedy for money. Cheating in order to gain something. Many so-called pastors twist the word of God for personal gains and they are abundantly found in many churches today specially in India.