ÿWPCÄA Gov 8ˆ’ÀM›4”%“„¨)À1qOh•qúœ¦z/=òVÝSÏVÊøÔ“œDâ©ß>mÇÄ×~ÏMíÁI¥·|z„Šbä M¥ñ üÔˆ2*†÷BA°Ýô&èB{ >ÖØøV[/M¹3`-´GÕê†ÈÝIXÖž5[Ž¾Ku°ÉxoT„êÄ™ùÆÇ0UÞÍJºï¸™’ Ú1샵Q¨ÚŠd ©z«JIf·Ûá Ò)ã,ÎÜc†£è6¦+G‘û¹‹¨Ìmà¼9±Âbæú¸,Ø^íz„Ì„f"…šÔcý»ï¸qPf\ß³¢Zuã YÌ~6m“Fì9¨*öõ—ç­ ÍDi) ù}ƒÃÒò´Â0æåÈz¶õ4ýÉrùÚ:$.¬Œ\Â2ÎÞ—Ø{^$uæñ°¸©3mzý"唈$uô)¸°`•x·¼|úVËŸ«ï—U_qú’ÈÁ¾¦ Ëjn§˜=ípÿ`¾G‹³QÊž=ŽÛò.Š8…jÿ·^taðEàˆäÎN5*ùê>«±N‘7 ÜcìÌ>As`o·ŠŒÒ¢_Q)T‰Œ4‹3¡)5cWž(YTÞL·¤âåÄežÎߢpA¹N‘#Éî UëN· % 0: 0UE 0Ýš 0¿w 0¹6 0³ï 0­¢ 0§O 0¡ö 0›— 0¿2 0Ëñ 0­¼ 0§i 0¡ 0›± 0•L 0á 0‡p 0¼÷ 0ȳ 0ª{ 0¤% 0žÉ 0˜g 0’ÿ 0Œ‘ 0„ B-¡ 0CÎ 0ƒUÖ>”àZÒ 0C, 0ƒo ^ ò wþ 4!!%! m'!Ô>! AS) 0Ve) D5») Bð)E *t*4ƒ*4·* 0Vë*NA+C+ 0VY+b¯+d·+ 00, 0<K, 0¾‡, 0>E- 0vƒ- 0`ù- 0`Y. 0`¹. 0./ 0`G/ 08§/ 0Òß/ 02±0 0Êã0 0:­1 0Yç1 0_@2 0ØŸ2 08w3 0„¯4 B*36 D/]6 D+Œ6 0„·6 D/;8 0Îj8 0689 0Ön9 0:D: 0^~: 0<Ü: 1e; 0 N};U6Ë;U*<t+<+<Ο<Ÿ< 1um= 72â=Æ> 0VÚ> 0D0?0?0?0?0?{t?ï?ï?ï?ï?ï?ï?ï?ï?~AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU@„A˜Canon MG6200 series Printerì . .ì 0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô*+ ÿÿ(_26Ô2ÔÔ3  Ôà..à*D+D ÿÿ(_25Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó*5+5 ÿÿ(_24Ó  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÓ  Ó*2+2 ÿÿ(_23Ó ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÓ ` Ó*/+/ ÿÿ(_22Ó ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÓ ¸ Ó*,+, ÿÿ(_21Ó  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÓ  Ó*)+) ÿÿ(_20Ó h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓDDœôL¤ÓÓ h Ó*&+& ÿÿ(_19Ó À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓœœôL¤ÓÓ À Ó*#+# ÿÿ(_18Ó  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ ôôL¤ÓÓ  Ó*>> ÿÿ(_17Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ  Ó*DD ÿÿ(_16Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó*55 ÿÿ(_15Ó  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÓ  Ó*22 ÿÿ(_14Ó ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÓ ` Ó*// ÿÿ(_13Ó ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÓ ¸ Ó*,, ÿÿ(_12Ó  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó ììDœôL¤ ÓÓ  Ó*)) ÿÿ(_11Ó h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€ÓDDœôL¤ÓÓ h Ó*&& ÿÿ(_10Ó À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€ÓœœôL¤ÓÓ À Ó(## ÿÿ&_9Ó  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó ôôL¤ÓÓ  Ó(>> ÿÿ&_8Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ  Ó(DD ÿÿ&_7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó(55 ÿÿ&_6Ó  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÓ  Ó(22 ÿÿ&_5Ó ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÓ ` Ó(// ÿÿ&_4Ó ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÓ ¸ Ó(,, ÿÿ&_3Ó  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÓ  Ó()) ÿÿ&_2Ó h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓDDœôL¤ÓÓ h Ó(&& ÿÿ&_1Ó À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓœœôL¤ÓÓ À Ó&## ÿÿ$_Ó  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ ôôL¤ÓÓ  Ó)Hairline d(ÿÿ$òòÚ  ÚÚ  Úóó(B2À$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÓÓòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóóô\  `&Times New Roman8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE(ÿÿ$‘‘òòÚ  ÚÚ  Úóó(B2žÐ$¥¥Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÓÓòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó#½|Dô˜|DntFold3|xÈÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ JuansStandishSanhedrim SanhSekenimMemunimParnasinManhigei ArchisynagogosChenesethHalacha vehaOnashinhaMesurinlahemMishnehpastored L?wGesammelteSchriftenbaraita YebShulh.an Aruk EbenTryph Talm ISBEAntipaterignobilityGlaphyriaJudaizers M.R.TheodoretChrysostomWhedonTrappGodby ArnoapostasionapoluoMinyanMiz.wot K.idH.isda YadIshutYebamoth Yehundivorcedunmurderunbeatuncommitunmolestunrapeunsodomize YomarabinicallyDovidadultererousKrejcirBarnaTerrellDericksonJamesonFausettGodbeyCarteriusAriminumunbaptized miasgunaikos C.I.AlfordTheophylactpreconversionGrudem IVPexceptiveLaneyEllisenSanhedrist WaceFaussetGaebleinBradfuteDicksonMcClieshBrothertonH.D.M. J.S.Exell CCELDenisonGrudenZondervonHindsonWiersbe Zuck EnnsKregelef/g0Eþÿ<<Cÿÿ(.3½Þ$££Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ý1111)ÿÿ!dxdx dhttp://www.intothyword.org/apps/articles/?articleid=36562mailto:aishrabbi@aish.edumailto:aishrabbi@aish.edu(.3½Þ$¨¨Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ý Ñ § Ñ(.3½Þ$§§Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ý- ù-mailto:contact@earnestlycontendingforthefaith.com0ÿÿ.Normal<ÿÿ:Definition T<AAÿÿ:Definition LÓ , ÓÓ5+Ü Ü` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5Ó8ÿÿ6Definitionòòóó(''ÿÿ&H1ò òÔ  ÔÔ‡°°°ÔÔ‡ôôôÔó óÔ  Ô(ÿÿ&H2ò òÔ‡„„„ÔÔ‡ôôôÔó ó(ÿÿ&H3ò òÔ‡¼¼¼ÔÔ‡ôôôÔó ó(ÿÿ&H4ò òÔ‡XXXÔÔ‡ôôôÔó ó(ÿÿ&H5ò òó ó(ÿÿ&H6ò òÔ‡ÔÔ‡ôôôÔó ó2ÿÿ0Addressòòóó8MMÿÿ6BlockquoteÓ , ÓÓ , ÓÓ5+Ü Ü` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5Ó,ÿÿ*CITEòòóó,KSÿÿ*CODEÔK‡]<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔS‡#ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ4ÿÿ2Emphasisòòóó6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ €€ ÔóóÔ  Ô4NVÿÿ2Keyboardò òÔK‡]<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔS‡#ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔó ó<z‚ÿÿ:PreformattedÓ/%° °Ïî ,KkŠ©È %#/ÓÔK‡]<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔS‡#ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÓ/%° °Ïî ,KkŠ©È %#/Ó<š®ÿÿ:z©Bottom of Ó7€Q(€X7ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡ÔÔ?‡^%ä2¼A`‹Arial?ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡ôôôÔÔS‡#ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÓ7€R(€X7Ó&ÿÿ  d dP)1dxd'dxd<š®ÿÿ:z©Top of ForÓ7€T(€X7ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡ÔÔ?‡^%ä2¼A`‹Arial?ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡ôôôÔÔS‡#ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÓ7€R(€X7ÓP)2dxd0KSÿÿ.SampleÔK‡]<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔS‡#ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ0ÿÿ.Strongò òó ó8KSÿÿ6TypewriterÔK‡]<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔS‡#ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ4ÿÿ2Variableòòóó: ÿÿ8HTML MarkupÔB  ÔÔ ÿ ÔÔ  Ô2 ÿÿ0CommentÔB  Ô ÿÿ35;AGMSY_11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔ<þ6X9`(‹Courier New%ä2¼A`‹Arialhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10949-monogamy ÄÝ ƒ6½Þ(ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òÓ  ÓTHE€MARRIAGE,€DIVORCE,€REMARRIAGE,€Ð ° Ðà@@Ó Ó ìàAND€ð ðHUSBAND€OF€ONE€WIFEðð€CONTROVERSYó ó3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)ci)ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(.3½Þ$¢¢Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó qÝ ƒ9½Þ'ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà@ó ó ìàò òSTANDARDS€FOR€CHURCH€SERVICEó ó Ý ƒ6½Þ(ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà@ï ï ìàò òÔ‡Š“WˆXXÔTHE€MARRIAGE,€DIVORCE,€REMARRIAGE,€ˆÐ ° Ðà@  ìàAND€ð ðHUSBAND€OF€ONE€WIFEðð€CONTROVERSYó óÔ#†X¹hXˆŠ“WR#Ôhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10435-marriage-laws(ÀÊO Z‹(Times New Roman Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔØØò òÑ8€¹hXXdìdÈ8ÑÖ€lÿÿÖÑ€:ÑÑ€8ð'!ÑÑ  ÑÔ_ÔÔ‡îååîXXÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓCHAPTER€8:€STANDARDS€FOR€CHURCH€SERVICEÔ#†X¹hXîîååÛ#Ôó óÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÓÓÌÔ_Ôà@‡ ‡ ìàò òWE€HAVE€SOME€QUESTIONS€FOR€YOUó óˆÐ À ÐÌà  àAt€a€minimum,€this€chapter€deals€with€and€attempts€to€answer€the€following€questions€andÐ ˜è Ðmore:Ð „ Ô ÐÌà8  à(1)€à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€that€a€bishop€or€deacon€should€be€filled€with€the€Holy€Ghost?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h_#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ\ ¬` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(2)€à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€in€a€literal€interpretation€of€the€Scriptures?ÐH ˜` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(3)à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€that€the€so„called€qualifications€in€1€Timothy€3€also€apply€toÐ 4 „  Ðmen€who€seek€to€be€teachers,€missionaries,€evangelists,€church€treasurers,Ð  p  Ðmissions€program€directors,€and€so€forth?Ð \ ` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(4)à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€that€if€a€man€gets€a€divorce€after€he€is€saved,€that€he€isÐ øH  Ðpermanently€disqualified€from€any€position€of€leadership€in€the€churchÐ ä4  Ðincluding€bishop€and€deacon?ÐÐ ` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(5)à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€that€a€man€who€was€divorced€ð ðbeforeðð€he€was€saved€isÐ ¼  Ðqualified€for€positions€of€church€leadership€including€bishop€and€deacon?Шø` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(6)à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€the€timing€of€a€manððs€salvation€has€any€effect€on€whether€heÐ ”ä Ðis€qualified€for€the€offices€of€bishop€or€deacon?ЀÐ` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(7)à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€that€a€man€disqualifies€himself€from€the€offices€of€elder,Ð l¼ Ðbishop,€and€deacon€if€he€marries€a€divorced€woman?ÐX¨` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(8)à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€that€divorce€ends€a€marriage€in€the€eyes€of€God€so€that€aÐ D” Ðformer€spouse€is€no€longer€scripturally€a€spouse€in€any€sense€of€the€word?Ð0€` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(9)à0` Ð Ð àWas€polygamy€a€potential€problem€in€the€early€New€Testament€church€era?Ðl` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(10)à0` Ð Ð àIs€the€context€of€the€conflict€in€1€Timothy€and€Titus€Jewish€or€Gentile€inÐ X Ðnature?€How€does€this€context€affect€the€doctrinal€and€historicalÐ ôD Ðinterpretation€of€these€passages?Ðà0` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(11)à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€you€have€the€discernment€to€determine€whether€anyone€is/wasÐ Ì Ðsaved€at€a€particular€point€in€time?и` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(12)à0` Ð Ð àWould€you€leave€a€never€divorced€man€in€a€bishopððs€or€deaconððs€office€whenÐ ¤ô Ðby€his€conduct€he€reveals€that€he€is€not€filled€with€the€Holy€Ghost?Ð à` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(13)à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€that€an€adulterous€or€fornicating€pastor€or€deacon€should€beÐ |!Ì Ðallowed€to€remain€in€the€ministry?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hH#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐh"¸ ` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(14)à0` Ð Ð àWould€you€kick€a€man€out€of€the€ministry€whose€sodomite€wife€left€him€forÐ T#¤! Ðan€abominable€same€sex€relationship?Ð@$"` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(15)à0` Ð Ð àDo€you€believe€that€the€so„called€qualifications€for€church€office€are€absoluteÐ ,%| # Ðstandards€or€are€they€intended€to€be€a€general€standard€by€which€the€overallÐ &h!$ Ðpresent€character€and€conduct€of€a€man€may€be€judged€to€determine€hisÐ 'T"% Ðsuitability€to€serve€in€the€offices€of€bishop€and€deacon?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hà #ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐð'@#&` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(16)à0` Ð Ð àWas€Paul€and€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€qualified€to€pastor€churches?ÐÜ(,$'` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(17)à0` Ð Ð àHow€should€and€how€does€Paulððs€marital€status€affect€the€interpretation€of€1Ð È)%( ÐTimothy€3:2?д*&)` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  à(18)à0` Ð Ð àIs€a€divorced€and€remarried€man€disqualified€from€being€the€pastor€of€hisÐ  +ð&*  Ðhome?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h‚#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐP` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌÖ€aÿÿÖà  àWe€have€included€an€appendix€to€this€chapter€that€deals€with€the€interpretation€of€the€phraseÐ ( Ø Ðð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€by€numerous€commentaries€and€by€many€preachers€of€the€distant€past€andÐ  Ä Ðsome€more€recent.€If€you€do€not€read€the€comments€in€that€appendix,€you€will€lose€some€of€theÐ  ° Ðbenefit€you€would€otherwise€have€experienced.€Many€of€the€comments€are€very€enlightening.€InÐ ì œ Ðsome€cases,€we€give€the€comment€and€then€add€some€of€our€own€comments€to€it.€Our€comments€willÐ Ø ˆ Ðbe€preceded€by€the€statement:€ò òòòNote€from€this€authoró óóóÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h¤#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ.€We€wished€we€had€access€to€more€freeÐ Ä t Ðcommentaries€so€we€could€further€research€this€topic.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h¥#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ ´d ÐÌà@ ìàò òWHAT€THEY€BELIEVE€AND€PRACTICEó óˆÐ Œ<  ÐÌà  àThe€very€first€question€that€should€be€answered€when€dealing€with€those€who€might€beÐ d  Ðqualified€to€hold€the€offices€of€bishop€and€deacon€is:€ð ðDo€you€believe€that€a€bishop€or€deacon€shouldÐ P  Ðbe€filled€with€the€Holy€Ghost?ðð.€While€many€will€quickly€sayÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hW#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€that€they€believe€that€a€bishop€orÐ <ì  Ðdeacon€should€be€filled€with€the€Holy€Ghost,€they€make€no€real€effort€to€hold€those€in€those€positionsÐ (Ø  Ðaccountable€for€their€unholy€conduct€much€less€hold€them€to€the€general€standards€for€bishops€andÐ Ä Ðdeacons€from€1€Timothy€3€and€Titus€1.€Acts€6:1„7€says:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àActs€6:1„7Р؈ Ðòò1€óóAnd€in€those€days,€when€the€number€of€the€disciples€was€multiplied,€there€arose€aÐ Ät Ðmurmuring€of€the€Grecians€against€the€Hebrews,€because€their€widows€wereÐ °` Ðneglected€in€the€daily€ministration.€òò2€óóThen€the€twelve€called€the€multitude€of€theÐ œL Ðdisciples€unto€them,€and€said,€It€is€not€reason€that€we€should€leave€the€word€of€God,Ð ˆ8 Ðand€serve€tables.€òò3€óóWherefore,€brethren,€look€ye€out€among€you€seven€men€of€honestÐ t$ Ðreport,€full€of€the€Holy€Ghost€and€wisdom,€whom€we€may€appoint€over€this€business.Ð ` Ðòò4€óóBut€we€will€give€ourselves€continually€to€prayer,€and€to€the€ministry€of€the€word.€òò5Ð Lü ÐóóAnd€the€saying€pleased€the€whole€multitude:€and€they€chose€Stephen,€a€man€full€ofÐ 8 è Ðfaith€and€of€the€Holy€Ghost,€and€Philip,€and€Prochorus,€and€Nicanor,€and€Timon,€andÐ $!Ô ÐParmenas,€and€Nicolas€a€proselyte€of€Antioch:€òò6€óóWhom€they€set€before€the€apostles:Ð "À Ðand€when€they€had€prayed,€they€laid€their€hands€on€them.€òò7€óóAnd€the€word€of€GodÐ ü"¬ Ðincreased;€and€the€number€of€the€disciples€multiplied€in€Jerusalem€greatly;€and€aÐ è#˜ Ðgreat€company€of€the€priests€were€obedient€to€the€faith.ÐÔ$„ Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h-#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÌà  àThe€laying€on€of€hands€was€an€Old€Testament€principle€that€carried€over€into€both€theÐ ¬&\" Ðappointing€of€members€to€the€Jewish€Sanhedrin€and€into€the€New€Testament€Church€(Numbers€8:10,Ð ˜'H # ÐNumbers€27:18„23,€Deuteronomy€34:9,€Acts€13:1„3,€1€Timothy€4:14,€Hebrews€6:2).Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h^#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€The€Bible€saysÐ „(4!$ Ðto€lay€hands€on€no€man€suddenly.€That€is€what€the€modern€apostate€church€is€so€guilty€of.€That€isÐ p) "% Ðwhy€we€have€so€many€wicked€men€in€our€pulpits€in€America.€In€Acts€6,€we€have€the€first€sevenÐ \* #& Ðdeacons€called€by€the€church.€The€only€ð ðqualificationsðð€€given€to€the€church€was€that€these€men€hadÐ H+ø#' Ðto€be:€(1)€of€honest€report;€(2)€full€of€the€Holy€Ghost;€(3)€and€full€of€wisdom.€These€threeÐ 4,ä$( Ðrequirements€alone€would€disqualify€most€men€that€occupy€American€pulpits.€Gone€would€be€mostÐ d Ðof€those€who€hold€positions€of€leadership€by€virtue€of€their€educational,€economic,€and€social€status.Ð Pì ÐThe€most€important€of€these€three€would€be€that€of€being€full€of€the€Holy€Ghost.€Most€men€who€holdÐ <Ø Ðthe€positions€of€bishop€and€deacon€in€American€churches€are€not€full€of€the€Holy€Ghost€because€theyÐ ( Ä Ðare€lost,€hell€bound€sinners.€They€are€not€even€qualified€to€be€members€of€Bible€believing€churchesÐ  ° Ðmuch€less€to€be€bishops€and€deacons.€The€proof€of€that€is€in€the€filthy,€Satanic€effluent€that€comesÐ  œ Ðspewing€forth€from€their€mouths€as€they€step€behind€their€pulpits€and€lecterns.€That€is€also€true€ofÐ ì ˆ Ðmany€fundamentalist€and€Independent€Baptist€churches.€If€we€used€Acts€6€as€our€first€stop€whenÐ Ø t Ðexamining€men€for€church€office,€we€would€not€even€have€to€go€to€1€Timothy€3€and€Titus€1.€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hØ #ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔEvenÐ Ä ` Ðif€we€could€get€to€1€Timothy€3€and€Titus€1€there€is€a€wide€range€of€misinterpretation€inÐ °L  Ðfundamentalist€and€Baptist€congregations.€Ð œ8  ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h''#Ôà  àMany€Baptist€pastors€will€not€allow€divorced€men€to€preach€in€their€pulpits.€Many€BaptistÐ ˆ$  Ðpastors€and€evangelists€will€not€preach€in€a€pastorððs€pulpit€if€that€pastor€allows€divorced€men€toÐ t  Ðpreach€in€his€pulpit.€Many€Baptist€pastors€will€break€fellowship€with€and€ostracize€a€man€who€willÐ `ü  Ðallow€a€divorced€man€into€his€pulpit.€Some€Baptist€pastors,€preachers,€and€evangelists€do€not€believeÐ Lè  Ðthat€a€divorced€man€can€be€anointed€of€the€Holy€Ghost€in€the€pulpit.€Some€Baptist€preachers€andÐ 8Ô  Ðevangelists€will€break€fellowship€with€a€pastor€who€will€not€break€fellowship€with€a€pastor€whoÐ $À Ðallows€divorced€man€to€preach€in€his€pulpit.€Now,€if€that€sounds€confusing,€it€ought€to.€I€guaranteeÐ ¬ Ðyou€that€God€is€not€in€it€because€God€is€not€the€author€of€confusion.€Many€Baptist€pastors,Ð ü˜ Ðevangelists,€and€preachers€will€take€a€pastor€who€allows€a€divorced€man€to€preach€in€their€pulpitsÐ è„ Ðto€the€Peter€Ruckman€Whipping€Post€as€if€he€is€the€standard€of€judging€the€standards€for€theÐ Ôp Ðministry.€Some€Baptist€churches€will€allow€divorced€men€to€hold€church€offices€and€preach€andÐ À\ Ðteach€provided€their€divorce€took€place€before€their€salvation.€Other€Baptist€churches€will€allow€aÐ ¬H Ðdivorced€man€to€hold€any€office€including€pastor€in€their€church€and€to€preach€and€teach€providedÐ ˜4 Ðhe€maintains€Biblical€standards€of€holiness€in€his€life.€So€you€can€see€there€is€a€wide€variety€of€beliefÐ „  Ðand€practice€in€Baptist€churches.€Regardless€of€what€you€believe€and€practice,€some€of€these€beliefsÐ p  Ðand€practices€have€to€be€scriptural€and€some€of€them€have€to€be€unscriptural.€Some€of€these€folksÐ \ø Ðhave€to€be€scripturally€wrong.€They€are€wrong€either€in€interpretation€and/or€application.€If€youÐ Hä Ðexceed€the€standards€of€the€scriptures€in€application,€then€you€are€guilty€of€setting€yourself€up€as€aÐ 4 Ð Ðself„righteous€judge.€If€your€righteousness€exceeds€the€righteousness€of€the€scriptures,€then€you€areÐ  !¼ Ðguilty€of€being€a€self€righteous€Pharisee.€Many€men€parrot€the€positions€of€their€pastor,€or€theirÐ  "¨ Ðfavorite€evangelist,€or€their€favorite€seminary/institute€professor€without€having€studied€the€scripturesÐ ø"” Ðand€determined€for€themselves€the€whole€counsel€of€God€on€the€matter.€Rather€than€being€aÐ ä#€  Ðworkman€that€rightly€divideth€the€word€of€truth,€they€are€a€lazy,€mocking€parrot.€As€a€reminder€toÐ Ð$l! Ðthe€parrots,€it€is€not€what€thus€saith€the€man,€but€instead€what€THUS€SAITH€THE€LORD.€Many€menÐ ¼%X" Ðhold€positions€on€the€matter€under€discussion€that€are€obviously€contradictory€to€the€clear€teachingÐ ¨&D # Ðof€the€scriptures€and€the€Spirit€of€the€Holy€Ghost€of€God.€Regardless€of€motivation,€to€go€beyond€theÐ ”'0!$ Ðclear€teaching€and€standards€of€the€scriptures€is€doctrinal€error€also.€When€we€set€the€bar€higher€thanÐ €("% Ðthe€scriptures,€we€are€putting€ourselves€in€the€role€of€the€Holy€Ghost€of€God.€We€have€made€thatÐ l)#& Ðscripture€which€God€never€intended€to€be€scripture.€In€other€words,€we€have€added€our€personalÐ X*ô#' Ðstandards€to€the€scriptures:€our€own€private€interpretation.€Put€bluntly,€we€have€put€manððs€words€intoÐ D+à$( ÐGodððs€mouth.€We€call€that€adding€to€the€Scriptures!Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ 0,Ì%) ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h\6#Ôà  àÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔDo€you€believe€that€the€so„called€qualifications€in€1€Timothy€3€also€apply€to€men€who€seekÐ P Ðto€be€teachers,€missionaries,€evangelists,€church€treasurers,€missions€program€directors,€and€so€forth?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h¿6#ÔÐ <ì ÐThere€are€some€Baptist€churches€that€believe€that€the€qualifications€for€bishop€(pastor)€and€deaconÐ ( Ø Ðalso€apply€equally€to€preachers,€evangelists,€missionaries,€teachers,€song/music€leaders,€musicians,Ð  Ä Ðchoir€members,€etc.€That€is€not€scriptural.€There€are€but€three€New€Testament€church€offices.€ThoseÐ  ° Ðare€elders,€bishops,€and€deacons.€Preacher€is€not€a€New€Testament€church€office.€Evangelist€is€notÐ ì œ Ða€New€Testament€church€office.€Teacher€is€not€a€New€Testament€church€office.€Missionary€is€notÐ Ø ˆ Ða€New€Testament€church€office.€Song€leader€is€not€a€New€Testament€church€office€and€so€forth.€ForÐ Ä t Ðanyone€to€attempt€to€apply€the€standards€for€bishops€and€deacons€to€anyone€other€than€bishops€andÐ °` Ðdeacons€is€to€ADD€to€the€Scriptures.€It€is€nothing€more€than€a€self„righteous€standard€that€exceedsÐ œL  Ðthe€righteousness€of€the€Scriptures.€That€makes€it€a€manmade€doctrine.€Concerning€the€subject€ofÐ ˆ8  Ðthis€paragraph€Ralph€Woodrow€had€the€following€to€say:Ð t$  ÐÌà8  àð ðA€preacher€who€was€ready€to€ððclean€houseðð,€as€he€put€it,€declared€that€no€person€inÐ Lü  Ðhis€church€who€had€a€previous€marriage€could€sing€in€the€choir,€hold€any€position€inÐ 8è  Ðthe€church,€or€even€serve€as€an€usher!€ð ðI€donððt€believe€in€second€marriages!ðð€he€said.Ð $Ô  ÐA€close€friend€of€his€(who€had€divorced€and€remarried)€said€to€him€in€private,€ð ðIÐ À Ðknow€you€have€only€married€once,€but€did€you€ever€have€a€sexual€relationship€withÐ ü¬ Ðanother€woman?