'A man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. For a bishop as God’s steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents. (Titus 1:6-9).’
When Paul’s letter to Titus was written the roles and responsibilities of the various levels of church leadership had not yet been defined. Titus was setting up the Christian community in Crete. Paul advised him that presbyters/ministers should be examples of holiness. They should be married and must be faithful to their wives. They must be able to manage their own families and their children should be believers and should conduct themselves in a morally and spiritually upright manner. Presbyters/bishops/ministers leading their house churches must be virtuous men who can communicate the true message using sound doctrine as handed down from the Apostles to refute false teaching. In summary, a minister must be an example of how Christians should behave, must be an outstanding family man, be of good character, be welcoming and a good communicator, and know the Gospel and the Traditions handed down from the Apostles.
Almighty God, Grant that our heart be filled with your good graces which allow us to faithfully care for our families, live the Gospel, and attend to the needs of others. Help us to be living witnesses of God to all we meet and to defend your living Word against false teaching. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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