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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, |
Subject: Serious study on this passage |
Bible Note: Greetings Teragram123! The issue of the meaing of 1 Tim. 3:2 is a little tricker than most people realize. The Greek of 1 Tim. 3:2 says literally '...one woman man...'. Does this mean only married once? Does this mean only married to one woman at a time? Or, does this mean that an overseer must be married? It is not as easy to decide as it sounds. You brought up 1 Tim. 5:9 as a fuller example, but the Greek is almost identical in both cases. 1 Tim. 5:9 literally says '...one man woman...'. Thus, the same questions would apply here as are raised in 1 Tim. 3:2. My view on this issue is that there are legitimate grounds for divorce in Scripture - few, but real nonetheless. There is no indication in Scripture that a man cannot re-marry if his wife dies. So, Paul must be saying that an overseer must be only be married to one woman, or even more, that an overseer must be faithful to that one woman - a "one woman kind of guy" so to speak! So, I would agree with you my friend that adultery is at issue in these two passages. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |