“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9 (ESV)
In an explanation of Heb. 8:10, the Puritan commentator William Gouge (1575–1653) remarked, “Ministers are herein to imitate God, and, to their best endeavour, to instruct people in the mysteries of godliness, and to teach them what to believe and practice, and then to stir them up in act and deed, to do what they are instructed to do. Their labor otherwise is likely to be in vain. Neglect of this course is a main cause that men fall into as many errors as they do in these days.”[1]
To this editorial by Gouge, Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892) adds a word about nineteenth-century England: “I may add that this last remark has gained more force in our times; it is among uninstructed flocks that the wolves of popery make havoc; sound teaching is the best protection from the heresies which ravage right and left among us.”[2]
John Broadus (1827–1895) decried the death of good preaching in America, too, and G. Campbell Morgan (1863–1945) noted, “The supreme work of the Christian minister is the work of preaching. This is a day in which one of our great perils is that of doing a thousand little things to the neglect of the one thing, which is preaching.”[3]
In addition to the moral qualifications an elder/overseer must have for church leadership (Titus 1:6-8), he must also be a man committed to the Word of God. In other words, an elder must trust it, depend upon it and honor it for what it is: God’s Word. God has entrusted His sound or healthy doctrine to such men.
“Sound doctrine, or sound teaching is a theme running throughout the Pastoral Epistles (I Tim. 3:9; 4:6; 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13-14; 2:1-2; 4:1-3; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1-2). The word “sound” implies that true doctrine preserves and promotes spiritual health, unlike false doctrine, which destroys spiritual vitality and spreads infection like gangrene (2 Tim. 2:17),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Therefore, an overseer must hold firm to the trustworthy word. To hold firm (ἀντεχόμενον; antechomenon) is a present, middle, masculine participle. The elder must continuously, personally and devotedly cling to the Scriptures. This means to hold firm to what God’s Word teaches and to behave accordingly.
Why? The Apostle states it is because the Word of God is trustworthy (πιστοῦ; pistou). It alone is dependable, reliable and sure. No church leader, no church council, and no church denomination may supersede the authority and surety of the Scriptures. Paul called it the trustworthy word.
Therefore, because the Word of God is trustworthy, the man of God is able to give instruction from it. To be able (ᾖ; e) means to presently and actively have the existing ability to do something. In this context, it is to give instruction (παρακαλεῖν; parakalein). This is to presently, actively and infinitely encourage, console and exhort. This is to be done within the context of the local church.
The elder and overseer are to give instruction in sound doctrine (διδασκαλίᾳ ὑγιαινούσῃ; didaskalia hygiainouse). This refers to biblical teaching which is correct, accurate and spiritually healthy. It is teaching which is positively valued by those who receive it and teaching which rebukes those who contradict it. To rebuke (ἐλέγχειν; elenchein) means to reproach and expose individuals who contradict (ἀντιλέγοντας; antilegoontas) or presently and actively speak against or are in opposition to the Word of God.
“Not only must an overseer meet moral and spiritual standards in his personal life, but he must also be a reliable man of the Word. (15) He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught. This last clause, “as it has been taught,” actually comes first in the Greek, for emphasis. According to Paul, an elder is a conservator of the truth, one who must understand it, hold it fast; (16) encourage others by teaching it; and (17) refute those who oppose it. To be qualified as an elder a man must be a capable handler of the truth (cf. See 1 Tim. 3:2).”[4]
“V 9 makes clear how important a grasp of sound doctrine is for those who exercise leadership over others in the church. It is only possible to refute false teachers if the true doctrine has been well understood. In Paul’s view there should be no blurring of the issues.”[5]
John MacArthur’s review of preaching patterns in the late 1980’s led him to observe, “Specifically, evangelical preaching ought to reflect our conviction that God’s Word is infallible and inerrant. Too often it does not. In fact, there is a discernible trend in contemporary evangelicalism away from biblical preaching and a drift toward an experience-centered, pragmatic, topical approach in the pulpit.[6]
Pastors, elders and overseers are to be men of the Word. God has not called church leaders to be motivational speakers but rather preachers and teachers of God’s Word and to hold firm to the same (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Richard L. Mayhue, “Rediscovering Expository Preaching,” in Rediscovering Expository Preaching (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1992), 4.
[2] Ibid., 4.
[3] Ibid., 4.
[4] A. Duane Litfin, “Titus,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 762–763.
[5] Donald Guthrie, “Titus,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1312.
[6] Richard L. Mayhue, “Rediscovering Expository Preaching,” in Rediscovering Expository Preaching (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1992), 5–6.
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