[CynicalBear]

>>To read the scripture to REQUIRE a bishop be married and have children would require us to make assumptions<<

1 Timothy 3:2 It behoves (δεῖ) therefore the overseer...

Greek - δεῖ - what must happen, i.e. what is absolutely necessary [http://biblehub.com/greek/1163.htm]

Now, you can argue and conjecture all you want about Paul's status as to having been married or not. As I mentioned, by all accounts he was Sanhedrin and they were required to be married. That aside. He still put the requirement for "overseers" what he did.

[CA Conservative]

Now, you can argue and conjecture all you want about Paul's status as to having been married or not. As I mentioned, by all accounts he was Sanhedrin and they were required to be married. That aside. He still put the requirement for "overseers" what he did.

Except it is not clear if the "requirement" is that they must be married, or if the requirement is that if they are married, they must not marry more than one woman. You might think you have settled the matter, but that is hardly the case...