Titus: Transformed by Grace: Part 3

Leaders Who Look Like Christ—The Qualification of Elders

If you had to choose one word to describe the kind of person who should lead an ecclesia, what would it be? Paul uses one word twice in Titus 1:6-7. It’s not “successful.” It’s not “gifted.” It’s not even “capable.” It’s “blameless,” or some translations have “above reproach.”

That’s the first and primary qualification for elders in the ecclesia. Not perfection. Not performance. But a life of integrity. Someone whose life is lived out in the open. Someone whose public role is supported by a private life of godliness.

This article will explore what Paul says about these men. Who are they? What are their households like? How do they relate to others? How do they handle the Word of God? Because Titus 1:6-9 gives us not just a checklist, but a portrait. It’s a picture of the kind of shepherd Christ wants for his flock.

These qualities are not just for elders. They’re a model for all of us. But they are essential for those entrusted with spiritual oversight because they represent Christ to the community. When leaders reflect him, the body flourishes. When they don’t, the body suffers.

Blameless at Home

Paul begins where we might not expect—in the home. The very first criterion is this:

Leadership in the ecclesia starts with leadership in the home. Before anyone is entrusted with the care of a spiritual family, they must have shown faithfulness in their natural family. This condition doesn’t mean that every child of an elder will be perfect. It does mean that the tone, discipline, love, and leadership in that home reflect gospel priorities.

The phrase “husband of one wife” is not about marital status or remarriage after a death. It speaks to faithfulness. Is this man loyal? Has he been true to his marriage covenant? Does his wife trust him? Does he treat her with the love Christ shows the ecclesia?

Then Paul mentions children. The language he uses is “believing children” and not “wild or disobedient.” This description indicates that these children are being raised under godly discipline. Again, this is not about controlling every decision of a grown child, but about the pattern established in the home. Does this father shepherd his children with grace and truth? Is the gospel central in the household?

Because here’s the truth: it is easy to hide in public. It is much harder to fake it at home. If a man is disrespected by his own children, he’s not ready to shepherd God’s. This matters, not because elders are perfect fathers, but because the home is the proving ground of character. If he is neglecting his family, no amount of ecclesial effort makes up for it.

What Elders Must Not Be

Paul now shifts from what an elder should be to what he must not be. Before listing the traits to look for, Paul eliminates a few disqualifying qualities:

This is not a throwaway list. Every one of these characteristics is a spiritual red flag, not just for leadership, but for discipleship in general. But when these are present in leaders, they do far more damage.

Not arrogant. Elders cannot be in it for ego. They do not need to always be right, nor use their role to assert their superiority. The spirit of Christ is not proud. Leadership is not a platform for personal significance; it’s a calling to die to self.

Not quick-tempered. This one stings. Anger is not always loud. It can be cold and simmering. It can flare up in meetings, in emails, in conversations. But an elder must not be ruled by emotion. He must be gentle, patient, slow to speak, slow to become angry.

Not a drunkard. This requirement is about self-control. Elders must not be known for overindulgence, whether in alcohol or anything else. It’s about freedom from addiction and clarity of judgment, not a legalistic ban. A man who is not disciplined in his personal life is not fit to guide the spiritual lives of others.

Not violent. Paul’s language here includes both physical aggression and domineering leadership. An elder cannot use force to get his way, not physical, emotional, verbal, or spiritual force. The shepherd’s rod is for protection, not intimidation.

Not greedy for gain. If an elder is driven by money, even subtly, he cannot be trusted with spiritual things. This obligation includes not just overt corruption, but a heart that finds value and identity in wealth or material success.

Every one of these disqualifying traits reflects a heart problem. If left unchecked, they always bear bad fruit in the community. Paul’s warning is clear: do not put these men in charge, no matter how talented they are. The damage will come.

What Elders Must Be

Now that Paul has cleared away the dangers, he moves to the kind of man Titus should seek out and appoint. He lists five qualities:

These are not advanced traits for the spiritual elite; they are the ordinary marks of Christian maturity. But in elders, they must be especially visible.

Hospitable. Elders must open their homes as well as their hearts. Hospitality is not entertainment. It’s the willingness to welcome people into your space, your time, and your life. A closed home often reveals a closed spirit. An elder needs to make time to prioritize shepherding and ensure it is connected with his life. A hospitable man reflects the welcome of Christ.

