When it comes to eldership many of us are familiar with passages such as Titus 1:5–9 or 1 Timothy 3:1–7, which outline an elder’s qualifications. We are often taught about the character traits required for this role. However, it’s less common to be taught what an elder does. When we look to Scripture, there is no question that an elder must be “the husband of one wife,” “above reproach,” and so on (Titus 1:6–7). But what should they do? Thankfully, the Bible tells us. A job description is provided. In Titus 1:10–16, we learn there that an elder must protect, correct, and lead.
1. An Elder Protects
In the passage just before 1:10–16, Paul tells Titus to set up elders. But in verse 10, Paul begins to tell us why elders are needed. Looking at what follows, it is clear that Titus should set up elders because of false teachers. We read that “many” are “insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party” (1:10). False teachers had made inroads into the Cretan churches. So, what is Titus to do? Verse 11 says, “They must be silenced.” Titus is to set up elders to protect God’s people by silencing false teachers.
But how does an elder do this? The word Paul uses for “silence” can also mean “muzzle.” It is to put something over the mouth to prevent speech. Paul is advocating for protection of the pulpit. A primary responsibility of an elder is to guard the teaching ministry of the church. They are to oversee who teaches and whether it is in line with sound doctrine or not. Practically, this means that elders must continue to grow in knowledge. It’s hard for an elder to protect if they cannot distinguish between true and false teaching.
Elders, continue to grow in your biblical knowledge. Read good books, listen to good podcasts, study the Bible. You are called to protect God’s people from false teaching. To do this well, you must know good teaching. Devote yourself, therefore, to good teaching.
2. An Elder Corrects
In verse 12, Paul begins to talk about those who have believed false teaching. To do this, he quotes a Cretan thinker, Epimenides. Epimenides wrote that “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (1:12). The purpose of quoting him is to establish the lack of moral fiber present on the island of Crete. This was a common complaint about Cretans. For example, Cicero makes this point when he writes that “Cretans regarded highway robbery as honorable.”1 If this is the moral climate in Crete, it is not surprising that some fell into false teaching. Yet, what should be done about this? Verse 13, “Rebuke them sharply.” Titus is to establish elders to correct God’s people.
We must be cautious here. These elders are to rebuke, but they are to do so for a purpose. That purpose is stated at the end of verse 13, “that they may be sound in the faith.” These rebukes are not to harm, but they are to draw that person back to Christ. John Stott writes, “Paul’s aim was not to humiliate the Cretans for being gullible, but to rescue them from error in order to establish them in the truth.”2 This is not a license for spiritual abuse, but a reminder that a godly elder seeks to correct the wayward for their good.
Elders, this means that your role will involve conflict. We live in a world that hates face-to-face conflict. We engage in disembodied conflict online, but we are not quick to engage in interpersonal conflict for someone’s ultimate good. Being an elder requires a willingness to engage in face-to-face conflict. We take that coffee meeting knowing we will need to correct. We gently and lovingly steer people away from false beliefs. Sometimes we might even need to rebuke, but it’s always for the purpose of restoring someone to Jesus.
3. An Elder Leads
There is one more thing we learn here. Paul, in verse 16, writes, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.” The false teachers in the community claim to follow Jesus, but their works deny this claim. Inferentially, if the false teacher’s life does not match his profession of faith, then the elder’s life must match his profession of faith. Eldership is a public ministry. People are meant to watch and emulate your life, learning what it looks like to consistently live the Christian life.
Elders, is your life worth imitating? People naturally follow the example of their leaders. If a leader is living a life of sin, his people will follow that example. But if a leader is living a life of Christlikeness, his people will similarly look like Christ. You are leading people by your life, so let your life lead people to Jesus Christ.
Titus 1:10–16 gives us a window into an elder’s responsibilities. Paul tells Titus to set up elders to protect God’s people from false teachers, to correct those who are wayward, and to lead by living as examples. In short, an elder’s job is to help God’s people hold fast to Jesus.
We can think of elders as the immune system in Christ’s church. Our immune system recognizes pathogens and then combats those intruders for our health. Similarly, elders recognize false teaching and combat it for the health of the church body. Elders, you have a weighty responsibility. Let me encourage you to fulfill this calling with joy and integrity.