Titus 1:7
“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →An overseer, as God's steward, must be blameless: not arrogant or quick-tempered, not a drunkard or violent man, and not greedy for dishonest gain.
What Does Titus 1:7 Mean?
Paul calls the elder an overseer and a steward of God, one entrusted to manage the household of faith on God's behalf. Because he handles what belongs to God, he must be above reproach. Paul then lists faults that disqualify: self-will, a hot temper, addiction to wine, a violent streak, and craving for shameful gain.
Each vice named is a way of serving oneself rather than the flock. A steward who is proud, angry, intemperate, or greedy will use his position for his own appetite instead of God's people. For the reader, the heart of the matter is trustworthiness. Leadership in Christ's church is a sacred trust, and the character it requires is the very opposite of self-indulgence. It calls for a person whose life is given over to the good of others.
In the Original Language
oikonomos (οἰκονόμος), "steward" — a household manager entrusted with another's affairs, here God's.