The Usurper in the Pulpit: Why a Steward Cannot Be Self-Willed

Reformed Thinking · Feb 7, 2026 · 27m · transcript

Deep Dive into The Usurper in the Pulpit: Why a Steward Cannot Be Self-WilledPaul’s instruction in Titus 1:7 that an overseer must not be "self-willed" is a theological necessity rather than a mere personality preference. Both sources emphasize that the Greek term authadēs denotes a "self-pleasing" arrogance that insists on its own way, making a man structurally unfit for the office of elder. This disqualification is grounded in the nature of the office as a stewardship (oikonomos); because the church belongs to God, an elder manages God's household under God's rules, possessing no authority…