Topic(s):  Bible Study, Church

Todd Clippard

There is no consensus as to the exact demands of "faithful children" in Titus 1:6. There are some things that may be inferred from the text, especially in light of its parallel in 1 Timothy 3.

We can know that a man who would serve as an elder must also be a father. Both accounts of the qualifications for the eldership make reference to the man's children.

We can know the man's children must be of such age as to be "in subjection." This would imply, at least to me, that the children are at least teenagers.

Whether or not all the children necessarily have to be Christians is a matter that cannot be concretely determined by the text. The two texts speak of the children's conduct in relation to their parents (in subjection) and to society in general (not accused of riot or unruly). The Greek word translated faithful in Titus 1:6 is pista, and it appears 66 times in the New Testament. Strong's defines pista as "objectively - trustworthy; subjectively - trustful:" and appears in the KJV as "believe (-ing, -r), faithful (-ly), sure, true."

One would certainly expect that a Christian man's children ought to become Christians at some point in their personal development. But one might foresee a situation where a man was raised in a denomination, and reared his children in the same, but later obeyed the gospel. If his children were respectful of their father and good citizens, but not members of the church, would this disqualify a man from serving as an elder if he were to continue to grow and develop as a child of God? It could, but I don't think it necessarily would.

Each situation and congregation is unique. If sufficient opposition to a man's appointment exists, then if he loves the church he will withdraw himself from consideration in the best interest of the church. A man intent on being an elder regardless of what others say or think will not be an effective or godly leader.