ðð€(Being€close€friends,€neither€considered€this€conversation€tooÐ è˜ Ðpersonal.)€With€some€hesitation€the€pastor€admitted€there€had€been€someÐ Ô„ Ðinvolvement€with...two€women...long€before€he€was€married€to€his€wife.€ð ðWell,ððÐ Àp Ðreplied€the€other€man,€ð ðyou€have€been€married€to€THREE€women€and€never€evenÐ ¬\ Ðdivorced€the€first€TWO.€I€have€been€married€only€TWICE,€but€I€got€aÐ ˜H Ðdivorce!...Woodrow€continues:Є4Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àSome€months€ago€I€heard€a€man€give€his€testimony€about€how€God€saved€himÐ p  Ðfrom€a€very€wicked€life.€Though€raised€in€church,€he€had€rebelled€at€an€early€age,Ð \  Ðbecame€involved€with€gangs,€got€into€drugs,€cursed€God,€chased€women,€living€withÐ Hø Ðone€then€another,€though€he€never€legally€married.€Then€he€got€saved,€went€to€BibleÐ 4 ä ÐSchool€where€he€married€a€Christian€girl,€and€is€now€an€ordained€minister.€We€canÐ  !Ð Ðall€rejoice€in€what€God€has€done€for€him.€But€there€is€a€serious€INCONSISTENCYÐ  "¼ Ðhere.€The€denomination€which€ordained€him€does€not€allow€divorce€and€remarriageÐ ø"¨ Ð(in€the€ministry€or€in€deacons).€Had€he€married€even€ONE€of€these€women€he€livedÐ ä#” Ðwith,€any€marriage€after€that€would€not€be€ððfirstðð€marriage€and€ordination€would€haveÐ Ð$€  Ðbeen€refused!м%l!Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àThe€inconsistency€of€this€double€standard€says,€in€effect,€ð ðDonððt€get€marriedÐ ¨&X" Ðð!ð€just€live€with€different€ones.€God€will€forgive€this,€and€if€you€do€finally€get€marriedÐ ”'D # Ðit€will€be€a€first€marriage.€But€if€you€marry€and€it€doesnððt€work€out,€you€can€never€getÐ €(0!$ Ðmarried€again...and€certainly€never€be€a€deacon€or€minister!ðð€[Divorce€AndÐ l)"% ÐRemarriage,€pages€83„84€Ralph€Woodrow,€1991]ÐX*#&Ð Ð  ÐÌStanley€A.€Ellisen€said€this€about€the€subject€before€us:Ð 0,à$( Їà8  àð ðHow€far€should€these€restrictions€be€carried?€If€they€cannot€be€deacon€or€pastor,€canÐ d Ðthey€serve€as€usher?€Collect€offering?€Or€would€that€be€too€close€to€the€duties€of€aÐ Pì Ðdeacon?€Would€they€be€allowed€to€pray€or€read€Scripture€from€the€pulpit,€or€giveÐ <Ø Ðtheir€testimony€from€the€pulpit?€Would€that€be€too€close€to€ððpreachingðð?€To€press€itÐ ( Ä Ðfurther,€would€the€divorced€person€be€allowed€to€sing€in€the€choir€or€sing€a€solo?€OrÐ  ° Ðwould€such€a€performance€border€too€closely€to€the€concept€of€ministry?€I€have€notÐ  œ Ðheard€of€any€such€church€who€restricts€divorced€folks€from€being€deacons€or€pastorsÐ ì ˆ Ðfrom€contributing€to€the€offering€plate,€however.ðð€[Divorce€and€Remarriage,€StanleyÐ Ø t ÐA.€Ellisen,€page€83]ÐÄ `Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àSome€Baptist€churches€take€this€hypocrisy€a€step€further€when€they€will€even€go€so€far€as€toÐ œ8  Ðprohibit€divorced€man€from€testifying€of€his€salvation€in€church€services.€What€does€this€do€for€theÐ ˆ$  Ðcommand€of€the€LORD€to€ð ðlet€the€redeemed€of€the€LORD€says€soðð?€There€are€even€some€BaptistÐ t  Ðchurches€that€will€not€allow€a€divorced€man€or€woman€to€be€a€member€of€THEIR€church.€We€areÐ `ü  Ðalso€aware€that€some€Baptist€churches€do€not€allow€women€to€teach€anyone€at€all.€€Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔThat€does€not€lineÐ Lè  Ðup€with€Titus€2:3„4€which€states:Ð 8Ô  ÐÌà8  àTitus€2:3„4Ð ¬ Ðòò3€óóThe€aged€women€likewise,€that€they€be€in€behaviour€as€becometh€holiness,€not€falseÐ ü˜ Ðaccusers,€not€given€to€much€wine,€teachers€of€good€things;€òò4€óóThat€they€may€teach€theÐ è„ Ðyoung€women€to€be€sober,€to€love€their€husbands,€to€love€their€children,Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h¢L#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐÔpÐ Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h•N#Ôà  àWe€have€also€heard€many€preachers€and€pastors€attempt€to€òòò òselectivelyó óóó€apply€the€rules€thatÐ ¬H Ðapplied€to€the€Old€Testament€priesthood€to€men€in€the€ministry€in€the€New€Testament.€It€will€notÐ œ8 Ðwork€and€we€will€explain.€If€you€are€going€to€apply€some€of€them,€you€will€have€to€apply€all€of€themÐ ˆ$ Ðto€New€Testament€bishops€and€deacons.€Here€are€those€requirements€from€Leviticus€chapter€21:Ð t Ð(1)€The€priests€could€not€shave€their€heads€or€their€beards.€(There€goes€most€of€the€pastors€andÐ `ü Ðpreachers€from€American€pulpits).€There€goes€those€of€you€who€preach€against€beards.€For€those€ofÐ Lè Ðyou€who€preach€against€beards,€you€must€have€been€among€those€who€plucked€out€the€beard€of€theÐ 8 Ô ÐLord€Jesus€Christ€before€the€crucifixion.€€(2)€The€priests€could€not€have€tattoos.€(There€goes€manyÐ $!À Ðmilitary€men€and€drunks€who€visited€tattoo€parlors€before€they€got€saved)€(3)€The€priests€had€toÐ "¬ Ðmarry€a€virgin.€(How€about€you€preacher€man?€Did€you€marry€a€virgin?).€Or,€how€many€womenððsÐ ü"˜ Ðvirginity€did€you€steal€before€you€had€a€ceremony?€(4)€The€priestððs€wife€could€not€have€been€a€whoreÐ è#„  Ð(How€many€different€women€have€you€engaged€in€sex€with?)€Did€you€have€sex€with€your€wife€beforeÐ Ô$p! Ðyou€had€a€ceremony.€You€guessed€it.€You€made€her€a€whore€when€you€done€that.€(5)€The€priestsððsÐ À%\" Ðwife€could€not€be€profane;€in€other€words€unsaved.€(How€about€you€preacher€man?€Was€your€wifeÐ ¬&H # Ðsaved€when€you€got€married,€or€did€she€make€a€profession€after€you€were€married?).€(6)€The€priests€Ð ˜'4!$ Ðcould€not€take€divorced€women€for€wives€(more€on€this€one€later).€(7)€The€priests€could€not€have€anyÐ „( "% Ðphysical€defect€such€as€being€blind,€lame,€brokenfooted,€€brokenhanded,€a€eunuch,€having€a€flat€nose,Ð p) #& Ða€crooked€back,€or€being€a€midget.€Physical€defects€would€disqualify€many€men€from€the€ministryÐ \*ø#' Ðtoday.€(8)€We€have€bad€news€for€every€preacher€and€pastor€who€believes€that€New€TestamentÐ H+ä$( Ðbishops€and€deacons€must€meet€the€requirements€for€Old€Testament€priests.€You€have€all€missed€theÐ 4,Ð%) Ðboat€because€you€are€not€of€the€lineage€of€Aaron.€Rats!€Why€didnððt€we€read€that€one€first!Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€Verse€1Ð t Ðin€Leviticus€21€says€this:Ð `ì ÐÌà8  àLeviticus€21:1Ð 8 Ä Ðòò1€óóAnd€the€LORD€said€unto€Moses,€Speak€unto€òòò òthe€priests€the€sons€of€Aaronó óóó,€and€sayÐ $ ° Ðunto€them,€There€shall€none€be€defiled€for€the€dead€among€his€people:Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h’X#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ  Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àFrom€the€list€above,€the€one€that€states€that€the€priest€cannot€marry€a€divorced€woman€is€theÐ ì x Ðone€that€is€most€frequently€regurgitated€and€unscripturally€applied€to€the€ð ðqualificationsðð€forÐ Ød Ðpotential€bishops,€elders€and€deacons€in€the€New€Testament.€The€one€that€most€ð ðonce€marriedððÐ ÄP  Ðpeacocks€dare€not€bring€up€is€the€requirement€that€the€priest€had€to€marry€a€woman€who€was€not€aÐ °<  Ðwhore.€€The€reason€they€dare€not€bring€it€up€is€that€most€of€them€have€made€their€wives€a€whoreÐ œ(  Ðwhen€they€stole€their€virginity€before€their€redundant,€hypocritical€marriage€ceremonies.€Then€thereÐ ˆ  Ðis€also€those€promiscuous€fornicators€that€bedded€down€every€whore€under€the€sun€before€theirÐ t  Ðredundant,€hypocritical€marriage€ceremonies.€They€are€the€Don€Juans€of€our€pulpits€that€brag€aboutÐ `ì  Ðall€their€ð ðpre„maritalðð€affairs€before€they€got€saved.€And,€these€are€the€men€we€set€aside€divorcedÐ LØ  Ðpastors€and€preachers€for!??€€Many€of€these€virgin€stealers€and€Don€Juans€are€also€the€ones€thatÐ 8Ä Ðcannot€wait€to€open€up€the€wounds€of€a€divorced€man€and€pour€salt€in€them€while€their€conductÐ $° Ðmakes€a€divorced€man€a€saint€by€comparison.€While€we€agree€that€the€conduct€of€bishopððs,€elderððs,Ð œ Ðdeaconððs€wives€should€be€above€reproach,€you€cannot€disqualify€a€man€from€the€ministry€becauseÐ üˆ Ðhis€wife€has€had€a€divorce.€If€you€do€that,€you€would€again€be€€guilty€of€reading€divorce€into€aÐ èt Ðpassage€that€neither€directly€states€or€insinuates€that€a€[wifeððs]€divorce€disqualifies€a€man€from€theÐ Ô` Ðministry.€If€you€look€real€close,€you€will€see€that€the€potential€bishopððs€wifeððs€conduct€is€not€evenÐ ÀL Ðmentioned€in€1€Timothy€3€whereas€the€deaconððs€wifeððs€conduct€is€mentioned€in€verse€11.€LookingÐ ¬8 Ðat€Titus€chapter€1,€we€see€that€deacons€are€not€even€mentioned.€However,€we€do€see€the€standardsÐ ˜$ Ðfor€elders€and€bishops€mentioned€without€the€conduct€of€their€wives€even€being€€brought€up.Ð „ Ðà  àIn€the€chapter€before€us,€it€will€become€clear€to€our€readers€why€we€spent€so€much€time€andÐ pü Ðeffort€in€the€chapter€on€ð ðMarriageðð€in€emphasizing€the€fact€that€God€considers€a€sexual€relationshipÐ \ è Ðto€be€a€marriage.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hZ#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€We€are€about€to€embark€on€one€of€the€most€controversial€subjects€in€so„calledÐ H!Ô Ðfundamental€Bible€believing€churches.€It€is€a€controversy€that€walks€hand€in€hand€with€theÐ 4"À Ðcontroversy€concerning€marriage,€divorce,€and€remarriage.€Those€have€also€been€the€subject€of€threeÐ  #¬ Ðprevious€chapters€in€this€book.€The€controversy€of€this€chapter€swirls€around€the€interpretation€andÐ  $˜ Ðapplication€of€1€Timothy€3:2.€While€many€refer€to€the€lists€in€1€Timothy€3€as€ð ðqualificationsðð€forÐ ø$„  Ðchurch€office,€we€prefer€to€call€those€lists€ð ðStandards€For€Church€Serviceðð.€We€have€not€always€heldÐ ä%p! Ðto€the€position€on€this€subject€that€we€now€hold€to.€We€will€admit€that€the€decades€long€opinions€andÐ Ð&\" Ðpositions€we€once€held€on€this€subject€prior€to€throughÖ€maØÖly€studying€this€issue€for€ourselves€were€theÐ ¼'H # Ðopinions€of€our€peers€and€mentors€in€the€churches€that€we€have€served€in.€In€short,€they€were€whatÐ ¨(4!$ Ðwe€had€been€taught€and€not€what€we€have€rightly€divided.€It€was€an€issue€that€we€had€not€sought€theÐ ”) "% Ðwhole€counsel€of€the€Word€Of€God€on.€If€you€will€consult€the€Introduction€to€this€book,€you€will€seeÐ €* #& Ðhow€thorough€our€research€and€study€has€been.€We€have€researched€the€commentaries€of€manyÐ l+ø#' Ðrespected€preachers€and€the€works€of€all€the€so„called€church€fathers€in€preparing€for€this€book.€WeÐ d Ðdid€not€do€the€research€to€find€out€where€we€should€stand€on€the€subject€before€us.€Our€convictionsÐ Pì Ðare€based€upon€an€independent€study€of€the€entire€subject€from€the€Bible.€We€studied€the€works€ofÐ <Ø Ðothers€to€find€where€they€stood€on€this€subject€and€what€we€have€found€is€that€many€good€men€ofÐ ( Ä ÐGod€come€down€on€opposite€sides€of€the€issue€we€are€dealing€with€here.€So,€what€is€the€problemÐ  ° Ðhere?€Job€32:9€says€that€òòóógreat€men€are€not€always€wise:€neither€do€the€aged€understand€judgment.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h^d#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ  œ ÐWe€realize€that€many€will€not€even€read€what€we€have€written€here€because€they€ð ðknow€what€theÐ ì ˆ Ðhave€been€taughtðð.€They€will€reject€what€we€say€here€out€of€hand.€Proverbs€18:13€says:òòóó€ð ðHe€thatÐ Ø t Ðanswereth€a€matter€before€he€heareth€it,€it€is€folly€and€shame€unto€himðð.€Proverbs€15:32€says:€òò€óóHe€thatÐ Ä ` Ðrefuseth€instruction€despiseth€his€own€soul:€but€he€that€heareth€reproof€getteth€understanding.