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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, |
Bible Question:
The husband of but one wife??? Does this mean that he can never be married? Or does it mean one wife at a time? What if he is divorced for the Biblical reason (adultery)? Can anyone point me to scriptures to figure this out? Thanks, Rocky |
Bible Answer: Rocky, I think the "one wife" qualification along with the other qualifications reflect the idea that the candidate for bishop must be stable and temperate in his personal life, that is to say, mature in all ways. Another way of looking at the "one wife" phrase is to see it in the context of the imagery of the OT and NT of the relationship between God and His Church as a marital one, that should be faithful and exlusive. Israel was of unfaithful and described as such in the OT in general and in Hosea in particular. God is always faithfull and never abandons His wife, Israel, to take a new wife even when Israel is unfaithful. He may punish her, but He does not abandon her for another. The bishop in relationship to the Church is something of a stand-in for Jesus the Bridegroom of the Church and as such his personal life, if he is married, or had been married and widowed, should reflect his faithfulness to his wife in order to be considered for the office of bishop. I hope this is of some help to you. Emmaus |