As the New Testament Priest daily offers the Sacrifice of the New Covenant, it was a natural that Apostolic tradition would embrace permanent continency
Respectfully asked, how does this take the Apostle Paul's statments into consideration that Bishops can be married but to one wife?
I fully understand this is a discipline issue and as such I've often been confused at the staunch stance that a priest cannot be married or he cannot serve...I admire men who can sincerely honor God and serve Him by dedicating their lives to spreading the Gospel and I just don't see how it can be said that only a man who is single can successfully be a servant of God particularly when Scripture shows it's an allownace either way. If a man who is willing ot be celibate is desiring to pe a priest/pastor/minister that is outstanding and likewise I feel a man who is married desires to serve God in the same manner is a blessing from God Himself.
My dad was a pastor and we knew that we were always 2nd to his work as a servant of God. It wasn't an issue, he served admirably and with the Holy Spirit's guidance helped to bring countless souls to the knowledge of Christ as their Savior. He died in April and I cannot count the numbers of people who loved him, not because he was a nice guy or because he was a good listener, but rather because he was a faithful servant of Christ who brought the Gospel to the people in all that he did.
That's all I'm sayin...
In Christ...