Ð °L  ÐÌà@× × ìàò òA€CHALLENGE€AND€WHAT€WE€HAVE€BEEN€TAUGHTó óˆÐ ˆ$  ÐÌÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hñl#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔà  àò òIf€we€are€wrong€on€this€issue,€we€have€a€very€strong€desire€to€be€proved€wrong€and€toÐ `ü  Ðbe€corrected.€If€you€have€a€thoroughly€researched€counter€argument€against€what€we€have€saidÐ Lè  Ðin€this€book€and€what€we€will€say€in€this€chapter,€or€if€you€have€further€supporting€arguments,Ð 8Ô  Ðplease€feel€free€to€contact€us€via€email€at:€Ô4‚;Ý ÔÝ‚\ÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôcontact@earnestlycontendingforthefaith.comÔ68qÔÝ‚\ÍOLqƒÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7Ý « zqÔó ó€.€BeforeÐ $À Ðyou€get€outraged€and€start€attacking€us,€we€would€encourage€you€to€temporarily€set€aside€everythingÐ ° Ðyou€have€been€taught€or€preached€on€this€subject.€Then€pick€up€a€King€James€Bible€and€take€everyÐ œ Ðoccurrence€of€the€62€words€listed€on€page€3€of€the€Introduction€to€this€book€and€read€and€study€themÐ ìˆ Ðin€context€and€take€notes€before€you€pick€up€any€commentaries.€Then€you€can€go€back€and€pick€upÐ Øt Ðall€that€you€have€been€taught€and€preached€that€lines€up€with€the€King€James€Bible.€We€have€to€manyÐ Ä` Ðparrots€today€and€not€enough€Biblical€oracles.€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hŽo#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔWe€do€not€wish€to€remove€any€old€landmarks€here.Ð °L ÐWe€just€want€to€make€sure€that€those€old€landmarks€are€set€in€their€proper€Biblical€context.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hÌt#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hԀРœ8 Ðà  àWe€have€read€many€good€articles€and€books€on€the€subject€before€us,€some€of€which€weÐ ˆ$ Ðagree€with€and€others€we€do€not€agree€with.€There€is€some€really€wild€stuff€out€there€on€both€sidesÐ t Ðof€this€issue!€Before€anybody€points€the€Peter€Ruckman€finger€at€us€and€takes€us€to€the€PeterÐ `ü ÐRuckman€whipping€post,€you€need€to€know€that€our€research€was€almost€complete€before€we€readÐ Lè Ðhis€29€page€article€titled€ð ðMarriage,€Divorce,€and€Remarriageðð.€Though€we€agree€with€PeterÐ 8 Ô ÐRuckman€on€this€issue,€you€need€to€understand€that€neither€Peter€Ruckman€or€Peter€RuckmanððsÐ $!À Ðdoctrine€on€marriage,€divorce€and€remarriage€is€the€standard€by€which€we€judge€our€doctrine.€PeterÐ "¬ ÐRuckman€is€the€straw€man€for€all€those€who€hate€the€King€James€Bible€and€those€putrid€ð ðdoubleÐ ü"˜ Ðmarriedðð€preachers.€They€cannot€defend€their€positions€on€the€Bible€or€marriage€so€they€pull€PeterÐ è#„  ÐRuckman€out€and€kick€him€around€for€a€while€hoping€that€you€will€not€ask€them€for€chapter€a€verse.Ð Ô$p! ÐThis€is€an€issue€that€we€have€had€serious€doubts€about€ever€since€we€first€heard€the€doctrineÐ À%\" Ðpropounded€that€divorced€men€could€not€enter€the€ministry€and€to€our€shame€and€our€hurt€we€didÐ ¬&H # Ðnothing€to€exhaustively€study€the€issue€scripturally.€We€heard€and€received€that€which€men€taught.Ð ˜'4!$ ÐThe€real€question€is€what€does€the€Bible€say;€not€what€we€think.€Our€standard€is€the€perfect,€inspiredÐ „( "% ÐKing€James€Bible.€Many€of€those€ð ðonce€marriedðð€preachers€that€we€have€heard€expound€theirÐ p) #& Ðdoctrine€of€exclusion€of€divorced€men€over€the€years€accuse€those€of€us€who€hold€to€the€doctrine€thatÐ \*ø#' Ðwe€do€that€we€are€responding€to€the€issue€emotionally€and€not€doctrinally.€Really?€When€confrontedÐ H+ä$( Ðwith€their€doctrine,€most€of€them€will€run€and€hide€under€the€emotional€coattails€of€their€favoriteÐ 4,Ð%) Ðevangelist,€preacher,€seminary€professor,€or€Bible€Institute€teacher.€Most€of€them€will€respond€thatÐ t Ðthey€know€what€they€have€been€taught,€or€they€know€what€so€and€so€says.€Really?€But€what€does€theÐ `ì ÐBible€say€chapter€and€verse?€Most€of€them€will€not€even€attempt€to€defend€their€doctrine€from€theÐ L Ø ÐBible€because€they€have€never€studied€the€issue€through€and€through€for€themselves.€We€want€toÐ 8 Ä Ðthank€Brother€Karl€M.€Baker€for€his€excellent€book€ð ðThe€Marriage€&€Divorce€Controversy€With€AÐ $ ° ÐRebuttal€Of€1€Timothy€3:2ððÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h¯u#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ.€It€was€his€book€that€motivated€us€to€do€the€most€exhaustive€study€of€anyÐ  œ Ðsubject€that€we€have€ever€completed€other€than€our€study€on€the€King€James€Bible€itself.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hº€#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€For€manyÐ ü ˆ Ðyears€we€were€convicted€that€our€doctrine€on€the€subject€before€us€was€an€affront€to€the€Holy€GhostÐ è t Ðthat€dwelt€in€us,€but€we€ð ðòòfelt€likeóóðð€surely€we€must€be€wrong€because€how€can€so€many€good€men€ofÐ Ô` ÐGod€be€wrong€on€this€subject€and€us€be€right.€Besides,€we€were€but€the€water€boy€on€the€doctrineÐ ÀL  Ðfield€with€all€the€big€players.€We€are€not€being€sarcastic€here,€but€like€most€young€Christians€weÐ ¬8  Ðheld,€and€should€hold,€our€elders,€deacons,€pastors,€and€preachers€in€high€esteem€for€their€workððsÐ ˜$  Ðsake.€First€Thessalonians€5:12„13€and€1€Timothy€5:17€tell€us:Ð „  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h³#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Thessalonians€5:12„13Ð \è  Ðòò12€óóAnd€we€beseech€you,€brethren,€to€know€them€which€labour€among€you,€and€areÐ HÔ  Ðover€you€in€the€Lord,€and€admonish€you;€òò13€óóAnd€to€esteem€them€very€highly€in€loveÐ 4À Ðfor€their€workððs€sake.€And€be€at€peace€among€yourselves.Ð ¬Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hÑ„#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Timothy€5:17Ð ø„ Ðòò17€óóLet€the€elders€that€rule€well€be€counted€worthy€of€double€honour,€especially€theyÐ äp Ðwho€labour€in€the€word€and€doctrine.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h†#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐÐ\Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àWe€are€not€making€light€of€those€who€have€been€our€elders€in€doctrine€over€the€years.€WeÐ ¨4 Ðlove€them.€What€we€are€saying€is€that€our€very€strong€respect€for€those€elders€led€us€te€receive€andÐ ”  Ðbelieve€some€things€that€we€should€have€checked€out€€for€ourselves.€Our€first€mentor€has€changedÐ €  Ðhis€position€on€whether€a€divorced€man€can€enter€the€ministry€and€no€longer€holds€a€position€thatÐ lø Ðbans€all€divorced€men€from€the€ministry.€It€is€wrong€for€us€to€hold€the€elders€we€love€responsible€forÐ X ä Ðthe€doctrines€we€hold€to.€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h–‡#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔWhat€we€should€not€do€is€receive€a€doctrine€without€having€checked€it€outÐ D!Ð Ðin€the€Scriptures.€The€charge€to€be€a€Berean€and€to€rightly€divide€the€word€of€truth€is€a€charge€givenÐ 0"¼ Ðto€every€believer€and€not€just€church€leaders.€When€we€receive€a€doctrine€without€having€checkedÐ #¨ Ðit€out€in€the€Scriptures€what€we€prove€is€that€we€love€man€more€than€we€do€God.€That€is€especiallyÐ $” Ðtrue€of€those€who€are,€and€who€would€be,€church€leaders.€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hjŠ#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔBlindly€following€church€leaders€withoutÐ ô$€  Ðthe€informed€consent€of€the€Scriptures€is€ungodly,€sloppy,€and€lazy.€If€you€will€believe€a€man,Ð à%l! Ðespecially€in€a€controversial€doctrine,€without€having€checked€his€doctrine€against€the€Scriptures,Ð Ì&X" Ðthen€you€are€NOT€qualified€to€a€hold€a€position€of€leadership€in€the€church.€That€is€especially€trueÐ ¸'D # Ðin€this€issue€because€much€fundamentalist€and€Baptist€doctrine€as€it€relates€to€marriage,€divorce,€andÐ ¤(0!$ Ðremarriage€has€been€corrupted€by€Roman€Catholic€theology.€This€same€type€of€ungodly€sloppinessÐ )"% Ðand€laziness€is€exactly€why€we€have€so€many€heretics€and€apostates€in€pulpits€and€behind€lecternsÐ |*#& Ðtrying€to€correct€and€overthrow€the€perfect€King€James€Bible.€€What€we€are€confronted€with€on€theÐ h+ô#' Ðdoctrine€of€the€King€James€Bible€is€the€very€same€thing€we€are€confronted€with€on€the€doctrine€ofÐ d Ðmarriage,€divorce,€remarriage,€and€standards€for€church€officers.€That€is,€we€have€to€many€preachers,Ð Pì Ðpastors,€and€teachers€that€are€slothful€sluggards€that€parrot€the€positions€of€their€mentors€withoutÐ <Ø Ðhaving€studied€the€issue€through€for€themselves.€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hªŒ#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔIf€you€will€not€study€the€issue€through€for€yourself,Ð ( Ä Ðshame€on€you.€For€such€a€high€profile€and€high€impact€issue€as€marriage,€divorce,€remarriage,€andÐ  ° Ðstandards€for€church€office,€it€is€unconscionable€that€a€God€called€pastor€would€be€asleep€at€theÐ  œ Ðspiritual€wheel€when€at€least€50%€of€the€members€of€most€fundamentalist€and€Baptist€congregationsÐ ì ˆ Ðhave€experienced€a€wreck€on€the€highway€of€divorce.€€How€long€wilt€thou€sleep,€O€sluggard?€whenÐ Ø t Ðwilt€thou€arise€out€of€thy€sleep?€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h’#ÔThe€sluggard€is€wiser€in€his€own€conceit€than€seven€men€that€canÐ Ä ` Ðrender€a€reason.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€And€that,€knowing€the€time,€that€now€it€is€high€time€to€awake€out€of€sleepÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hë”#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ.Ð °L  ÐÌà@ìàò òBAD€ATTITUDES,€PRIDE,€AND€ROMAN€CATHOLIC€THEOLOGYó óˆÐ ˆ$  ÐÌÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hx•#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔà  àIf€you€want€to€start€a€stuttering€convention€all€you€have€to€do€is€ask€the€average€group€ofÐ `ü  Ðassembled€Independent€Baptist€preachers€to€give€scriptural€and€historical€reasons€why€they€hold€toÐ Lè  Ðthe€King€James€Bible;€or€why€they€are€two,€three,€or€four€point€CalvinistsÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h1–#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ;€or,€God€forbid,€why€theyÐ 8Ô  Ðcondemn€ð ðdouble€marriedðð€preachers.€Hello€out€there:€ò òð ðòòThis€is€a€recording€from€the€IndependentÐ $À ÐBaptist€glory€corner.€We€only€use€the€King€James€Bible€and€we€donððt€want€any€double€marriedÐ ° Ðpreachers€around€here€because€Doctor€So€And€So€said€so.€And,€by€the€way,€divorced€manÐ œ Ðwhere€is€the€tithing€dough€broóó?ððó ó.€€We€do€not€know€why€we€hold€to€the€King€James€Bible€or€whyÐ ìˆ Ðwe€detest€ð ðdouble€marriedðð€preachers.€We€just€do.€We€just€do€what€we€are€told€to€do.Ð Üx Ðà  àOn€this€issue€of€marriage,€divorce,€remarriage,€and€standards€for€church€office,€the€preachersÐ Èd Ðare€teaching€and€preaching€the€commandments€and€doctrines€of€men.€The€pastors€are€beating€theÐ ´P Ðbleating€divorced€sheep€on€the€anvil€of€Roman€Catholic€theology.€The€teachers€are€fleecing€theÐ  < Ðbleating€sheep€through€bleeding€ears€that€have€been€scratched€raw€with€false€doctrine.€If€you€willÐ Œ( Ðcorrupt€the€Word€of€God€doctrinally€because€you€are€to€lazy€to€study€this€issue€through,€then€you€areÐ x Ðno€better€than€the€heretic€who€corrupts€the€Word€of€God€by€taking€away€from€or€adding€to€the€wordsÐ d Ðof€our€Bibles.€Whether€you€corrupt€it€in€word,€doctrinally,€or€in€application€you€are€equally€culpableÐ Pì Ðbefore€God.