Therefore Stand. 21 (2005): 13-14. The apostle Paul instructed Titus to ordain elders in every city in Crete (Titus 1:5). The selection of the right men for this great work was important. Hence, Paul gives a list of qualifications that these men were to possess at the time of their appointment to this spiritual office in the Lord’s church. A question arises in Titus 1:6 concerning the present tense verb “be.” What is the precise nature of the present tense in this verse? How did the Holy Spirit intend it to be understood and applied? These are important questions. Paul writes, “If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly” (Titus 1:6). The verb translated “be” in the KJV is from the Greek word estin. Estin is third person, singular, present indicative of eimi. It is found within a first class conditional statement (ei with the indicative) which emphasizes actual occurrence–definite time rather than indefinite (McKay, A New Syntax of the Verb in New Testament Greek 167). Verse six begins, “ei tis estin” which can be translated, “if anyone is” (Jay Green, The Interlinear New Testament 657). Paul means that if someone (indefinite pronoun tis) can be found who meets the qualifications, then, that person should be appointed as an elder or bishop. The person being considered must possess the qualifications at the time of being appointed. This is indicated by the use of the first class conditional statement and by the meaning of the present tense in the indicative mood. Many make a mistake with the