A lover of good. This phrase is one of the most beautiful in the list. An elder must be someone who delights in what is good, who treasures Scripture, loves holiness, and rejoices in others’ growth. If someone constantly gravitates toward controversy, conflict, or critique, he is not qualified.

Self-controlled. Elders must have mastery over their impulses. This qualification doesn’t mean they never struggle. But they are not driven by emotion, lust, appetite, or ambition. They have learned to say “no,” even to good things, for the sake of what is better.

Upright. This element speaks to integrity. Elders must be just and fair in how they treat others, consistent in their words and actions, and trustworthy in both private and public. People should instinctively feel safe around them.

Holy. This point is about “Godwardness.” Elders live in reverence. They love the presence of God. They pursue purity. Their lives are not compartmentalized into Sunday faith and weekday compromise. Instead, they are marked by sincere devotion to God.

Disciplined. A man without discipline is like a house with broken walls. An elder must have structure in his life—habits of prayer, study, worship, and service. Discipline isn’t glamorous, but it is the trellis that allows spiritual fruit to grow.

None of these traits emerge overnight. They are the fruit of grace at work over time. But when they are present, they form a strong, steady foundation for leading others. The elder’s life becomes a living sermon, not of perfection, but of perseverance.

Holding Firm to the Word

Finally, Paul ends this list with what might be the most public aspect of an elder’s role —his relationship with the Word of God.

Notice the order here. First, the elder must “hold firm” to the trustworthy word. That’s not just intellectual agreement. It’s a personal conviction. It’s the difference between being able to quote Scripture and being shaped by it.

Elders are not innovators. They are not free to rewrite or adjust the apostolic teaching to suit modern tastes. Their role is to hold firm, to stay anchored, to the Word as taught. That phrase reminds us that the Word has a shape, a structure, a truthfulness that must not be distorted. The elder’s strength is not in novelty, but in fidelity.

But it doesn’t stop there. Elders must also be able to teach. That doesn’t necessarily mean they need to give public talks every week. But they must be able to explain the gospel clearly, answer questions patiently, and help others grow in sound doctrine.

They must be able to rebuke. Rebuke is a hard word. It means confronting false teaching, having the courage to speak when others stay silent, and caring enough about the flock to say, “That’s not what God says.”

This kind of leadership is deeply countercultural. In a world where every opinion is equally valid and personal correction is seen as judgmental; the elder’s task will often be uncomfortable. But love does what is hard. And Paul is crystal clear: elders must be men of the Word, shaped by it, faithful to it, and ready to defend it.

It’s no coincidence that Paul ends here. The Word is the lifeblood of the ecclesia. Elders must be their faithful stewards.

Conclusion: Christlike Leadership

Paul’s picture in Titus 1:6-9 is not a checklist for spiritual elites. It’s a portrait of Christlikeness. These qualifications are not arbitrary; they are grounded in the gospel. They reflect what Jesus is like.

Jesus is the faithful husband to his bride. He is the perfect Son who obeyed His Father. He is slow to anger, rich in mercy, holy, upright, and full of truth. He welcomed the stranger. He loved what was good. He taught the truth with clarity and authority. He gave himself for the sheep.

So, when Paul says an elder must be above reproach, he is really saying: he must look like Jesus.

This perception is why leadership in the ecclesia is first about godliness. It’s not about presence or charisma. It’s about character. It’s why the work of recognizing and appointing elders must be done prayerfully, patiently, and with full awareness of what’s at stake.

A man may be brilliant in Bible study, clever in speech, or reliable in logistics, but if he is domineering, impatient, proud, or unreliable at home, he is not qualified to lead the flock. Paul doesn’t say this to exclude people harshly, but to protect the body.

The challenge to us is twofold:

First, we must value and support leaders who quietly meet these qualifications, even if they don’t stand out. The most godly elders are often the least noticed. They serve faithfully, love deeply, and lead by example. Let’s honor them.

Second, we must all aspire to these qualities. Eldership is not a status to be achieved, but a standard of maturity to be pursued. These traits, hospitality, self-control, integrity, and love for good, are not for the few. They are the shape of a life transformed by grace.

So, as we continue this journey through Titus, let’s recommit to seeking leaders who reflect Christ, and becoming people who do, too. The health of the ecclesia depends on it. More than that, the glory of Christ is displayed through it.

Andrew Weller,
Cumberland Ecclesia, SA