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Tit_1:7. Δεῖ γάρ ] The statements of Tit_1:6 are now confirmed by alluding to the higher moral necessity; “ δεῖ is the emphatic word” (Wiesinger).
τὸν ἐπίσκ . ἀνέγκλητον εἶναι ] ἀνέγκλ . is resumed from Tit_1:6, that the thought may be further developed. It is to be noted that the name ἐπίσκοπος appears here; it is given to the presbyter as superintendent of the church. As such “he must not be liable to any reproach, if he is to guide the church” (Wiesinger).
ὡς Θεοῦ οἰκόνομον ] is added to give the reason for that higher necessity of the ἀνέγκλ . εἶναι ; Heydenreich wrongly turns it to mean simply that he must know how to superintend his house well.
ὡς = “as,” i.e. “since, he is.”
Θεοῦ οἰκόνομος is the bishop in so far as there is committed to him by God authority in the ἐκκλησία as the οἶκος Θεοῦ (1Ti_3:15). Mack is not wrong in proving from this expression that the ἐπίσκοποι are not merely “ministers and plenipotentiaries of the church.” Even if they are elected by the church, they bear their office as divine, not exercising it according to the changing pleasure of those by whom they are elected, but according to the will of God.
μὴ αὐθάδη ] occurs only here and in 2Pe_2:10. It is compounded of αὐτός and ἁδέω , and synonymous with αὐτάρεσκος (2Ti_3:2 : φίλαυτος ), “who in everything behaves arrogantly and regardlessly as seems good in his own eyes;” Luther: “wilful.”
μὴ ὀργίλον ] ἅπ . λεγ . “passionate;” οἱ ὀργίλοι ταχέως ὀργίζονται .
μὴ πάροινον ] see 1Ti_3:3.
μὴ πλήκτην ] see also 1Ti_3:3.
μὴ αἰσχροκερδῆ ] see 1Ti_3:8; perhaps with special reference to the opportunities which the bishop had in his office of acquiring gain.
These five negative qualifications are opposed to arrogance, anger, and avarice; several positive qualifications follow.