ACC ~ Titus 1 v5

BRINGING ONE CHURCH INTO GOOD ORDER. CHRYSOSTOM: Here he is speaking of episkopoi [bishops]. … He did not wish the whole island to be entrusted to one elder, but that each one should have his own charge and care, for thus he would have less labor himself, and those under his rule would receive greater attention. The teacher would not then be required to hold the presidency of many churches but was left to be occupied with one only, and to bring that into order. HOMILIES ON TITUS 2.

ORDINATION TO TEACH. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Paul emphasizes that correct teaching must accompany these ordinations. He mentions only presbyters, since theirs is the most general office. COMMENTARY ON TITUS.

HOW CHURCH GOVERNANCE CHANGED. JEROME: Paul is speaking here to bishops who have the power of placing presbyters in the individual towns, so that they would hear clearly by what kind of rule correct church order should be maintained. … Originally the churches were governed by a common council of the presbyters. But after one of their number began to think that those whom he had baptized were his and not Christ’s, it was universally decreed that one of the presbyters should be elected to preside over the others, to whom the care of the whole church should pertain, that the seeds of schism might be alleviated. COMMENTARY ON TITUS.

PRESBYTER AND BISHOP WERE THE SAME. JEROME: And lest any should in a spirit of contention argue that there must then have been more bishops than one in a single church, there is the following passage which clearly proves a bishop and a presbyter to be the same. Writing to Titus the apostle says: “For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and appoint presbyters in every city, as I had instructed you: if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having believing children not accused of wantonness or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God.” … When subsequently one was chosen to preside over the rest, this was done to remedy schism and to prevent each individual from rending the church of Christ by drawing it to himself. LETTERS 146.1.

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