He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.
He must hold firmly to the faithful word as taught, so that he can encourage with sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it.
It closes the section by making sound teaching central to elder work.
5The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination. 7As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach — not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. 8Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.