Lesson 2139

(Lesson 2139)(10-15-17)  1 Timothy 3:1-7
    “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

     In today’s quote Paul explained the qualifications for the office of bishop, or pastor, within the framework of a church administration.
    The only part of those instructions that cause some argument concerns the requirement that a bishop have only one wife. There is some controversy as to whether that commandment is referring to only one wife ever, or only one wife at at time. In other words, the controversy centers around whether or not a man can scripturally hold the office of bishop if he has been divorced or if he is a widower. My personal belief, (which matters not at all), is that the instruction intends that a man have only one wife at a time. I can find no reason for a man to be illiminated from holding the office of bishop because he has scripturally put away his wife by divorce, or if he is a widower. Above all, may God’s will be ultimately done in every case.~