Could Titus 1:5-6 be a “plural of class” case?

Question:

Hello,

I have been diligently studying the qualifications for Elders. I recently stumbled upon a discussion regarding the use of tekna. In one of your articles, you stated the exception of "plural of class" using widows in I Timothy 5. You stated that I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 show no indication of the plural of class exception. Please consider, not just Titus 1:6 alone, but Titus 1:5-6. In verse 5 it states "Elders" (plural), then it proceeds to talk about those men who qualify to be Elders. It seems to me that if I Timothy 5 with widows is then talking about an individual widow and it meets the plural of class exception, then Titus 1 would as well. If this is the case then an Elder could have one or more children. Is this logical and correct?

Thank you for your help!

Answer:

Where in the case of the widow in I Timothy 5, I can make the argument from the passage that a widow can have one child because of the use of teknon in I Timothy 5:10 and the points made that a child should care for his parent (I Timothy 5:8, 16), I am missing these sorts of clues in Titus 1:5-9. Yes, we have elders in verse 5 being taken one at a time starting in verse 6, but this is insufficient by itself to declare that there is a plural of class being used in regards to tekna (children). As I mentioned, plural of class was not commonly used. In addition, the passage in I Timothy 3 does not even have the plural taken one at a time format. It is solidly singular while using the plural tekna (children).

Titus 1:5-9 does not form a necessary inference that Paul was using a plural of class. Combined with I Timothy 3, the evidence is heavily on the side that Paul was stating that each elder was expected to have raised a plurality of children.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email