As Paul continues his letter to Titus, he turns his attention to the kind of leadership that can sustain a faithful church in the middle of a corrupt culture. Crete was a place known for moral confusion and spiritual compromise, and Paul knew the churches there would not survive—much less shine—without godly elders who embody the gospel they preach. He reminds Titus that Christlike character matters more than charisma, and that sound doctrine must be guarded with clarity and courage. Where truth is not taught, error always fills the vacuum. And so Paul urges Titus to raise up leaders who both feed the flock and fend off deception, protecting the church from the subtle and destructive pull of a “Jesus plus” gospel. This passage challenges us to value what God values: leaders shaped by holiness, a church anchored in truth, and a people whose lives adorn the gospel of Christ.