€Ð < Ø Ðà  àMany€divorced€men€show€much€more€of€the€grace€of€God€in€their€ministries€than€many€ofÐ (!Ä Ðthe€ð ðonce€marriedðð€peacocks€do.€We€know€many€pastors€that€will€not€allow€a€divorced€man€to€teachÐ "° Ðor€preach€in€ð ðtheirðð€church.€We€also€now€many€pastors€and€preachers€that€will€break€fellowship€withÐ #œ Ða€man€who€will€allow€a€divorced€man€to€preach€in€their€pulpits.€We€also€know€preachers€that€willÐ ì#ˆ  Ðrant€and€rave€about€the€wickedness€of€ð ðdouble€marriedðð€preachers,€but€they€will€go€and€preach€in€aÐ Ø$t! Ðchurch€that€allows€divorced€men€to€preach€in€their€pulpit.€There€is€a€spirit€of€ungodly€pride€thatÐ Ä%`" Ðlashes€out€from€the€heart€of€this€issue€and€it€is€not€coming€from€the€divorced€men.€The€following€hasÐ °&L # Ðbeen€well€said€by€Agur:Ð œ'8!$ ÐÌà8  àProverbs€30:12„14òò12€óóÐt)#&Ð Ð  Ðà8  àThere€is€a€generation€that€are€pure€in€their€own€eyes,€and€yet€is€not€washed€from€theirÐ `*ü#' Ðfilthiness.€òò13€óóThere€is€a€generation,€O€how€lofty€are€their€eyes!€and€their€eyelids€areÐ L+è$( Ðlifted€up.€òò14€óóThere€is€a€generation,€whose€teeth€are€as€swords,€and€their€jaw€teeth€asÐ 8,Ô%) Ðknives,€to€devour€the€poor€from€off€the€earth,€and€the€needy€from€among€men.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h°—#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐtÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àWhile€many€will€not€receive€what€we€are€about€to€say,€we€do€believe€that€it€is€an€accurateÐ L Ø Ðportrayal€of€the€attitude€of€many€preachers€that€would€like€us€to€believe€that€they€are€the€squeakyÐ 8 Ä Ðclean,€anointed€ones.€Here€it€is€(I€can€hear€the€outrage€already):€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h<£#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔThe€ð ðOnce€Married€Preacherðð€stoodÐ $ ° Ðand€prayed€thus€with€himself,€God,€I€thank€thee,€that€I€am€not€as€other€menòò€areóó,€extortioners,€unjust,Ð  œ Ðadulterers,€or€even€as€this€òòòòò òdivorced€manó óóóóó.òòÔ#†X¹hXh#X¹hÔ¤#ÔØØÑÈÑóóÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€(The€divorced€man€was€here€substituted€for€the€publican.Ð ü ˆ ÐThe€principle€is€the€same.).€Some€ð ðonce€marriedðð€preachers€cannot€even€pray€that€because€they€areÐ è t Ðextortioners,€unjust,€and€adulterous,€but€thank€God€they€are€not€ð ðdouble€marriedðð€divorced€preachersÐ Ô` Ðeven€though€they€have€broken€their€covenant€with€the€wife€of€their€youth.€They€are€as€PROUD€ASÐ ÀL  ÐA€PEACOCKÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h3¦#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€in€all€its€glory.€How€many€of€you€self€righteous€preachers€out€there€have€been€guiltyÐ ¬8  Ðof€allowing€a€man€to€stay€in€the€ministry€who€is€an€adulterer€and€has€been€guilty€of€violating€mostÐ ˜$  Ðof€the€standards€in€1€Timothy€3€for€church€officers?€Our€churches€are€chock€full€of€ð ðonce€marriedððÐ „  Ðpreachers€and€pastors€that€do€not€meet€the€standards€of€1€Timothy€3.€We€could€take€the€rest€of€theÐ pü  Ðstandards€in€1€Timothy€3€and€disqualify€at€least€90%€of€the€pastors€in€Independent€Baptist€pulpitsÐ \è  Ðif€we€used€the€same€pharisaical,€blood€thirsty€tactics€that€the€ð ðhusband€of€one€wife€in€a€lifetimeðð€use.€Ð HÔ  ÐWe€see€nothing€of€the€grace€of€God€in€their€tactics.€It€is€a€voracious€cancer€that€is€consuming€whatÐ 4À Ðwere€good€Bible€believing€churches.€It€is€one€of€the€major€reasons€our€churches€are€dead€and€dyingÐ  ¬ Ðbecause€we€will€not€deal€with€the€sins€of€our€leaders.€We€will€throw€holy,€divorced€men€out€of€ourÐ  ˜ Ðpulpits€while€we€allow€fornicators€and€perverts€to€devour€the€sheep€that€are€set€before€them.Ð ø„ ÐÌà@‚‚ìàò òTHE€ISSUE€FROM€DOCTRINAL€AND€HISTORICAL€PERSPECTIVESó óˆÐ Ð\ ÐÌà  àWe€will€now€enter€into€a€discussion€of€the€issue€before€us€from€a€historical€perspective€andÐ ¨4 Ðuse€the€King€James€Bible€to€interpret€the€issue€doctrinally.€As€part€of€our€discussion,€we€will€talkÐ ”  Ðabout€the€practice€of€polygamy€during€the€time€New€Testament€churches€were€being€formed.€ThenÐ €  Ðwe€will€enter€into€a€brief€discussion€on€Jewish€marriage€customs€as€they€could€relate€to€theÐ lø ÐSanhedrin€and€the€apostle€Paul.€We€will€follow€that€by€a€discussion€of€what€the€Holy€Ghost€hasÐ X ä Ðrecorded€in€the€Scriptures€concerning€Paul€and€the€discussion€before€us.€Then€we€will€get€into€anÐ D!Ð Ðextended€discussion€on€the€standards€for€those€who€have€been€called€and€choose€to€serve€as€bishopsÐ 0"¼ Ðand€deacons€in€New€Testament€churches.ûÿÿdûÐ #¨ Ðüÿÿdüà  àMany€of€those€who€enter€into€this€fray€do€so€without€trying€to€interpret€the€Bible€doctrinallyÐ $” Ðin€the€context€of€its€historical€reference.€This€drives€to€the€question€as€to€what€possible€circumstancesÐ ô$€  Ðand€problems€a€first€century€pastor€might€have€had€to€deal€with.€One€of€those€problems€was€theÐ à%l! Ðexistence€of€polygamy€in€the€Jewish€culture.€We€dealt€quite€extensively€with€this€issue€in€the€sectionÐ Ì&X" Ðcalled€ð ðMultiple€Wivesðð€in€the€chapter€in€this€book€titled€ð ðÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h:¨#ÔA€Scriptural€Definition€and€DescriptionÐ ¸'D # Ðof€MarriageÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔðð.€We€will€deal€with€it€again€here.€We€have€read€many€commentaries€that€deny€thatÐ ¤(0!$ Ðpolygamy€was€a€problem€in€the€Jewish€culture€during€the€formation€of€the€New€Testament€church,Ð )"% Ðbut€that€is€not€true.€We€will€document€that€shortly.€The€early€New€Testament€church€was€made€upÐ |*#& Ðof€mostly€Jewish€converts€for€two€very€good€reasons.€One€of€those€is€rooted€in€the€command€fromÐ h+ô#' Ðthe€Lord€Jesus€Christ€to€the€twelve€apostles€when€he€stated€in€Matthew€10:5„6:Ð d ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h‚³#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔMatthew€10:5„6Ð <Ø Ðòò5€óóThese€twelve€Jesus€sent€forth,€and€commanded€them,€saying,€Go€not€into€the€wayÐ ( Ä Ðof€the€Gentiles,€and€into€any€city€of€the€Samaritans€enter€ye€not:€òò6€óóBut€go€rather€to€theÐ  ° Ðlost€sheep€of€the€house€of€Israel.Ð œÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àAnother€reason€that€most€of€the€converts€to€the€early€church€were€Jews€is€that€commandmentÐ Ø t Ðto€go€first€to€the€house€of€Israel€continued€to€be€the€pattern€for€the€early€disciples€and€the€apostles,Ð Ä ` Ðincluding€Paul.€Wherever€Paul€went,€his€first€stop€was€always€the€synagogues€of€the€Jews.€€Twenty„Ð °L  Ðthree€different€times€the€synagogues€are€mentioned€in€the€book€of€Acts.€For€these€reasons,€it€is€noÐ œ8  Ðsmall€wonder€that€most€of€the€early€churches€were€made€up€mostly€of€Jewish€converts.€Ð ˆ$  ÐÌà@œœ&ìàò òPOLYGAMYó óˆÐ `ü  ÐÌà  àWith€the€Jewish€converts€came€their€Jewish€customs€and€the€Mosaic€Law€that€had€to€be€dealtÐ 8Ô  Ðwith€by€the€Holy€Ghost€in€several€of€the€Pauline€Epistles€including€Romans,€Galatians,€1€Timothy,Ð $À ÐTitus,€and€the€book€of€Hebrews.€€The€passages€that€we€are€concerned€with€here€are€1€Timothy€1:4„7Ð ¬ Ðand€Titus€1:10„14€which€we€quote€here:Ð ü˜ ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹høµ#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Timothy€1:4„7Ð Ôp Ðòò4€óóNeither€give€heed€to€fables€and€endless€genealogies,€which€minister€questions,Ð À\ Ðrather€than€godly€edifying€which€is€in€faith:€so€do.€òò5€óóNow€the€end€of€theÐ ¬H Ðcommandment€is€charity€out€of€a€pure€heart,€and€of€a€good€conscience,€and€of€faithÐ ˜4 Ðunfeigned:€òò6€óóFrom€which€some€having€swerved€have€turned€aside€unto€vain€jangling;Ð „  Ðòò7€óóDesiring€to€be€teachers€of€the€law;€understanding€neither€what€they€say,€nor€whereofÐ p  Ðthey€affirm.Ð\øÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h·»#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔTitus€1:10„14Ð 4 Ð Ðòò10€óóFor€there€are€many€unruly€and€vain€talkers€and€deceivers,€specially€they€of€theÐ  !¼ Ðcircumcision:€òò11€óóWhose€mouths€must€be€stopped,€who€subvert€whole€houses,€teachingÐ  "¨ Ðthings€which€they€ought€not,€for€filthy€lucreððs€sake.€òò12€óóOne€of€themselves,€even€aÐ ø"” Ðprophet€of€their€own,€said,€The€Cretians€are€alway€liars,€evil€beasts,€slow€bellies.€òò13Ð ä#€  ÐóóThis€witness€is€true.€Wherefore€rebuke€them€sharply,€that€they€may€be€sound€in€theÐ Ð$l! Ðfaith;€òò14€óóNot€giving€heed€to€Jewish€fables,€and€commandments€of€men,€that€turn€fromÐ ¼%X" Ðthe€truth.Ш&D #Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h‹¾#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÌÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h©Á#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔà  àBoth€of€these€passages€state€strongly€that€both€Timothy€and€Titus€were€having€trouble€withÐ €("% Ðtheir€Jewish€converts€in€the€churches€they€were€pastoring.€In€1€Timothy€chapter€1,€the€Holy€GhostÐ l)#& Ðrebukes€those€that€take€heed€to€fables€and€endless€genealogies€and€those€desiring€to€be€teachers€ofÐ X*ô#' Ðthe€law.€This€is€strictly€in€a€Jewish€context.€In€Titus€chapter€1€the€Holy€Ghost€rebukes€those€vainÐ D+à$( Ðtalkers€especially€those€of€the€circumcision€(Jews)€and€warns€that€church€not€to€give€heed€to€JewishÐ 0,Ì%) Ðfables€and€commandments€of€men.€This€is€strictly€in€a€Jewish€context.€One€further€indication€thatÐ t Ðthese€were€churches€dominated€by€Jewish€converts€is€that€when€the€Holy€Ghost€listed€the€standardsÐ `ì Ðrequired€for€bishops€and€deacons€some€of€them€mirrored€the€Jewish€laws€regulating€membership€inÐ L Ø Ðthe€Sanhedrin€which€we€here€quote:Ð 8 Ä ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hìÁ#ÔThere€were€ten€basic€qualifications€for€the€eligibility€of€membership.€Each€memberÐ  œ Ðof€the€Sanhedrin€must€be€a€Hebrew,€learned€in€the€law,€and€possessing€judicialÐ ü ˆ Ðexperience€at€lower€levels€(there€were€minor€Sanhedrins€of€twenty-three€membersÐ è t Ðwhich€tried€non-capital€offenses€in€every€town€of€120€males€or€more).€The€memberÐ Ô` Ðwas€required€also€to€be€learned€in€science,€a€linguist,€modest,€pious€but€strong€andÐ ÀL  Ðcourageous,€devoid€of€physical€defects,€a€qualified€tradesman,€and,€finally,€he€wasÐ ¬8  Ðrequired€to€be€married€and€to€be€a€father.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hºÈ#Ô[Liberty€In€The€Balance,€Russell€and€ColinÐ ˜$  ÐStandish,€Hartland€Publishing,€August€30,€1998]Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔЄ Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hkÉ#ÔThe€special€qualifications€for€the€office€of€Sanhedrist,€mentioned€in€the€RabbinicalÐ \è  Ðwritings,€are€such€as€remind€of€us€of€the€directions€of€Paul€to€Timothy€(1€TimothyÐ HÔ  Ð3:1„10).€A€member€of€the€Sanhedrim€must€be€wise,€modest,€God-fearing,€truthful,Ð 4À Ðnot€greedy€of€filthy€lucre,€given€to€hospitality,€kindly,€not€a€gambler,€nor€a€usurer,€norÐ  ¬ Ðone€who€traded€in€the€produce€of€Sabbatical€years,€nor€yet€one€who€indulged€inÐ  ˜ Ðunlawful€games€(Sanh.€iii.€3).€They€were€called€ð ðSekenim,ððð ðeldersðð,€ð ðMemunim,ððÐ ø„ Ðð ðrulersðð,€ð ðParnasin,ðð€ð ðfeeders,€overseers,€shepherds€of€the€flockðð,€and€ð ðManhigei,ððÐ äp Ðð ðguidesðð.€They€were€under€the€presidency€and€supreme€rule€of€an€ð ðArchisynagogos,ððÐ Ð\ ÐorððRosh-ha-Cheneseth,ðð€ð ðhead€of€the€synagogueðð€(Yom.€vii.€1;€Sot.€vii.