Must Hold Fast To The Faithful Word
AN ELDER MUST HOLD FAST TO THE FAITHFUL WORD
The phrase “hold fast” literally means to “hold on to,” or to “cleave to.” The word implies “support,” therefore representing a man who rests his support upon the Word of God. Perhaps we might respond by saying that all Christians are to rest upon the Word of God. That is certainly true. But it seems that Paul is simply instructing Titus to be certain that it is a faithful godly sound man that is set apart for this work. Don't take any chances. The stakes are too high!
There has been many a “meeting” in the name of God that has been more destructive than productive because those who were recognized as leaders did not adhere to the teachings of the Bible when it came to making decisions for the church. Sometimes it was the elder who made a bad decision and other times it was a group of men or deacons that wandered away fro the teachings of the scripture while the elder sat idly by and allowed the Word of God to be outvoted.
The overseer must be a man who “rests his entire faith and hope upon God's Word," and therefore will not allow these kinds of things to go on.
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