Paul,when writing to Titus said that Pastors ,Deacons and Elders were......?

Question

To be married and the husband of one wife.The word priest is never used .How then did the Catholic church overrule the greatest Apostle and change the status to celibecy,take away Pastors and call them priests(I know the head priest of a parish is the Pastor but they are never called priests in Paul's writings)According to Paul they should be married and be family men.This is not an attack ,just a question on why they accept man's words over the scripture??

Answer 1

The development of the concept of a priesthood occured (primarily) in the early to mid 4th century (actually, the seeds of those developments were sown by 3rd century theologians such as Cyprian).

Legalism is the great corruptor of the Christian faith. It turns a life of free will & faith into one of ritualistic observation...the very thing that Jesus sooo many times reminded the Pharisees that they were guilty of doing. Having said this. I will also say that we must be careful not to read the Paul's statement (that you quoted as a "requirement"...that would be legalistic as well). Paul was giving practical guidelines on what one should look for in their leaders. He was not requiring that they HAD to be married either (for he said in 1st Corinthians that "he wished all were like him" (celibate for the sake of preaching the gospel). He quickly notes that not all have the gift of being able to be celibate....

So why does the Catholic Church have a Priest, and why are they celibate? It is because they regard "Church Tradition" to have equal status with the scriptures. They believe that there is an "Apostolic Succession" of authority. This becomes a bit confusing when the "Apostolic Fathers" had conflicting views on some issues...one is left to pick and chose which Apostolic Father is correct. Ultimately, it is the Pope (and to a lesser degree the bishops) who determine Catholic doctrine/structure (hence the sweeping changes of Vatican II).

In short, the entire concept of a New Testament Priesthood, the "service of mass", celibacy, etc is built on centuries of Church tradition (despite the fact that the book of Hebrews explicitly states that Christ's sacrifice was performed once, and for all).

I know that what I wrote is very simplistic by way of explanation. It would take much more space to go into detail! I too, do not want to come across in my remarks as "attacking", I know some very fine Catholic Christians, I simply think their theology is sorely lacking/misguided....

Answer 2

Well, of course St. Paul was not married and celibate and so was Jesus. Certainly knowing these facts it would be ridiculous to assume that St. Paul was teaching that all priests or bishops must be married as there were two significant exceptions to that rule. I think instead he was speaking of them being of good character. I am a priest and am married, it is only the Latin Rite Catholics who have the discipline of celibacy. This is only one Rite out of 23 Rites in communion with the Western Church. All the rest allow married priests. Notice I said that it is a discipline. It is not a doctrine but an administrative rule of the bishop who is within his authority to discipline the clergy under his authority from Christ. Even in the Latin Rite Church their are exceptions to celibate priests as former Protestant ministers from specific denominations may become Catholic priests even if married. So the Church has done nothing to overule St. Paul but those who believe that all priests or pastors must be married are just using the Scriptures to support their hatred for Christ's Church through their eisegesis.

In Christ

Answer 3

The physical office of a priest as we know it has been nailed to the cross, whereas a man had to serve as a mediator between GOD and man and provide for all of the different sacrifices and offerings. Now since Christ provided for the final sacrifice there was a change made, and us Christians are now considered a Spiritual Priesthood, meaning we are a consecrated people unto the LORD. As far as where the Catholic Church gained the "authority" to preach another gospel and instituting a different set of rules is heretical...

Answer 4

+ Presbyters +

The Catholic priesthood is described in the Bible as presbyters in:
+ Acts 11:30, 14:23, 15:2, 5-6, 15:22-23, 16:4, 20:17, 21:18
+ 1 Timothy 5:17-19
+ Titus 1:5-8
+ James 5:14
+ 1 Peter 5:1, 5
+ 2 John 0:1
+ 3 John 0:1

Today priests (presbyters) and deacons assist bishops (apostles) just like in the Bible.

The Presbyterian Church is named for this biblical vocation.

+ Celibacy +

Priests, religious brothers and religious sisters (nuns) as part of their vocation choose not to marry following:
+ The practice recommended in the Bible
+ The example of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul.

+++ Scripture +++

+ In Matthew 19:12, Jesus says, "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church's practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.

+ In Matthew 19:29, Jesus says, "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."

Whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom.

+ Matthew 22:30 - Jesus explains, "At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven."

In heaven there are no marriages. To bring about Jesus' kingdom on earth, priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family (which is for the vocation of marriage). This also makes it easier for priests to be transferred to different parishes where they are most needed without having to worry about the impact of their transfer on wife and children.

+ In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul writes, "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman."

This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.

+ Then in 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul says, "Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am."

Paul acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.

+ In 1 Corinthians 7:27, Paul writes, "Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife."

Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full time ministers in the Church.

+ In 1 Corinthians 7:32-33, Paul teaches, "I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife." And in verse 38, "So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better."

Paul recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”

See also
1 Timothy 5:9-12
2 Timothy 2:3-4
Revevation 14:4
Isaiah 56:3-7
Jeremiah 16:1-4

+++ Scriptural Examples +++

Biblical role models of a celibate clergy came from John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that the example of the Essenes influenced either or both Jesus and John the Baptist in their celibacy.

WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus did not marry.

The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).

The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.

A priest is "married" to the Church. Some people think that a priest who takes his duties seriously cannot take proper care of a wife and family. "A man cannot serve two masters."

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 5

As a child I remember reading where Jesus said to not call anyone here on earth your father and asked a few questions about it. I don't remember getting a rational answer.

Mat 23:9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

We are however a Royal Priesthood but that is all of us Saints. Oh Yeah we are Saints too.
1Pe 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Wow its my very own little 95 theises

Answer 6

properly i'm a minister and that i've got faith I pontificate the excellent Gospel, yet I additionally comprehend what you propose with the help of the term. I certainly have witnessed many finished Gospel or Pentecostal/Charismatic centers and have considered the phenomenon you verify with. i do no longer think of that's authentic or biblical. i do no longer unavoidably think of that's being faked each time, besides the fact that that's extra like those human beings are caught up interior the 2nd and adrenaline takes over. for this reason maximum people who communicate in tongues case in point are initially coached to accomplish that. If this phenomenon is authentic in any respect that's uncommon.

Answer 7

Many religions place the authority of church over the word of God. This is popular. But Gods authority settles it for a true Christian. God did not require celibacy or anyone. Thats a church teaching. and God hates divorce. we are to be of one husband or wife. But, if your mate committs adultry and leaves you, you are free to remarry. He gives grounds of adultry as grounds of divorce. so a man can be married twice and still serve in the church. He also may have made mistakes, but later repented and is on the right track with God and still serve. But, he has to seriously repent first and receive forgivness by God, not a priest. The only one to offer absolution is God Himself. He gave no man the right to do that. We can give forgivness for one that hurt us, but we cant give forgiveness to others that sinned gainst God, they must get it direct from them, or that person is putting themselves equal to God. noone is. wrong wron gwrong.
the ony thing we have to stay on Gods same page, is to know HIs word, Know Him, obey Him, and follow only His teachings according to the word, checkng all things agaisnt what He says andthen knowing what to keep or reject.
Lets get in the Bible more, and the BIble alone.

Answer 8

Those who lean unto there own understanding of scripture are leading others astray and blinded by their "pride!" But this has to occur for the Kingdom of God is coming to this earth and establish His way as the only way.

Pride is man's downfall. The End of the circle of man's self rule will be the beginning of Christ's Kingdom but that "pride" must be broken first!

Answer 9

Because Paul also stated that it was better to be unmarried if one could. Of course, the Catholic priestly system actually came from Babylonian Chaldean paganism, not from the Bible, so this point would be moot.