Titus 1:7

For a bishop must be blameless Or, as R.V., the bishop. Both are correct and idiomatic; note on 1 Timothy 3:2. -Bishop" here is admitted to refer to the -presbyter" of Titus 1:5, -bishop" describing the nature of the duties assigned, viz. superintendence and pastoral oversight, while -presbyter" refers rather to station and character; the one is officialthe other personal. See note on 1 Timothy 3:1, Introduction, pp. 15 19, and Appendix, C. Bp Wordsworth well paraphrases here, -For he who has the oversight of others ought to be blameless."

as the steward of God -The director of the house of God; Timothy had been told how he was to conduct himself in "the house of God," and now Titus is told that every bishop or elder, has similar responsibilities." Dr Reynolds. Cf. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 1 Peter 4:10. An approved settled Christian life was essential, because recent converts from heathenism might endanger the Christian Church by bringing into it the relics of their heathen life. Even in the 4th century Chrysostom complains that men came to the Holy Communion hustling and kicking one another.

not self-willed, not soon angry -Self-willed," -headstrong," -unfeeling," occurs only here and 2 Peter 2:10 in N.T. Theophrastus (Char. xv.) describes the character in a way which shews the idea conveyed by the word to be worse than our English -self-willed" implies. He describes it as -A certain roughness that shews itself in a man's whole conversation and behaviour. Ask one of this savage temper if he has seen such a person lately, he answers you, Prithee, friend, don't be impertinent. If you desire to know the price of anything he has to sell, he grows surly, and asks what fault you find with it?He is inexorable upon the slightest offence; do but chance to tread upon his foot, or push him with your elbow, and he'll never forget you as long as he lives. If a friend desires to borrow some money of him he at first gives him a flat denial, but upon second thoughts brings it to him, and throwing it down in a churlish manner, Well, here "tis, says he, but I never expect to see it again. If he stumbles against a stone in the street, he looks back and falls a cursing it." Burgell's Trans. -Soon angry," -irascible," -choleric," only here in N.T., not as Theod. Mops, -reminiscentem iram et per longi temporis spatia tenentem," i.e. -bearing malice." The form of the word denotes rather -liable to," -with frequent fits of." So the word occurs in the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, iii. 1, -Be not soon angry, for anger leadeth to murder." The word for -jesting," Ephesians 5:4, is from an adjective of similar form, -quick at banter."

not given to wine, no striker As in 1 Timothy 3:3, not quarrelsome over wine, no striker; see notes there.

not given to filthy lucre As of the deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8, where see note; elsewhere in N.T. only the adverb, 1 Peter 5:2. Vulg. -non turpis lucri cupidum." Bp Ellicott (following Huther) refers it especially to -dishonesty with the alms of the Church, or any abuse of a spiritual office for purposes of gain." The similarly formed word -filthy communication," Colossians 3:8, is in R.V. -shameful speaking"; and it would be clearer to render here not given to unfair gains. - Fairgains" are the parson's right for fair pains, 1 Timothy 5:18; 2 Timothy 2:6. The phrase -filthy lucre" has come to bear a meaning as if, according to a right and high standard, money per se, rents, tithes, and fees, were all -of the earth" worldly, and unfit to be pressed for by any clergyman who professed to set an example.