Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: August 31, 2008
“HAVING FAITHFUL CHILDREN” (Part 1)
Must An Elder Have Children Who Are Christians Before They Can Serve As An Elder?
Ben Justice
In giving the qualifications for elders, Paul said in Titus 1:6 that he must have “faithful children not
accused of riot or unruly.” What did Paul mean by “faithful children?” Let’s thoroughly examine this
important question.
DEFINING AND UNDERSTANDING THE TERM “FAITHFUL”
The term “faithful” is from the Greek word pistos. This Greek word is found a total of 66 times in the NT.
This word functions as an “adjective” in the NT. The corresponding noun form is pistis, and is translated
as “faith” in the NT. The corresponding verb form is pisteuo, and is translated as “believe” most of the
time in the NT.
Now, back to the word under consideration. What kind of children must the elder have? Paul said,
“faithful.” This word, functioning as an adjective, describes what kind of children he must have – and that
is “faithful.”
This word is also translated in the KJV as “believe” 2 times (I Tim. 4:3, 10), “believed” 2 times (Acts 10:45;
16:1), “believing” 2 times (John 20:27; I Tim. 6:2), “believers” one time (I Tim. 4:12), and “believeth” 2
times (2 Cor. 6:15; I Tim. 5:16). It is also translated as “sure” one time and “true” 2 times. The rest of
the time the word is translated as “faithful.”
The ASV translated the phrase under consideration as “having children that believe.” Note how other
translations render this phrase:
NKJV – “having faithful children”
NASB – “having children who believe”
RSV – “his children are believers”
This word is used in two different senses in the NT:
1.) It often refers to one who is trustworthy or reliable. The word is used quite frequently in this sense.
2.) It refers to one who is a Christian.
So, the question naturally arises, which is meant in Titus 1:6? The context must determine whether Paul
was speaking of children who are Christians or not.
We now wish to expand upon the different senses in which the word pistos is used in the NT. First, let’s
note some passages in which the term denotes one who is trustworthy and reliable.
Concerning the word being used to refer to trustworthiness or reliability, Thayer stated:
Trusty, faithful; of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the
discharge of official duties . . . worthy of trust; that can be relied on . . . of things, that can be relied on.
Note the following passages:
Matt. 24:45 – “Who then is a faithful (pistos) and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his
household, to give them meat in due season?”
Matt. 25:21 – “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful (pistos) servant: thou hast been
faithful (pistos) over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy
lord.” See also Matt. 25:23.
Luke 16:10 – “He that is faithful (pistos) in that which is least is faithful (pistos) also in much: . . .”
Luke 16:11 – “If therefore ye have not been faithful (pistos) in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit
to your trust the true riches?”
I Cor. 1:9 – “God is faithful (pistos) by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our
Lord.”
I Cor. 4:2 – “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (pistos).”
Eph. 6:21 – “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful
(pistos) minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:”
Col. 1:2 – “To the saints and faithful (pistos) brethren in Christ which are at Colossae: . . .”
I Thess. 5:24 – “Faithful (pistos) is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
2 Thess. 3:3 – “But the Lord is faithful (pistos) who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”
Heb. 2:17 – “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a
merciful and faithful (pistos) high priest . . .”
Heb. 3:5 – “And Moses verily was faithful (pistos) in all his house, . . .”
I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful (pistos) and just to forgive us our sins, . . .”
Rev. 1:5 – “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful (pistos) witness, . . .”
In the above scriptures the word “faithful” is used every time. The context demands that the term
“faithful” refers to trustworthiness and reliability. As was noted, God and Christ are called “faithful.” In
other words, we can depend upon them to do what they said they would. They are reliable and
trustworthy (cf. Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2).
Now, there are some scriptures that use the word “faithful” to denote a Christian. Note:
Eph. 1:1 – “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to
the faithful (pistos) in Christ Jesus:” The word “faithful” in this passage obviously means a “Christian.”
The context demands it.
Acts 16:15 – “And when she (Lydia, v. 14) was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye
have judged me to be faithful (pistos) to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she
constrained us.” Note that Lydia was baptized, and yet, she said that this was being “faithful to the
Lord.” Lydia had obeyed the gospel and become a Christian. Obviously, the term “faithful” in this
passage denotes one who became a Christian through obedience to the gospel.
As was noted above, the Greek word is also translated as “believe” (or a form thereof) throughout the NT.
With the sole exception of John 20:27, every time the word “believe” (or a form thereof) is found in the NT
(from pistos), it always means a “Christian.” Note the following scriptures:
Acts 10:45 – “And they of the circumcision which believed (pistos) were astonished, as many as came with
Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 16:1 – “Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy,
the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed (pistos); but his father was a Greek:”
2 Cor. 6:15 – “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth (pistos) with
an infidel?”
[will continue next week]