Why does the Bible say that a leader of the church should be the husband of ONE wife? Not a harem? Not none?

Question

Perhaps you recall the verse. I recall it clearly, but not the chapter and verse.

How do fundamental Later Day Saint polygamists read that bible verse?

How do followers of polygamist Mohammed, who claimed to respect Holy Scriptures, and founded a religion (or perhaps a cult) that his followers think we should all join.

How do Roman Catholics read this verse? Is it critisizent RC theology, as well as FLDS and Mohammedism.?

De RC Yahoos see that as a comment to leaders UNDER their celebate priest?

Surely a priest's "fast" from sex, to focus totally on honouring God is a "perfect intention"...although imperfect men may stumble in ways I prefer not to mention (you surely know what I'm thinking). I am an EX-catholic, but nothing like that happened to me.

I am a born again fundamental Bible believing PROTESTant, with a pastor who IS the husband of ONE wife (and 4 children). In my years in the Protestant church, I never remember a pastor with more than ONE wife, or less

It is in the new testiment. I found the exact reference for you to study the Word of God.

First look at ,,, 1 Timothy 3

Also see Corinthians for more qualifications for leadership.

God has specific qualifications for leaders in the church. Leaders are not to be chosen at random, nor just because they volunteer, nor because they aspire to the position, nor even because they are “natural leaders.” Instead they should be chosen primarily on how they match the qualifications listed here.

(2b-7) A list of qualifications for leaders in the church...

"Blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up..."

I ran out of room.

"Blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well..."

continues:

"... not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil"

He must presently be married to only one woman, thus he must not be a polygamist.

Isn't this the most straightforward and obvious meaning!?!

It requires the least supposition.

He must be married? Does that not imply "not single"??? Does any denomination take it that way. I don't think my church would disqualify a man for not being married, but I'm not sure.

Furthermore, God hates the kind of preferential divorce spoken of in Malachi. Didn't Jesus say so?

Another question gets to the same point in a different way: What would this phrase have most naturally meant to the original readers? Any good communicator uses language that accurately conveys his intent to his audience. So what would Timothy have understood Paul to have meant by "μιας γυναικος ανδρα", usually translated "husband of one wife"?

We also need to question our MOTIVES in favoring any ONE particular interpretation, as my 2nd responder said (but not as nicely).

Does God mean 'He must never have been divorced!'???

Some jail house conversions lead to ministry. Does the Woird of God imply 'Have ALWAYS, even as an unbeliever, been ABOVE REPROACH!'??? Perhaps not.

It requires the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit in pre-Christian people who by definition did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Right?

What do you think this meant to the apostle Paul? Might is be related to the un-named "thorn in his side"?

Too many questions. I know. Answer ANY!

Answer 1

As I have studied this in the Greek the passages reads "the husband of but one wife" or a ban on polygamy, not a ban on single preachers.

At age 23 I was a single Pastor.

At age 28 I got married.

At age 48 I again became single but continued to be a Dad and continued to preach and teach.

Perhaps one day I'll get married again.

The Youth Pastor of just about every church I've ever attended, started out being single and many were married within a few years after that.

NIV:

1 Timothy 3:2
Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1 Timothy 3:12
A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.

Titus 1:6
An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

The above is I believe an accurate rendering of the original Greek.

I also believe that since divorce is discussed so many other places in the Bible, if God had intended to ban from the ministry those who are divorced, the Bible would clearly says, "an elder must not be divorced", but it doesn't.

Pastor Art

Answer 2

First the Orthodox church has a long history of ordaining both monks and married men. You can not be an Orthodox priest if you have been divorced and remaried or widowed and remaired to insure there you ahve only been the husband of one wife.
The Roman Catholics used to ordain this until after the fall of Rome. Saint Paul the Apostle was celibate as the scriptures makes a refernce to this so it is not a requirement that a pastor must be married, and considering how Poligamy was common in the midle east of that time as well as now the harem was viewed correctly as the bigger threat to piety then celibacy. The Bible speaks about both the benifits of celibacy and married life which is why it is important to have both married and celibate priests and other clergy.

Answer 3

The nub of the question is that by being married and involved with family life, a pastor/leader can understand the struggles of others in that situation, which was and is, after all, the norm.

The idea of only one wife makes more sense in the context of the persecution going on at the time...a man with many wives (and kids) would be responsible for their welfare, and it would be very hard on them if their provider were imprisoned or killed. It would also be harder to flee from one place to another to avoid the persecution of the Empire etc.

