Titus 1:6. A husband of one wife,
To shut the mouths of heretics who condemned marriage, he accepts a married man into the episcopacy. For marriage is so honorable that with it one can even ascend to the sacred throne. But to restrain the incontinent, he says: "the husband of one wife." For he who preserved no affection for his deceased wife, how will he be a good leader in the Church? A bishop must be blameless. But a man twice married is not blameless, even though this is permitted by civil laws.
Titus 1:6. Faithful children, not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
Who has not raised his own children, how will he manage others? It is clear that if he had first raised his children well and with care, they would not have turned out disobedient. For sins are not such by their nature that they could be stronger than such diligence. The Apostle did not say simply: not profligate children, but even entirely free from reproach of profligacy and free from evil suspicion.
Titus 1:7. For the bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God,
How can he be blameless if he has unbelieving and undisciplined children? God has placed him over His house, he occupies God's place; therefore in all respects he must be a precise fulfiller of His will.
Titus 1:7. Not self-willed,
Civil authorities rule over their subordinates by the force of law, and therefore can display boldness and self-assertion. But a bishop governs those who are voluntarily subject to him, and he must not reach such a degree of boldness as to act autocratically, arbitrarily, and without asking the opinion of his subordinates; for this would be coercive.
Titus 1:7. Not quick-tempered,
Self-love is necessarily followed by irascibility, from which also, of course, consequently, the bishop must abstain. For how will he teach others to bridle this passion if he has not taught this to himself?
Titus 1:7. Not given to wine,
That is, an insulter. What need is there to insult? The disobedient should be brought to fear by gehenna, not insulted.
Titus 1:7. Not violent,
Not striking with the hands, nor with bitter and harsh words. For he is a physician. And a physician rather heals wounds, but does not inflict them himself.
Titus 1:7. Not greedy for money,
That is, showing great contempt for wealth. In a bishop, all covetousness, even righteous covetousness, is shameful.
Titus 1:8. But hospitable,
Not only not to receive profit, but also to give everything away to strangers.
Titus 1:8. A lover of good,
The apostle thus calls the gentle, moderate, and unenvious person.
Titus 1:8. Sober-minded,
That is, pure.
Titus 1:8. Just,
Impartial in regard to people.
Titus 1:8. Devout,