6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
The following list characterizes the life of a “blameless” leader.
the husband of one wife,
The leader must not be a polygamist. He must be the husband of one wife at a time. He should be a one woman’s man. Sexual fidelity in marriage is required of an elder.
This phrase does not mean that a single person cannot lead. That would disqualify the apostle Paul himself.
PRINCIPLE:
A Christian leader must carry a high sexual reputation.
APPLICATION:
Christian leaders must be especially careful to maintain their reputation for sexual purity. The issue then is the perception of blame. The most important idea to keep in mind when it comes to sexual accusation is the reputation of our Lord. If a person has a reputation for sexual dalliance, he should not consider himself for leadership.
There is significant debate as to whether the phrase “the husband of one wife” prohibits someone who has been divorced to serve in leadership. To draw such a conclusion from this one phrase is to over interpret the concept. However, the individual should take into consideration the perception among the congregation should they regard him as blameful.
Yet, if the perception is that this is not a problem, then there should be no reason for him not to serve. This is a matter of judgment and not a concrete rule. Additionally, nothing should keep this person from serving outside the formal structure of the church should he be deemed not qualified to serve in the church.
There is nothing in this passage that says single men cannot lead.
Grant, I know the Bible does not counterdict itself. David had several wives as did Solomon and others in the OT, so how does this coincide with the qualifications of being above reproach and a man with one wife for being a leader pertaining to the leaders in the OT because they dont meet some of the requirements in 1 Timothy ch# 1 as well? Thanks
Scott, Monogamy is God’s ideal standard for humanity, with one man and one woman (Ge 1:27; Ge 2:24). Jesus reaffirmed the principle in Matthew 19:4. Other passages establishes the same point: “Each man [should] have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband” (1 Co. 7:2). This excludes polygamy. Paul said that a church leader should be “the husband of one wife” (1 Ti. 3:2, 12).
Polygamy was never commanded by God. The Law of Moses prohibited polygamy, “You shall not multiply wives” (Deut. 17:17). We can see God’s judgment on polygamy in the following passages:
–Polygamy took place in the context of societal rebellion against God where the murderer “Lamech took for himself two wives” (Gen. 4:19, 23).
–God warned polygamists of the consequences of this sin– “lest his heart turn away” from God (Deut. 17:17; cf. 1 Kings 11:2).
–Every polygamist in the Bible, including David and Solomon (1 Chr. 14:3), paid dearly for his sins.
Records of polygamy does not convey God’s approval of it. Polygamy was never permitted for anyone in the Bible.
The institution of concubinage was wrong and evil This was true from an Old Testament point of view as well.
Genesis 2:21–24 sets forth God’s normative instructions for marriage: one man was to be joined to one woman so as to become one flesh.
Polygamy appears for the first time in Genesis 4:19, when Lamech became the first bigamist, marrying two wives, Adah and Zillah. No other recorded instances of polygamy exist from Shem to Terah, the father of Abraham (except for the episode in Gen 6:1–7).
No permission can be recited from any text in the Old Testament for polygamy or concubinage. The practice was never considered normative even in the life of David or anyone else.
Those who say the Old Testament gave direct or implied permission for polygamy usually point to four passages:
Exodus 21:7–11, Leviticus 18:18, Deuteronomy 21:15–17 and 2 Samuel 12:7–8:
Exodus 21:7-11
There is no suggestion of a second marriage with “marital rights” in Exodus 21:10. The word translated “marital rights” should be rendered oil or ointments. The idea is that the man who purchased a female servant must continue to provide for her if he proposed marriage and does not to consummate it.
Leviticus 18:18
Leviticus 18:18 prohibits marrying a wife’s sister during the lifetime of his wife, since having her sister as a rival would vex her.
Deuteronomy 21:15-17
Deuteronomy 21:15–17 legislates the rights of the firstborn, regardless of whether that child is the son of the preferred wife or of the wife who is not loved. This does not affirm that legislation on rights within polygamy tacitly condones polygamy. Neither does legislation on Deuteronomy 23:18 about harlotry approve harlotry.
2 Samuel 12:7-8
2 Samuel 12:7–8 supplies no evidence for polygamy by proclaiming that all Saul’s wives to be David’s. Saul’s wives appear nowhere in the lists of David’s wives are listed. The idea is simply that everything in principle was at David’s disposition.
David strengthen his political ties through marriage by six sons by different wives born at Hebron (1 Sa 3:2-5), which was a common practice for ancient kings. David’s polygamy violated the Law (Deut. 17:17). This led to enormous problems as he tried blended his various families. When David’s son Amnon violated his half-sister Tamar, he was killed by Absalom her avenging brother. That led to a bitter estrangement between Absalom and his father that resulted in the treason and the death of Absalom (2 Sa. 13–18). David’s polygamy set a poor example for Solomon, who expanded his kingdom while marrying seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. This led Solomon away from Jehovah.
So then According to 1 Timothy and Titus if a present day pastor has been divorced and remarried(unbiblically, meaning the reason was not from abuse, desertion of an unbeliever or sexual sin) then wouldn’t he be unqualified and not be above reproach to be a church leader? If a pastor is caught in a sexual sin, then biblically should he never be restored back to leadership because he is no longer above reproach? How important are the biblical qualifications of being a church leader of pastor according to 1 Tim and Titus? There are lots of pastors who are not above reproach and had committed adultery but are restored back to their leadership role. Is this a reason to leave a church if the pastor has been caught in adultery but remains the pastor? Thanks
Scott, I don’t believe in the idea that the bird with a broken pinion will never fly so high again. That idea implies that God does not forgive sin completely. However, when it comes to leadership there needs to be a period of proving before they can gain the trust of people again.
Thanks for your reply!