€7),whoÐ ¼H Ðsometimes€seems€to€have€even€exercised€sole€authority.€[From€Alfred€EdersheimððsÐ ¨4 Ðwork€ð ðSketches€Of€Jewish€Social€Lifeðð,€Chapter€18,€page€257€of€the€printed€edition]Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔД Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹htÎ#ÔWe€should€not€appoint€to€a€Sanhedrin€a€man€of€very€old€age€or€one€who€does€notÐ lø Ðpossess€male€physical€attributes,€for€they€possess€the€trait€of€cruelty,€nor€a€man€whoÐ X ä Ðis€childless,€so€that€the€judges€should€be€merciful.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€[Cited€from:€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹häÏ#ÔHalacha€3:€SanhedrinÐ D!Ð Ðveha`Onashin€haMesurin€lahem,€Mishneh€Torah]Ð0"¼Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àWe€are€not€careful€to€demand€that€a€judge€for€a€court€of€three€possess€all€theseÐ $” Ðqualities.€He€must,€however,€possess€seven€attributes:€wisdom,€humility,€the€fear€ofÐ ô$€  ÐGod,€a€loathing€for€money,€a€love€for€truth;€he€must€be€a€person€who€is€beloved€byÐ à%l! Ðpeople€at€large,€and€must€have€a€good€reputation.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h´Ð#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€[Cited€from:€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hÒ#ÔHalacha€7:€SanhedrinÐ Ì&X" Ðveha`Onashin€haMesurin€lahem,€Mishneh€Torah]Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔи'D #Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àNotice€the€parallels€between€these€qualifications€and€the€standards€given€in€1€Timothy€3.€NotÐ )"% Ðgiven€to€filthy€lucre€and€given€to€hospitality€are€identical.€Look€also€at€the€requirement€to€be€marriedÐ |*#& Ðand€a€father€which€run€parallel€to€being€a€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€and€having€their€children€inÐ h+ô#' Ðsubjection.€Someone€who€is€ð ðlearned€in€the€lawðð€would€be€ð ðapt€to€teachðð.€The€SanhedrinÐ d Ðrequirement€to€be€modest€walks€hand€in€hand€with€First€Timothy€chapter€threeððs€being€sober.€TheÐ Pì ÐSanhedrin€requirement€to€be€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h$Ó#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔkindly€is€a€parallel€to€First€Timothy€chapter€threeððs€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hÖ#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔcharge€to€not€be€aÐ <Ø Ðbrawler.€The€Sanhedrin€requirement€to€be€pious€is€equivalent€to€the€requirement€to€be€blameless€inÐ ( Ä Ð1€Timothy€3.€The€Sanhedrin€requirement€to€be€wise€is€the€product€of€not€being€a€novice€as€listed€inÐ  ° Ð1€Timothy€chapter€3.€So,€why€was€the€requirement€to€be€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€included€in€1Ð  œ ÐTimothy€3:2€by€the€Holy€Ghost?€Could€it€be€that€there€were€already€problem€in€the€churches€pastoredÐ ì ˆ Ðby€Timothy€and€Titus€with€men€who€had€multiple€wives€wanting€to€serve€as€bishops€and€deacons?Ð Ø t ÐAs€we€have€already€said,€We€have€read€many€commentaries€that€deny€that€polygamy€was€a€problemÐ Ä ` Ðin€the€Jewish€culture€during€the€formation€of€the€New€Testament€church,€but€that€just€is€not€true.€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h~Ö#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔWeÐ °L  Ðhave€already€quoted€much€of€what€follows€in€the€previous€chapter€on€Scriptural€Marriage,€but€weÐ œ8  Ðagain€quote€it€here€to€refute€the€idea€and€the€statements€that€polygamy€was€not€a€problem€during€theÐ ˆ$  Ðformation€of€the€New€Testament€church.€We€quote€from€the€1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia,€the€WorksÐ t  ÐOf€Flavius€Josephus,€and€the€International€Standard€Bible€Encyclopedia.€Here€are€the€quotes:Ð `ü  ÐÌÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h Ú#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔà  àJosephus€and€the€Talmud.Ð 8Ô  Ðà8  àThat€polygamy€survived€into€the€Christian€era€is,€however,€asserted€by€JosephusÐ $À Ð(ð ðAnt.ðð€xvii.€1,€ðð€2);€and€he€himself€(ð ðVita,ðð€ðð€75)€seems€to€have€had€one€wife€inÐ ¬ ÐPalestine€and€another€in€Egypt€(comp.€Lw,€ð ðGesammelte€Schriften,ðð€iii.€47).€SuchÐ ü˜ Ða€practise€is€forbidden€by€a€baraita€in€Yeb.€37a;€and€this€prohibition€is€(with€certainÐ è„ Ðlimitations)€introduced€into€the€Shulh.an€ððAruk€(Eben€ha-ððEzer,€ii.€11).€The€TalmudÐ Ôp Ðcertainly€does€not€enact€monogamy€(see€Bigamy);€and€as€far€as€the€Law€is,Ð À\ Ðconcerned,€Justin€Martyr€(ð ðDial.€cum€Tryph.ðð€ðð€134)€is€not€wrong€in€asserting€thatÐ ¬H Ðin€his€time€(2d€cent.€C.E.)€Jews€were€permitted€to€have€four€or€five€wives.€(CitedÐ ˜4 Ðfrom€the€1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia€article€on€Monogamy:€Internet€Edition€locatedÐ „  Ðat:€€Ô4‚_n€4ÔÝ‚\ÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10949-monogamyÔ6XàÔÝ‚\ÍOlàd€maÝóóÔÿÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ7n€šàÔ€)Ðp Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXXX¹h3Ü#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔNevertheless,€having€the€advantage€of€precedent,€it€was€long€before€polygamy€fellÐ Hä Ðinto€disuse€in€Hebrew€society.€Herod€had€nine€wives€at€one€time€(Josephus,€Ant,Ð 4 Ð ÐXVII,€I,€2).€Justin€Martyr€(Dial.,€134,€141)€reproaches€Jews€of€his€day€with€havingÐ  !¼ Ðð ðfour€or€even€five€wives,ðð€and€for€ð ðmarrying€as€many€as€they€wishðð€(compare€Talm).Ð  "¨ ÐIt€was€not€definitely€and€formally€forbidden€among€Jews€until€circa€1000€AD.€ItÐ ø"” Ðexists€still€among€Jews€in€Moslem€lands.€[Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h—á#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔCited€from€page€634€of€the€InternationalÐ ä#€  ÐStandard€Bible€Encyclopedia€(ISBE)€from€the€article€ð ðMarriageðð;€James€Orr,€GeneralÐ Ð$l! ÐEditor]м%X"Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àHe€also€allotted€one€of€Aristobulusððs€daughters€to€Antipaterððs€son,€and€AristobulusððsÐ ”'0!$ Ðother€daughter€to€Herod,€a€son€of€his€own,€who€was€born€to€him€by€the€high€priestððsÐ €("% Ðdaughter;€for€it€is€the€ancient€practice€among€us€to€have€many€wives€at€the€same€time.Ð l)#& Ð[Josephus,€Book€17,€Chapter€1,€Section€2€(14)]Ô#†X¹hXXX¹h ä#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔÐX*ô#'Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àò òó óNow€Herod€the€king€had€at€this€time€nine€wives;€one€of€them,€Antipaterððs€mother,Ð 0,Ì%) Ðand€another€the€high€priestððs€daughter,€by€whom€he€had€a€son€of€his€own€name.€HeÐ t Ðhad€also€one€who€was€his€brotherððs€daughter,€and€another€his€sisterððs€daughter;€whichÐ `ì Ðtwo€had€no€children.€Ô#†X¹hXXX¹h¢æ#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔ€[The€Works€Of€Flavius€Josephus,€Book€17,€chapter€1,€sectionÐ L Ø Ð3(19),€page€452]Ô#†X¹hXXX¹hkè#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ8 ÄÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àShe€also€frequently€reproached€Herodððs€sister€and€wives€with€the€ignobility€of€theirÐ  œ Ðdescent;€and€that€they€were€every€one€chosen€by€him€for€their€beauty,€but€not€for€theirÐ ü ˆ Ðfamily.€Now€those€wives€of€his€were€not€a€few;€it€being€of€old€permitted€to€the€JewsÐ è t Ðto€marry€many€wives,€ð"ð€and€this€king€delighting€in€many;€all€whom€hatedÐ Ô` ÐAlexander,€on€account€of€Glaphyriaððs€boasting€and€reproaches.š€[Josephus,€War€OfÐ ÀL  ÐThe€Jews,€Chapter€24,€page€1351]€Ô#†X¹hXXX¹hé#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔЬ8 Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hÇë#Ôò òÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔó óNow€Herod€the€king€had€at€this€time€nine€wives;€one€of€them,€Antipaterððs€mother,Ð „  Ðand€another€the€high€priestððs€daughter,€by€whom€he€had€a€son€of€his€own€name.€HeÐ pü  Ðhad€also€one€who€was€his€brotherððs€daughter,€and€another€his€sisterððs€daughter;€whichÐ \è  Ðtwo€had€no€children.Ô#†X¹hXXX¹h8ì#Ô€[The€Works€Of€Flavius€Josephus,€Book€17,€chapter€1,€sectionÐ HÔ  Ð3(19),€page€452]Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ4ÀÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àWe€would€remind€our€readers€that€the€1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia€and€the€Jewish€historianÐ  ˜ ÐFlavius€Josephus€are€independent€witnesses€that€have€no€stake€in€the€subject€before€us.€They€wereÐ ø„ Ðnot€Christians.€That€being€the€case,€they€do€not€have€a€New€Testament€agenda€to€promote€that€wouldÐ äp Ðput€them€on€one€side€or€the€other€of€this€argument.€Flavius€Josephus€was€born€in€37€A.€D.€into€aÐ Ð\ Ðfamily€of€Jewish€priests€and€was€alive€to€witness€the€development€of€the€New€Testament€church€firstÐ ¼H Ðhand€though€he€was€not€a€part€of€it.€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h2î#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔò òFrom€the€resources€just€quoted,€we€would€have€to€concludeÐ ¨4 Ðthat€polygamy€was€being€practiced€by€the€Jews€at€the€time€1€Timothy€and€Titus€were€writtenÐ ˜$ Ðsomewhere€between€63„66€A.€D€and€that€it€was€a€problem€in€the€churches€that€Timothy€andÐ „ ÐTitus€pastored.€ó óÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h ñ#ÔIf€you€scream€that€ð ðyou€are€reading€into€the€Scriptures€that€which€is€not€thereðð,€thenÐ pü Ðyou€are€being€hypocritical€because€you€read€ð ðdivorceðð€into€1€Timothy€3:2€when€it€is€not€there.€YourÐ ` ì Ðinsertion€of€the€word€ð ðdivorceðð€in€1€Timothy€3:2€comes€with€a€whole€lot€less€plausible€support€thanÐ L!Ø Ðwhat€we€have€provided€here.€At€least€we€have€proven€from€the€secular€historical€record€thatÐ 8"Ä Ðpolygamy€was€commonly€practiced€by€the€Jews€both€during€and€after€the€time€when€New€TestamentÐ $#° Ðchurches€were€being€established.€We€have€also€proved€from€the€Old€Testament€that€polygamy€wasÐ $œ Ðan€accepted€practice€among€the€Jewish€people.€We€have€also€proven€that€Epistles€of€1€Timothy€andÐ ü$ˆ  ÐTitus€were€written€to€churches€that€had€a€problem€with€Judaizers.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hö#ÔSome€would€complain,€ð ðbut€whatÐ è%t! Ðabout€those€countries€were€polygamy€is€practiced€and€is€allowed€under€the€laws€of€the€land€and€theÐ Ô&`" Ðmen€already€have€multiple€wives€when€they€get€savedðð.€We€already€have€scriptural€precedent€for€thatÐ À'L # Ðwhen€Ezra€forced€the€priests€to€put€away€their€unscriptural€wives€requiring€them€to€provide€theÐ ¬(8!$ Ðnecessary€support€for€those€that€had€been€put€away.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€We€will€deal€with€the€phrase€ð ðthe€husband€ofÐ ˜)$"% Ðone€wifeðð€in€a€lot€more€detail€later.€In€closing€this€section€on€polygamy,€our€readers€should€know€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hø#ÔthatÐ „*#& Ðall€but€two€of€the€following€believed€that€1€Timothy€3:2€was€to€be€interpreted€of€polygamy€and€hadÐ p+ü#' Ðno€reference€to€divorce:€Harry€Ironside,€M.R.€Dehaan,€J€Vernon€McGee,€John€R.€Rice,€Dwight€L.Ð d ÐMoody,€C.€I.€Scofield,€Charles€Hodge,€Theodoret,€Chrysostom,€Theophylact,€Daniel€Whedon,Ð Pì ÐCharles€Spurgeon,€John€Trapp,€A.€T.€Robertson,€Frederick€B.€Meyer€,€Matthew€Poole,€Jerome,€W.Ð <Ø ÐB.€Godby,€Arno€C.€Gaebelein,€John€Gill€(polygamy€and€unscriptural€divorce),€Thomas€CokeÐ ( Ä Ð(polygamy€and€causeless€divorce),€Adam€Clarke,€Joseph€Benson,€John€Calvin,€and€Albert€Barnes.