Titus / Question
The elder must "hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught" so he can both encourage others with sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it. The verse links doctrinal steadiness with protecting the church from error. See Titus 1:9.
In Titus 1:7–9 Paul explains what kind of person an overseer must be and what he must do with teaching. The role is framed as managing something that belongs to God, so the man’s life must not be open to credible accusation. Paul lists behaviors to avoid, then positive traits to pursue. These verses sit inside Paul’s charge to Titus to appoint elders in every town on Crete (Titus 1:5). Paul has already said the goal is to “set in order” what remains, so the qualifications function as a practical filter for leadership.
Paul presents “overseer” as a leadership role within these communities that carries public responsibility. The overseer is described as God’s steward, meaning he manages something that belongs to God, not himself.
A common mistake is to turn the wording into a slogan. The better reading keeps the phrase tied to the passage, the speaker, and the problem the book is addressing.
Start with Titus 1:9, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
9holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.