Titus 1: Elders and False Teachers

Titus 1 (WEB)

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began;

3 but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;

4 to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

5 I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;

6 if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior.

7 For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;

8 but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled;

9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

10 For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

11 whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake.

12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.”

13 This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

14 not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

16 They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

Titus 1 (KJV)

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus 1 (ASV)

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;

3 but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

4 to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

6 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.

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;

8 but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;

9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.

10 For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,

11 whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.

13 This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

14 not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15 To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

16 They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Summary

Paul opens by defining his ministry as a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, set apart for the faith of God's chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, all resting on the hope of eternal life promised by the God who cannot lie. He greets Titus as his true child in a common faith and reminds him why he was left on Crete: to set in order what was lacking and to appoint elders in every city. Paul then lists the qualifications—an elder must be blameless, faithful in his household, and of good character, neither arrogant nor quick-tempered nor greedy, but hospitable, self-controlled, and devoted to what is good. Above all he must hold firmly to the trustworthy word, so that he can both encourage with sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it. This matters because Crete is full of unruly talkers and deceivers, especially among the circumcision, who upset whole households for dishonest gain. Paul even quotes a Cretan prophet who called his own people liars and gluttons, and agrees the rebuke is deserved. So he tells Titus to reprove them sharply that they may become sound in the faith, turning from human fables to the truth. He closes the chapter with a piercing summary of false religion: such people profess to know God, but by their works they deny him, unfit for any good work.

Key Figures

Paul — The apostle who grounds his ministry in the truth that produces godliness and charges Titus to organize the Cretan churches by appointing godly elders.
Titus — Paul's true child in the faith, left on Crete to set things in order, appoint elders, and rebuke the false teachers sharply.
The elders / overseers — The blameless leaders Titus is to appoint, faithful in household and character and holding firmly to the sound word so they can teach truth and refute error.
The false teachers — Unruly vain talkers and deceivers, especially of the circumcision, who overthrow whole households for dishonest gain and deny God by their works.

Key Verse

Titus 1:9 (WEB)

holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

Lessons Learned

The goal of true knowledge is godliness; sound theology is meant to shape character.
Healthy churches need leaders chosen for proven character and faithfulness to the word.
An overseer must both build up with sound teaching and guard the flock against error.
A profession of faith is exposed as empty when a person's works deny what they claim.

Truth serves godliness. Paul's ministry is for “the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness” (Titus 1:1, WEB). Right belief exists to produce holy living, not merely to inform the mind.
Character qualifies a leader. An elder must be “blameless,” faithful at home, “not self-pleasing, not easily angered… but given to hospitality, a lover of good” (Titus 1:7-8, WEB). Who a leader is matters as much as what he knows.
Leaders must hold and handle the word. An overseer holds “the faithful word… that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him” (Titus 1:9, WEB). He guards the flock by both teaching truth and answering error.
Works reveal the heart. Some “profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him” (Titus 1:16, WEB). A faith that produces no good fruit is a faith in name only.

How does Paul describe his own ministry in verses 1-4, and what does he say is the purpose of the truth he proclaims?
Why did Paul leave Titus on Crete, and what was the first task he gave him (1:5)?
Look closely at the qualifications for elders in verses 6-9. Which of them surprise you, and why might Paul emphasize character so heavily?
What was wrong with the false teachers, and why does Paul tell Titus to “reprove them sharply” (1:13)?
Verse 16 says people can profess to know God yet deny him by their works. Where might that gap show up in our own lives, and how does the gospel close it?

Paul calls himself a servant and apostle set apart for the faith and “the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,” resting on God's promise of eternal life (1:1-2). From the first line he insists that truth is meant to produce a godly life, framing everything that follows in the letter.
Paul left Titus to “set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city” (1:5). The young Cretan churches needed structure and faithful leadership, and the very first step toward health was raising up qualified shepherds.
Paul lists mostly character traits—blamelessness, faithfulness at home, self-control, hospitality, love of good—because leaders set the spiritual tone of a church (1:6-8). Discuss how these are within reach of ordinary, faithful believers, not just gifted speakers, and why integrity outweighs talent in leadership.
The false teachers were upsetting whole households for dishonest gain, teaching things they ought not (1:10-11). Paul urges sharp reproof so they “may be sound in the faith” (1:13)—the goal is restoration and the protection of the church, not mere condemnation.
This is partly a personal-application question. The false teachers professed God yet denied him by their deeds (1:16). Invite the group to name gaps between belief and behavior gently and without finger-pointing, and remember that grace, not willpower, is what makes faith and works one.