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ  ° ÐÌà@Ù Ù ìàò òTHE€MARITAL€STATUS€OF€THE€APOSTLE€PAULó óˆÐ ì ˆ ÐÌà  àWas€Paul€and€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€qualified€to€pastor€churches?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h«û#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€How€should,€and€how€does,Ð Ä ` ÐPaulððs€marital€status€affect€the€interpretation€of€1€Timothy€3:2?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h¤ü#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€While€we€do€not€believe€the€maritalÐ °L  Ðstatus€of€Paul€makes€one€bit€of€difference€as€to€how€1€Timothy€3:2€òòò òshouldó óóó€be€interpreted,€we€realizeÐ œ8  Ðthat€because€of€the€way€many€fundamentalists€and€Baptists€interpret€the€phrase€ð ðhusband€of€oneÐ Œ(  Ðwifeðð€from€1€Timothy€3:2€that€it€is€an€issue€that€must€be€dealt€with€if€for€no€other€reason€thanÐ x  Ðbuilding€a€foundation€to€destroy€the€heresy€that€says€that€a€divorced€man€is€permanently€disqualifiedÐ d  Ðfrom€entering€the€ministry.€Ð Pì  ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hYý#Ôà  àReading€ð ðdivorcedðð€and€ð ðdouble€marriedðð€into€1€Timothy€3:2€is€the€seed€bed€of€much€endlessÐ <Ø  Ðspeculation€and€confusion€in€the€interpretation€of€the€standards€for€church€office.€Here,€we€will€doÐ (Ä Ðsome€ð ðspeculationðð.€If€the€same€hermeneutical€standard€that€is€applied€to€the€interpretation€of€theÐ ° Ðphrase€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€by€those€who€advocate€ð ðone€living€wife€for€one€lifetimeðð€is€appliedÐ œ Ðto€the€rest€of€the€standards€listed€in€1€Timothy€3,€then€we€have€ourselves€a€huge€doctrinal€mess€thatÐ ìˆ Ðbutchers€the€English€language€leaving€no€one€qualified€for€church€office.€Not€only€does€it€butcherÐ Øt Ðthe€English€language,€it€breaks€the€rules€of€English€grammar€in€an€in€your€face€manner.€If€many€so„Ð Ä` Ðcalled€conservative€commentators€and€preachers€would€just€interpret€1€Timothy€3:2€in€the€normal,Ð °L Ðliteral,€grammatical€sense,€we€would€not€have€all€the€hurt€and€confusion€caused€by€their€breakingÐ œ8 Ðevery€hermeneutical€standard€for€interpreting€the€English€Bible.€But€the€ð ðonce€marriedðð€stallionsÐ ˆ$ Ðwith€their€blinders€on€can€only€see€the€ð ðonce€marriedðð€preachers€that€are€dead€ahead.€The€rest€of€theÐ t Ðstandards€in€the€passage€are€but€hurdles€they€must€jump€to€get€past€those€ð ðdouble€marriedðð€preachers.Ð `ü ÐThey€cannot€interpret€properly€in€context€because€their€doctrinal€blinders€will€not€let€them€see€theÐ Lè Ðplain€English€that€is€on€all€sides€of€them.€ð ðMust€beðð€is€a€present€tense€phrase.€ð ðMust€beðð€is€a€presentÐ 8 Ô Ðtense€phrase.€For€the€third€time,€ð ðmust€beðð€is€a€present€tense€phrase.€Furthermore,€all€of€the€standardsÐ $!À Ðfor€church€service€in€1€Timothy€3€and€Titus€1€are€given€in€the€present€tense.€In€other€words€they€areÐ "¬ Ðlooking€at€present€conduct:€at€the€present€qualifications€for€the€man€being€considered€for€the€officeÐ ü"˜ Ðof€bishop€or€deacon.€For€you€Greek€scholars,€you€will€smother€to€death€if€your€breath€of€life€is€€oneÐ è#„  Ðof€the€Greek€words€for€divorce€(apostasion€and€apoluo)€because€they€are€found€no€where€in€theÐ Ô$p! Ðcontext€of€1€Timothy€3:2€or€Titus€1.€Do€you€think€that€the€Holy€Ghost€did€not€know€what€the€GreekÐ À%\" Ðword€for€€divorce€was?€He€used€them€in€Matthew€5:31„32,€Matthew€19:7,€and€Mark€10:4.€If€theÐ ¬&H # ÐGreek€words€for€divorce€were€in€1€Timothy€3:2€€do€you€not€think€the€King€James€translators€wouldÐ ˜'4!$ Ðhave€supplied€it€as€they€did€in€Matthew€5:31„32,€Matthew€19:7,€and€Mark€10:4.€Ð „( "% Ðà  àWhat€about€the€phrase€ð ðmust€be...husband€of€one€wifeðð€used€in€1€Timothy€3:2?€Remember,Ð p) #& Ðwe€are€ð ðspeculatingðð€here€just€as€those€who€speculate€that€Paul€meant€divorced€in€this€passage.€TheÐ \*ø#' Ðbig€difference€is€that€our€ð ðspeculationðð€has€much€support€from€the€context,€both€doctrinal€andÐ H+ä$( Ðhistorical€as€we€will€prove€in€the€following€pages.€If€we€assume€that€Paul€was€a€virgin,€a€widower,Ð 4,Ð%) Ðor€divorced,€then€what€the€Holy€Ghost€said€about€ð ðthe€husband€of€one€wifeðð€in€1€Timothy€3:2€doesÐ t Ðnot€make€sense€if€we€apply€it€in€an€absolute€sense€to€Paul€since€Paul€had€to€be€put€into€a€positionÐ `ì Ðwhere€he€temporarily€assumed€the€role€of€a€pastor€in€the€churches€he€established€on€the€mission€field.Ð L Ø ÐIf€€being€the€husband€of€one€wife€was€a€ð ðmust€beðð€qualification€for€a€church€leader,€then€Paul€wasÐ 8 Ä Ðnot€ð ðqualifiedðð€to€pastor€the€churches€he€started€on€the€mission€field.€If€your€doctrine€interpretsÐ $ ° Ðð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€as€ð ðnot€ever€having€been€divorcedðð,€then€if€Paul€was€divorced,€then€he€wasÐ  œ Ðnot€qualified€to€temporarily€assume€the€position€of€pastor€in€the€churches€he€established€on€theÐ ü ˆ Ðmission€field.€€The€Scriptures€do€not€specifically€state€that€Paul€was€not€a€widower€or€was€notÐ è t Ðdivorced.€However,€the€Bible€does€plainly€state€that€Paul€was€unmarried.€That€the€term€ð ðunmarriedððÐ Ô` Ðapplies€to€both€virgins€and€the€divorced€is€proven€in€1€Corinthians€7:11€which€reads:Ð ÀL  ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Corinthians€7:11Ð ˜$  Ðòò11€óóBut€and€if€she€depart,€let€her€remain€unmarried,€or€be€reconciled€to€her€husband:Ð „  Ðand€let€not€the€husband€put€away€his€wife.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h–#ÔÐpü Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àSo,€was€Paulððs€state€of€being€unmarried€that€of€being€widowed,€or€divorced,€or€virgin.€WeÐ HÔ  Ðbelieve€that€Paul€was€married€at€one€time.€Are€we€to€assume€that€since€the€only€apostle€who€wasÐ 4À Ðidentified€as€having€a€wife€was€Peter€that€none€of€the€others€were€married?€That€is€highly€unlikelyÐ  ¬ Ðsince€it€was€an€affront€and€even€unlawful€in€most€instances€for€Jewish€men€not€to€be€married.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€ThatÐ  ˜ Ðsome€of€the€other€apostles€were€€married€in€addition€to€Peter€is€indicated€in€1€Corinthians€9:5€whichÐ ø„ Ðstates:Ð äp ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Corinthians€9:5Ð ¼H Ðòò5€óóHave€we€not€power€to€lead€about€a€sister,€òòò òa€wife,€as€well€as€other€apostles,óó€ó óand€asÐ ¨4 Ðthe€brethren€of€the€Lord,€and€Cephas?И$Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h~#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÌNote€that€the€word€ð ðapostlesðð€is€plural.€The€point€being€that€though€there€were€other€apostles€whoÐ pü Ðwere€married,€their€marital€status€is€not€specifically€identified€in€the€Scriptures.€This€passage€ofÐ \ è ÐScripture€also€puts€the€Roman€Catholic€doctrine€of€celibacy€back€into€the€theological€crypt€that€itÐ H!Ô Ðcame€slithering€forth€from.€There€is€also€proof€from€Matthew€19:27„29€that€some€of€the€apostles€hadÐ 4"À Ðforsaken€their€wives€and€yet€the€continued€in€the€ministry.€These€verses€state:Ð  #¬ ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h§#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔMatthew€19:27„29Ð ø$„  Ðòò27€óóThen€answered€Peter€and€said€unto€him,€Behold,€we€have€forsaken€all,€andÐ ä%p! Ðfollowed€thee;€what€shall€we€have€therefore?€òò28€óóAnd€Jesus€said€unto€them,€Verily€I€sayÐ Ð&\" Ðunto€you,€That€ye€which€have€followed€me,€in€the€regeneration€when€the€Son€of€manÐ ¼'H # Ðshall€sit€in€the€throne€of€his€glory,€ye€also€shall€sit€upon€twelve€thrones,€judging€theÐ ¨(4!$ Ðtwelve€tribes€of€Israel.€òò29€óóAnd€every€one€that€hath€forsaken€houses,€or€brethren,€orÐ ”) "% Ðsisters,€or€father,€or€mother,€òòò òor€wifeó óóó,€or€children,€or€lands,€for€my€nameððs€sake,€shallÐ €* #& Ðreceive€an€hundredfold,€and€shall€inherit€everlasting€life.Ðp+ü#'Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hA#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÌÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h˜#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔNote€that€the€Holy€Ghost€is€quoting€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€as€having€said€that€those€who€had€forsakenÐ Pì Ðtheir€wives€for€his€name€sake€would€receive€an€hundredfold€and€eternal€life.€Yet€all€the€apostlesÐ <Ø Ðcontinued€in€the€ministry€until€well€after€the€death,€burial,€and€resurrection€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ.Ð ( Ä ÐThese€are€they€that€made€themselves€eunuchs€for€the€kingdom€of€heavenððs€sake.€Now€what€of€theÐ  ° Ðpossible€marital€status€of€the€apostle€Paul.€Letððs€look€at€some€documents€to€ascertain€whether€PaulÐ  œ Ðcould€have€been€married.€From€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hÛ#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔthe€1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia€we€read:Ð ì ˆ ÐÌà8  àThe€first€positive€commandment€of€the€Bible,€according€to€rabbinic€interpretationÐ Ä ` Ð(Maimonides,€ð ðMinyan€ha-Miz.wot,ðð€212),€is€that€concerning€the€propagation€of€theÐ °L  Ðhuman€species€(Gen.€I.€28).€It€is€thus€considered€the€duty€of€every€Israelite€to€marryÐ œ8  Ðas€early€in€life€as€possible.€Eighteen€years€is€the€age€set€by€the€Rabbis€(Ab.€v.€24);Ð ˆ$  Ðand€any€one€remaining€unmarried€after€his€twentieth€year€is€said€to€be€cursed€by€GodÐ t  ÐHimself€(K.id.€29b).€Some€urge€that€children€should€marry€as€soon€as€they€reach€theÐ `ü  Ðage€of€puberty,€i.e.,€the€fourteenth€year€(Sanh.€76b);€and€R.€H.isda€attributed€hisÐ Lè  Ðmental€superiority€to€the€fact€that€he€was€married€when€he€was€but€sixteen€years€oldÐ 8Ô  Ð(K.id.€l.c.).€It€was,€however,€strictly€forbidden€for€parents€to€give€their€children€inÐ $À Ðmarriage€before€they€had€reached€the€age€of€puberty€(Sanh.€76b).€ò òòòA€man€who,Ð ¬ Ðwithout€any€reason,€refused€to€marry€after€he€had€passed€his€twentieth€year€wasÐ œ Ðfrequently€compelled€to€do€so€by€the€courtóó.€ó óTo€be€occupied€with€the€study€of€theÐ ìˆ ÐTorah€was€regarded€as€a€plausible€reason€for€delaying€marriage;€but€only€in€very€rareÐ Üx Ðinstances€was€a€man€permitted€to€remain€in€celibacy€all€his€life€(Yeb.€63b;Ð Èd ÐMaimonides,€ð ðYad,ðð€Ishut,€xv.€2,€3;€Shulh.an€ððAruk,€Eben€ha-ððEzer,€1,€1-4;€seeÐ ´P ÐCelibacy)....Р<Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(Cited€from€the€1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia€article€ð ðMarriage€Lawsðð€located€atÐ Œ( ÐÔ4‚un€ÔÝ‚\ÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10435-marriage-lawsÔ6¿&ÔÝ‚\ÍOÓ&d€maÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7n€Ì'Ô€)Ô#†X¹hXXX¹h—#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔòòóóÐxÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXXX¹hÇ'#ÔWe€should€not€appoint€to€a€Sanhedrin€a€man€of€very€old€age€or€one€who€does€notÐ Pì Ðpossess€male€physical€attributes,€for€they€possess€the€trait€of€cruelty,€òòò ònor€a€man€whoÐ < Ø Ðis€childlessó óóó,€so€that€the€judges€should€be€merciful.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€[Cited€from:€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hI)#ÔHalacha€3:€SanhedrinÐ ,!È Ðveha`Onashin€haMesurin€lahem,€Mishneh€Torah]Ô‡X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ"¸Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXXX¹hî)#ÔThere€were€ten€basic€qualifications€for€the€eligibility€of€membership.