A rather stupid question, But here goes...:

You, sir, have obviously never planted a church!!!

So you are the Apostle Paul, planting a church in Ephesus (it will take you three years), and you win a soul to Christ. He starts coming to your church faithfully. Are you his pastor or not? So he comes to you with a problem and asks for help. You are Paul, single, planting the church. Do you help him or not? If you help him, you are a pastor, it is as simple as that. If you don't help him, what in the world are you??? You are certainly not the Apostle Paul!!

You must interpret Scripture with Scripture. Paul planted churches, ergo he pastored them, ergo he doesn't mean in 1 Tim. that a pastor must be married.

 

Well said, Johnv, bravo!!

 

Yes.... Right?!?! I dunno....

 

If you follow the man's logic, a married man who has no children could be qualified for the minstry. I have seen some pastor's kids who should disqualify him from the ministry though! Missionaries too!

 

***************8I have seen some pastor's kids who should disqualify him from the ministry though! Missionaries too! *************


True

 

And I know some guys that will never find a wife!!!!!

 

This thread is theological, not pastoral. However, it is an oft-discussed thread in the theology forum. I'm going to temporarily leave it open while the leadership decides what to do with it. Merely state your opinion and move on. Do not debate with one another. There has been a recent crack-down among BB leadership regarding topics from one forum that spill into another forum, and this simply will not be allowed here. All debate posts will be deleted.

Thank you for observing BB rules and the spirit of this forum!

 

It has been rightly pointed out that far too many of the character qualifications are ignored in 1 Tim 3/Titus 1, while "husband of one wife" and to a lesser extent "ruling his household well" have been exalted as the bene esse of pastoral qualifications. The requirements are character qualifications, which in 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1 are all in present infinitive, which denotes continual action/character.

 

Being single, I think single people can and should have every opportunity to serve in ministerial and pastoral capacities.

Having said that, I believe there is some limitation due to marriage experiences within that ministry.

 

TinyTim,
With God, all thinks are possible!

 

I know it was only through God that I found mine!!
She is a gift.

 

Matthew Henry,
The literal Greek says "a one-woman man."
So whether married or single, he cannot be a womanizer.
If he is married with children, Paul covered his conduct in that area as well.

A point of interest for others concerning Paul, he was either widowed or divorced.

To become a Pharisee, as Paul once was, you had to be married.

MR

 

In Paul's letter to Timothy, we have to look at the area in which Timothy lived in. It was indeed a polygamous nation. Paul was stressing that a man could not be married to more than one woman if he desired the office of a Bishop.

Many read that verse and automatically try to add their own ideas and theological thinking into what is not there. Look at the History, The Geographical Location, The customs and you will find what is meant.

 

I take the Scripturs literal and if you are single, you are the husband of one (1) wifw.

 

Correction O "Narry" one

 

Others have adequately described what literally taking the Scriptures implies, pitipat.

 

I'm not sure how you get being single is the same as having a wife.

 

I think we've gone beyond where we should have. Reprise the theme song and roll the credits.