Church leadership is different than any other kind of leadership. Paul here describes some important aspects of those differences.
The specific situation here was on the island of Crete, the ancient seat of the Minoan civilization, the original home of the sea people who became the Philistines. There were probably 25-50 villages where Titus would be seeking to appoint elders.
Three words are used to describe the leaders in this passage. “Elders”, or presbuteros, originally just meaning “old person,” was the term used to describe the members of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Then “overseers”, or episkopos, any curator, guardian, or superintendent. And finally, “steward” or oikonomos, a reminder that the leaders are taking care of the church for God, and it is not their own.
The leadership of any of these people begins at home. Home is a key proving ground (Though not necessarily required – single people like Paul himself are clearly not disqualified). Are they faithful to their spouse? Are their children faithful (a better translation than “believers”)? Are they the same person at home that they are at church?
But not only within the home, but also without. They must be morally upright in a way that means any accusations will find no purchase. Paul cites “above reproach” twice, once in relationship to family life and once in regards to arrogance, temper, etc.
That list of negative qualities includes many that are typical of earthly leaders. Powerful people are often arrogant, frequently have bad tempers, often greedy for gain (which is often how and why they became leaders in the first place). Alcohol is also a clear temptation, both in those days and ours, to those in power. Violence in a direct way is less common these days (usually!) but consider the indirect methods of violence available to us.
These qualities are certainly necessary for pastors within the church. But any leaders in the church – and, in fact, all believers – are called to the same standard. We are all overseers of something, whether or children, our work responsibilities, or anything along those lines.
– Sermon Notes, Mahlon Friesen, Seed Church, Lynnwood, WA, October 13, 2019