Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Timothy 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 3:2 Now an overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, |
Bible Question: A short time ago there was a debate on whether one must be married to be the leader of a church. For those of you who believe that one must be married to be in a leadership role I ask this: Was Paul married? |
Bible Answer: In 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul states, "Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that." The Ryrie Expanded Edition Study Bible comments on this verse and v. 8, "'even as I.' Paul was obviously unmarried when he wrote these words. He might have been a widower. It is difficult, however, to substantiate that he had been married on the basis that he was a member of the Sanhedrin (Acts 26:10). It is uncertain that he was a member and also uncertain that members had to be married in the period before A.D. 70." The MacArthur NKJV Study Bible suggests, "'as I myself.' As a single person, Paul recognized the special freedom and independence he had to serve Christ ... But he did not expect all believers to be single, nor all who were single to stay that way, nor all who were married to act celibate as if they were single. 'gift from God'. Both singleness and marriage are God's gracious gifts." Matthew Henry Commentary says on page 2255, "No, he could wish all men were as himself (v.7), that is, single, and capable of living continently in that state. ... But it did not answer the intentions of divine Providence as well for all men to have as much command of this appetite as Paul had. ... Paul could wish all men were as himself, but all men cannot receive such a saying, save those to whom it is given, Matt. 19:11." It is agreed that Paul was indeed single, but was he always single? Some argue that you would have to almost certainly be married in order to be a Pharisee or member of the Sanhedrin, and that his wife parted ways with him shortly after his conversion. But there is no Scriptural support to back up this assertion. |