Titus 1:6

6 Elders should be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse,^[a] and have faithful children who can't be accused of self-indulgence or rebelliousness.

Titus 1:6 Meaning and Commentary

Titus 1:6

If any be blameless
In his outward life and conversation, not chargeable with any notorious crime; (See Gill on 1 Timothy 3:2),

the husband of one wife; (See Gill on 1 Timothy 3:2):

having faithful children;
legitimate ones, born in lawful wedlock, in the same sense as such are called godly and holy, in ( Malachi 2:15 ) ( 1 Corinthians 7:14 ) for by faithful children cannot be meant converted ones, or true believers in Christ; for it is not in the power of men to make their children such; and their not being so can never be an objection to their being elders, if otherwise qualified; at most the phrase can only intend, that they should be brought up in the faith, in the principles, doctrines, and ways of Christianity, or in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Not accused of riot;
or chargeable with sins of uncleanness and intemperance, with rioting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness; or with such crimes as Eli's sons were guilty of, from which they were not restrained by their father, and therefore the priesthood was removed from the family: "or unruly" not subject, but disobedient to their parents; (See Gill on 1 Timothy 3:4). (See Gill on 1 Timothy 3:5).

Titus 1:6 In-Context

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.

5 The reason I left you behind in Crete was to organize whatever needs to be done and to appoint elders in each city, as I told you.

6 Elders should be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse, and have faithful children who can't be accused of self-indulgence or rebelliousness.

7 This is because supervisors should be without fault as God's managers: they shouldn't be stubborn, irritable, addicted to alcohol, a bully, or greedy.

8 Instead, they should show hospitality, love what is good, and be reasonable, ethical, godly, and self-controlled.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or they should be a one-woman man.