Letter To Titus: Proper Leadership In The Early Church

The letter to Titus is about church growth and church health. The theology of it is organized around four key issues (proper leadership, handling of error, Gospel-appropriate living and proper doctrine) that emerge from the structure and they are important for the church health. I note that church today continues to struggle in these key issues. Proper Leadership. Paul includes similar basic standard in v.1:6-9 as in 1 Timothy 3 for the selection of leaders. He suggests that the leaders in the early church "must be of the highest moral standard in all aspects of life; to expect less is to place the church's reputation and ministry in jeopardy". The leaders should well live according to the Gospel on a daily basis, such as not quick-tempered and not addicted to wine as mentioned in 1:7. Paul's focus seems to be on the character of prospective leaders than the official job description. The repetition of the term “blameless” in the guideline suggests “blamelessness” is an essential qualification for holding a leadership position of the Cretan church. I notice that today's leadership seminars focus on developing leader’s management and inter-personal skills. Unlike Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, the importance of character does

As these Cretan church leaders had to face the false teachings and opposing teachers in their context, they had to have firm ground of their doctrinal teaching. Paul understands that when a body of believers embraces sound doctrine, the result is changed and purified lives that produce good deeds. The expectation is centered on the work of Christ with direct emphasis on enablement of God's grace and the Holy Spirit and is not about human's work. God’s grace is the motivation for all good deeds. Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed and saving us by the "washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (3:5). Having proper doctrine is essential because changed life produce good