Hugo McCord

As regards the qualifications for a man’s being selected as an elder, the phrase in my translation, "having believing children" (Titus 1:6), is being removed from the copy for the 4th edition because it is more likely to leave the impression that a man’s children must be Christians than the phrase "faithful children."

If someone says that both phrases, "believing children" and "faithful children" (Titus 1:6) mean baptized believers, he must explain why such would have been required on the island of Crete, where Titus was working (Titus 1:5-9), and not in Ephesus, where Timothy was working (1 Timothy 1:3). Neither phrase, "believing children" or "faithful children," was given to Timothy (1 Timothy 3:1-7).

But the expression "faithful children," described for Crete, "children not accused of dissipation or disobedience" (Titus 1:6), is the same as that described for Ephesus, "children in subjection with all respectfulness" (1 Timothy 3:4). Thus, "faithful children" are they who "obey" their "parents in the Lord, for this is right" (Ephesians 6:1), and in time will make the good confession and be baptized.

A look at the Greek back of the phrases "children that believe" (ASV) and "faithful children" (KJV) shows that sometimes the reference is not to Christians’ belief in, and faithfulness to the Lord, but to one’s being a faithful and trustworthy and dependable person, as in 1 Corinthians 4:2: "It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful;" or as in Matthew 24:45, "a faithful and wise servant." The same Greek word also is applied to deity, as in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "God is faithful," or as applied to Bible expressions, as in 1 Timothy 1:15, "a faithful saying."