Jesus Himself told the disciples that celibacy is a gift, that it's not for everyone, only those who have that calling. I have known a couple of women with a gift of total continence, and if you can dedicate your life to the Lord like that, fine--but it's not the norm and He doesn't expect it to be. On the other hand, nor is it required for every "good Christian woman" to breed like a rabbit just because she can. I am childless by choice because I feel that this world's current situation is not one I care to bring a helpless child into. And, having been raised in an abusive home, I have only learned how NOT to bring up a child. Children are human beings, not toys or trophies. Parenting is not for cowards. It never was. And my value as a human being does not require validation through my reproductive capacity.

Answer 4

The passage you want is I Timothy chapter 3. This is the chapter that covers the requirements for overseers (pastors) and deacons in the church.
Although it doesn't explicitly say it I'm assuming that this was to prevent criticism about the integrity of the leaders of the church. Also to see to it that carousers didn't become powerful in the church. The Jews who were the first members of the church were required to have only one wife so, of course, they would carry that into Christianity. Then you have to realize that Paul was being led by the Holy Spirit when he wrote this so it's undoubtedly what God wanted anyway.

Answer 5

Church leaders have their right to take a believing woman to be his wife (1 Corinthians 9:5)but it is one characteristic that a leader should only have one wife to.
1 Timothy 3:2 (KJV)
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to
teach;
Because it is the gospel that says a man is tied with his wife by the law for life.
Romans 7:2
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

But it is more pleasing to God if a man would dedicate his life to serve God
Matthew 19:12
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

It is optional to marry or remain bachelor for the leaders to serve God freely and conveniently like the Apostle Paul or Jesus himself...
1 Corinthians 7:34-35
34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Answer 6

Let's read first 1 Timothy 3:2

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;.."

Applying the 'english' that you know may imply to you that a bishop is 'forced' to have ONE wife.

That would not be the case if we consider what Apostle Paul wrote. Remember, Apostle Paul himself did not have a wife. (1 Corinthians 7:1-8).

Christians, including the apostles, have freedom. They were called unto Liberty (Galatians 5:13).

"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

They have the freedom to take a wife who is a believer.

1 Corinthians 9:5

"Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? "

But even with this 'freedom', the Apostle Paul did not choose to take along a wife. He served the Lord without a wife. He even recommends to brethren to be like him, who doesn't have a wife.

1 Corinthians 7:8

"But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; ..."

The concession of Apostle Paul is this:

1 Corinthians 7:32-33, 35

"But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife...

And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction. "

It's OK to choose not to have a wife, for the sake of serving the Lord.

To prove this further, let's read what the Lord Jesus Christ himself said in Matthew 19:12,

"For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

Now, Polygamy (having more than one wife) is prohibited by the bible, the new testament.

Matthew 19:5

"... and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?"

THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

Not, three shall become one, but TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

That's why it's clearly stated in 1 Timothy 3:2 that a bishop have to be blameless, the husband of one wife.

Not two, three, or FORTY EIGHT, NOR THIRTY SIX. ('cause there are preachers who have these number of wives).

I hope that enlightens you.

For more information, visit

http://esoriano.wordpress.com
http://www.angdatingdaan.org

Answer 7

What about wife of one husband. would there be a problem there. We now have female pastors.
Personally, I think that Pastors were restricted to one wife, because the burdens of church work would not allow them to give the level of attention a woman needs, to more than one woman. The wives would end up being ' deprived' of his affection.
So if you are planning on becoming a pastor, know from the beginning that you are restricted to one wife.

Answer 8

“And I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. From before him the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.” (Revelation 20:11) Remember this from this weeks book study? The "earth" mentioned here is all of Satan's way of doing things. This includes his flagrant disrespect of Jehovah's standards. Our disgust of Satan's standards will be removed, never again to raise it's ugly head. Until then we have to put up with the "earth" as it is, but all the time we can thank Jehovah for bringing us into his wonderful knowledge of truth. Jesus felt pity for them, and so should we. "Make my eyes pass on from seeing what is worthless." Ps. 119:37. (Todays day text.) I thought about you this weekend, hope you enjoyed your assembly. x x x

Answer 9

Pst: the word "must" is a law word. Ye are not under law, but under grace. Look at Galatians to see what happened to the early churches who drew back to law. Look at how it sorely depressed Timothy, till he finally got set at liberty in Heb 13.

With all thy getting, get understanding = grace glory.
(Solomon the wise guy; Proverbs 4)

Grace --> Mercy ---> Peace with you all. Amen.

Answer 10

If you read the words of Jesus - you will find a passage where he talks about marriage, and it is clear that being married is not a *requirement.*

I'm logging off but I'll post the scripture reference and the one you asked for tomorrow.