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To: Morgana
I don' think that Paul is saying a bishop MUST be married - you only need to read 1 Corinthians 7, where Paul highly recommend the single life for those in ministry. This is because a single person can devote themselves completely to ministry, while a married person must also devote themselves to their husband or wife.

I think the better question is whether a minister, deacon or bishop should be forbidden to marry. Obviously, the answer to that is also no. Remember that even the priests of the Jewish faith were usually married, and that is what Paul and the Apostles all were familiar with. Paul obviously addressed in this Scripture the common practice of married men being leaders in the ministry, and was merely admonishing that men in leadership should not marry more than one woman.

The Catholic Church has decided that they do not want their minsters to be married. While that position is not prohibited by Scripture, neither is it commanded by Scripture. And I think making that a requirement has resulted in a lot of grief for the Catholic Church over the years.

2 posted on 02/01/2015 10:31:16 PM PST by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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To: CA Conservative
>>I don' think that Paul is saying a bishop MUST be married - you only need to read 1 Corinthians 7, where Paul highly recommend the single life for those in ministry.<<

That passage say nothing about leadership in the ekklesia. His letter to Timothy is specifically addressing the requirements for leadership.

17 posted on 02/02/2015 9:43:37 AM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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