[SeekAndFind]

Having a wife is a specific requirement to be a Church Pastor (A Bishop). The moment he becomes single he is no longer qualified and thus must step down as Pastor.

I don't interprete the passage that way. St. Paul himself pastored the Ephesian chuch for close to 3 years before he left and and he was SINGLE (see Acts 19:9-10). He later asked Timothy to pastor the church ( and we don't know if Timothy was married at that time. We know that he was youthful when he took the position ).

I read this passage to mean that a pastor is to be “a one-woman type of man.” This does not necessarily mean that he needs to be a married man, but if so, he is not to be a polygamist. To have one wife means to have one wife at one time. If a pastor’s wife dies he may remarry, but he is not to be a man who has divorced his wife to marry another. Whereas polygamy and divorce were common among both the Jews and Gentiles, pastors are to stay especially clear of those sins.

That for me, is the correct interpretation of St. Paul's letter to Timothy.

[ColdSteelTalon]

I don't interpret the passage that way.

For me I tend not to interpret when it come to rules specifically. I read it for strictly what it says. The exceptions being parable or prophecy which uses a lot of metaphor and allegory.

It is true that Paul did remain with a Church. He was an evangelist and was responsible for starting a Church. But he by the power of the Holy Spirit laid down the rules for permanent Church leadership.

I think the safest policy is to try and live by the rules as closely as possible that way you are safe.