DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Titus 1:5-2:1 (12/17) Epistle for
Thursday of the Twenty-Eighth Week after Pentecost
The Faithful Word: Titus 1:5-2:1, especially vss. 7, 9: “For a bishop must be blameless... holding fast the
faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine,
both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” From
bits of information in
The Apostles knew that if the churches they were founding
were to thrive they would require blameless leaders capable of
“...holding fast the faithful word...”(vs.
9), while teaching and manifesting the Lord Jesus in the power of the Holy
Spirit, so that men and women would be refashioned as saints. Hence, they sought as stewards of God
those able “...both to exhort and convict...”,
men of sound doctrine and mature in “...holding fast the faithful
word...” (vss. 7,9).
It is always difficult to raise up
godly leaders for the Church, for this world too often accepts insubordination
and self-indulgence. Today’s
Epistle encourages the selection of clergy from men of evident integrity,
capable of healing degradation in their people.
Christian leaders must always be marked by holiness,
justice, and blamelessness (vss. 6-8).
Further, each one must be “...the husband of one wife, having
faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination” (vs.
6). In his heart, a leader must be
submitted to Christ as Lord, displaying true virtues: being fair and just in
all things, sustaining a faultless life, remaining faithfully with the wife of
his youth (Mal. 2:14,15) and raising up fair
children, free of insubordination.
Especially, those selected for leadership should have the capacity to
grow in and exhibit these virtues within the context of the immoral world
surrounding them. These are the
sort of men the Church still requires to serve as Presbyters [Priests],
Bishops, and lay leaders.
Just as in the contemporary world, so also in the first
century, there were many who enthusiastically promoted all kinds of things they
ought not to teach, “...for the sake of dishonest gain” (vs.
11). Desirable
leaders in every generation need to be self-denying, even-tempered,
sober-minded, peaceful, and lovers of what is good (vs. 8). Purity of heart is the goal of every
true Christian, that all may be blameless; but for
Christian leaders holiness is an absolute essential: “To the pure all
things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure;
but even their mind and conscience are defiled” (vs.15). The pure in heart shall see God
(Mt. 5 :8), and follow and manifest the Lord, being
qualified “...for every good work” (Tit.1:16).
Our Lord Himself teaches us: “You will know them by
their fruits” (Mt. 7:16). It
is not accidental that men who hold “...fast the faithful word...”
are “...able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who
contradict” (vs. 9). How
often the Lord Jesus’ opponents tried to silence Him with contrary
teaching (see Lk. 20)! Always, He silenced them by His faithful
word. Likewise, Christians are
victors when we speak “...things...proper for sound doctrine...”
(Titus 2:1).
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Priests, by Thy Holy Spirit, pureness
of life and unswerving faith.
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