€Each€memberÐ ô#  Ðof€the€Sanhedrin€must€be€a€Hebrew,€learned€in€the€law,€and€possessing€judicialÐ à$|! Ðexperience€at€lower€levels€(there€were€minor€Sanhedrins€of€twenty-three€membersÐ Ì%h" Ðwhich€tried€non-capital€offenses€in€every€town€of€120€males€or€more).€The€memberÐ ¸&T # Ðwas€required€also€to€be€learned€in€science,€a€linguist,€modest,€pious€but€strong€andÐ ¤'@!$ Ðcourageous,€devoid€of€physical€defects,€a€qualified€tradesman,€and,€finally,€he€wasÐ (,"% Ðrequired€to€be€married€and€to€be€a€father.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hê,#Ô[Liberty€In€The€Balance,€Russell€and€ColinÐ |)#& ÐStandish,€Hartland€Publishing,€August€30,€1998]Ô‡X¹hXXX¹hÔÐh*$'Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIf€Paul€was€never€married,€he€was€in€a€very€difficult€position€in€a€Jewish€culture€that€wouldÐ @,Ü%) Ðforce€a€man€to€get€married€by€court€order€if€he€had€not€married€before€the€age€of€20.€Ô#†X¹hXXX¹h›-#ÔIt€must€also€beÐ t Ðnoted€that€the€Talmud€specifically€stated:€Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔð ðAny€Jew€who€has€not€a€wife€is€no€manðð€[BabylonianÐ `ì ÐTalmud,€Yebamoth€63a].Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h /#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔ€There€is€also€a€very€strong€possibility€that€Paul€was€a€member€of€theÐ L Ø ÐSanhedrin€because€he€òòò òconsentedó óóó€unto€the€stoning€death€of€Stephen€(Acts€7:58„8:1).€Only€theÐ 8 Ä ÐSanhedrin€could€authorize€the€death€penalty€for€religious€offenses;€in€this€case,€the€false€accusationÐ ( ´ Ðof€blasphemy.€We€have€already€proven€that€members€of€the€Sanhedrin€had€to€be€married.€ManyÐ    Ðò òASSUMEó ó€that€Paul€was€never€married€because€€he€says€in€1€Corinthians€7:8€that€he€is€unmarried.Ð  Œ ÐWe€have€already€proven€in€the€chapter€ð ðò òÔ#†X¹hXXX¹hÅ/#Ôó óAdultery,€Fornication,€Desertion,€Divorce€And€RemarriageÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔððÐ ð | Ðthat€the€term€unmarried€applies€to€widows/widowers,€virgins,€and€those€who€are€divorced.Ô#†X¹hXXX¹h¨2#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔ€It€is€noÐ Üh Ðmore€a€stretch€for€us€to€believe€that€Paul€was€once€married,€but€now€unmarried€through€divorce€orÐ ÈT  Ðdeath,€than€it€is€for€you€to€believe€that€he€was€never€married€because€he€is€unmarried.€It€could€wellÐ ´@  Ðbe€that€Paul€was€one€of€the€men€that€was€made€a€eunuch€for€the€kingdom€of€heavenððs€sake€(MatthewÐ  ,  Ð19:12)€or€one€of€those€who€had€forsaken€their€wives€for€the€sake€of€the€name€of€the€Lord€Jesus€ChristÐ Œ  Ð(Matthew€19:29).€In€closing€this€topic,€we€go€back€to€the€statement€that€we€introduced€this€topicÐ x  Ðwith.€Ô#†X¹hXXX¹h[3#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔHow€should,€and€how€does,€Paulððs€marital€status€affect€the€interpretation€of€1€Timothy€3:2?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h6#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ dð  ÐWe€do€not€believe€the€marital€status€of€Paul€makes€one€bit€of€difference€as€to€how€1€Timothy€3:2Ð PÜ  Ðòòò òshouldó óóó€be€interpretedÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h¹6#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔ,€but€it€must€be€dealt€with€because€of€the€way€some€preachers€and€pastorsÐ <È Ðinterpret€the€phrase€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð.€€Furthermore,€if€we€take€the€interpretation€by€someÐ ,¸ Ðpreachers€and€pastors€Ô#†X¹hXXX¹h¦7#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔof€the€phrase€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€to€its€logical€conclusion,€then€Paul€couldÐ ¤ Ðnot€be€a€missionary€or€pastor€because€he€was€not€the€husband€of€one€wife,€the€Lord€Jesus€ChristÐ  Ðcould€not€be€the€pastor€of€His€church€because€He€was€not€the€husband€of€one€wife,€and€neither€couldÐ ð| ÐGod€of€the€Old€Testament€qualify€because€He€was€divorced€and€unmarried€and€therefore€not€theÐ Üh Ðhusband€of€one€wife.€Now€letððs€take€a€look€at€the€scriptural€standards€for€church€service.Ð ÈT ÐÌà  àÔ#†X¹hXXX¹hÖ8#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔò òà@à à ìàSTANDARDS€FOR€BISHOPS€AND€DEACONSó óˆÐ  , ÐÌà  àIn€1Thessalonians€5:12„13,€1€Timothy€5:17„18,€Hebrews€13:7,€and€Hebrews€13:17,€we€haveÐ x ÐGodððs€charge€to€the€congregations€concerning€those€he€has€set€in€positions€of€responsibility€andÐ d ð Ðauthority€in€the€churches.€The€Holy€Ghost€tells€us:Ð P!Ü ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h];#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Thessalonians€5:12„13Ð (#´ Ðòò12€óóAnd€we€beseech€you,€brethren,€to€know€them€which€labour€among€you,€and€areÐ $  Ðover€you€in€the€Lord,€and€admonish€you;€òò13€óóAnd€to€esteem€them€very€highly€in€loveÐ %Œ  Ðfor€their€workððs€sake.€And€be€at€peace€among€yourselves.Ðì%x!Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h3=#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Timothy€5:17„18Ð Ä'P # Ðòò17€óóLet€the€elders€that€rule€well€be€counted€worthy€of€double€honour,€especially€theyÐ °(#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔЈ*#&Ð Ð  ÐÐ t+$' Ðà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h•@#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔHebrews€13:7€ÐdÐ Ð  Ðà8  à7€Remember€them€which€have€the€rule€over€you,€who€have€spoken€unto€you€the€wordÐ Pì Ðof€God:€whose€faith€follow,€considering€the€end€ofòò€theiróó€conversation.Ð<ØÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àHebrews€13:17€Ð °Ð Ð  Ðà8  à17€Obey€them€that€have€the€rule€over€you,€and€submit€yourselves:€for€they€watch€forÐ  œ Ðyour€souls,€as€they€that€must€give€account,€that€they€may€do€it€with€joy,€and€not€withÐ ì ˆ Ðgrief:€for€thatòò€isóó€unprofitable€for€you.ÐØ tÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àIt€is€very€important€that€a€church€latch€onto€the€passages€of€Scripture€just€quoted€if€theyÐ °L  Ðexpect€God€to€bless€them€and€use€them€for€the€glory€of€God.€We€are€to€esteem€and€love€those€thatÐ œ8  ÐGod€has€put€over€us€in€the€Lord.€In€context,€the€phrase€ð ðdouble€honourðð€means€that€we€are€to€takeÐ ˆ$  Ðthe€best€possible€financial€care€of€the€pastors€that€labour€in€the€word€and€doctrine.€A€pastor€that€willÐ t  Ðnot€labour€in€the€word€and€doctrine€is€not€worthy€of€the€time€of€day.€We€are€to€follow,€obey,€andÐ `ü  Ðsubmit€to€those€that€God€has€given€the€rule€over€us€as€long€as€they€are€in€obedience€to€the€Scriptures.Ð Lè  ÐThat€does€not€mean€that€we€are€to€blindly€follow€a€man.€We€are€to€be€a€Berean€when€it€comes€toÐ 8Ô  Ðdoctrine.€It€is€no€shepherd€who€will€abuse€the€sheep.€We€have€already€discussed€Acts€6:1„7€in€theÐ $À Ðcontext€of€standards€for€deacons.€In€1€Peter€5:1„4,€1€Timothy€3:1„13,€and€Titus€we€have€GodððsÐ ¬ Ðcharge€to€those€he€places€in€the€offices€of€elder,€bishop€and€deacon.€In€these€passages€the€Holy€GhostÐ ü˜ Ðsays:Ð è„ Ðà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hA#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hÄH#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Peter€5:1„4€ÐÀ\Ð Ð  Ðà8  à1€The€elders€which€are€among€you€I€exhort,€who€am€also€an€elder,€and€a€witness€ofÐ ¬H Ðthe€sufferings€of€Christ,€and€also€a€partaker€of€the€glory€that€shall€be€revealed:€2€FeedÐ ˜4 Ðthe€flock€of€God€which€is€among€you,€taking€the€oversightòò€thereofóó,€not€by€constraint,Ð „  Ðbut€willingly;€not€for€filthy€lucre,€but€of€a€ready€mind;€3€Neither€as€being€lords€overòòÐ p  ÐGodððsóó€heritage,€but€being€ensamples€to€the€flock.€4€And€when€the€chief€ShepherdÐ \ø Ðshall€appear,€ye€shall€receive€a€crown€of€glory€that€fadeth€not€away.ÐHäÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h)I#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Timothy€3:1„13€Ð !¼Ð Ð  Ðà8  à1€Thisòò€isóó€a€true€saying,€If€a€man€desire€the€office€of€a€bishop,€he€desireth€a€good€work.Ð  "¨ Ð2€A€bishop€then€must€be€blameless,€the€husband€of€one€wife,€vigilant,€sober,€of€goodÐ ø"” Ðbehaviour,€given€to€hospitality,€apt€to€teach;€3€Not€given€to€wine,€no€striker,€notÐ ä#€  Ðgreedy€of€filthy€lucre;€but€patient,€not€a€brawler,€not€covetous;€4€One€that€ruleth€wellÐ Ð$l! Ðhis€own€house,€having€his€children€in€subjection€with€all€gravity;€5€(For€if€a€manÐ ¼%X" Ðknow€not€how€to€rule€his€own€house,€how€shall€he€take€care€of€the€church€of€God?)Ð ¨&D # Ð6€Not€a€novice,€lest€being€lifted€up€with€pride€he€fall€into€the€condemnation€of€theÐ ”'0!$ Ðdevil.€7€Moreover€he€must€have€a€good€report€of€them€which€are€without;€lest€he€fallÐ €("% Ðinto€reproach€and€the€snare€of€the€devil.€8€Likewiseòò€mustóó€the€deaconsòò€beóó€grave,€notÐ l)#& Ðdoubletongued,€not€given€to€much€wine,€not€greedy€of€filthy€lucre;€9€Holding€theÐ X*ô#' Ðmystery€of€the€faith€in€a€pure€conscience.€10€And€let€these€also€first€be€proved;€thenÐ D+à$( Ðlet€them€use€the€office€of€a€deacon,€beingòò€foundóó€blameless.€11€Even€soòò€must€theiróóÐ 0,Ì%) Ðwivesòò€beóó€grave,€not€slanderers,€sober,€faithful€in€all€things.€12€Let€the€deacons€be€theÐ t Ðhusbands€of€one€wife,€ruling€their€children€and€their€own€houses€well.€13€For€theyÐ `ì Ðthat€have€used€the€office€of€a€deacon€well€purchase€to€themselves€a€good€degree,€andÐ L Ø Ðgreat€boldness€in€the€faith€which€is€in€Christ€Jesus.Ð8 ÄÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hTL#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔTitus€1:5„16€Ð œÐ Ð  Ðà8  à5€For€this€cause€left€I€thee€in€Crete,€that€thou€shouldest€set€in€order€the€things€that€areÐ ü ˆ Ðwanting,€and€ordain€elders€in€every€city,€as€I€had€appointed€thee:€6€If€any€beÐ è t Ðblameless,€the€husband€of€one€wife,€having€faithful€children€not€accused€of€riot€orÐ Ô` Ðunruly.€7€For€a€bishop€must€be€blameless,€as€the€steward€of€God;€not€selfwilled,€notÐ ÀL  Ðsoon€angry,€not€given€to€wine,€no€striker,€not€given€to€filthy€lucre;€8€But€a€lover€ofÐ ¬8  Ðhospitality,€a€lover€of€good€men,€sober,€just,€holy,€temperate;€9€Holding€fast€theÐ ˜$  Ðfaithful€word€as€he€hath€been€taught,€that€he€may€be€able€by€sound€doctrine€both€toÐ „  Ðexhort€and€to€convince€the€gainsayers.€10€For€there€are€many€unruly€and€vain€talkersÐ pü  Ðand€deceivers,€specially€they€of€the€circumcision:€11€Whose€mouths€must€be€stopped,Ð \è  Ðwho€subvert€whole€houses,€teaching€things€which€they€ought€not,€for€filthy€lucreððsÐ HÔ  Ðsake.€12€One€of€themselves,òò€evenóó€a€prophet€of€their€own,€said,€The€Cretiansòò€areóóÐ 4À Ðalway€liars,€evil€beasts,€slow€bellies.€13€This€witness€is€true.€Wherefore€rebuke€themÐ  ¬ Ðsharply,€that€they€may€be€sound€in€the€faith;€14€Not€giving€heed€to€Jewish€fables,€andÐ  ˜ Ðcommandments€of€men,€that€turn€from€the€truth.€15€Unto€the€pure€all€thingsòò€areóó€pure:Ð ø„ Ðbut€unto€them€that€are€defiled€and€unbelievingòò€isóó€nothing€pure;€but€even€their€mindÐ äp Ðand€conscience€is€defiled.€16€They€profess€that€they€know€God;€but€in€works€theyÐ Ð\ Ðdenyòò€himóó,€being€abominable,€and€disobedient,€and€unto€every€good€work€reprobate.мHÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h}S#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÌÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h [#Ôà  àFirst€Peter€5:1„4€is€one€of€the€most€ignored€passages€in€Independent€Baptist€churches.€WeÐ ”  Ðhave€to€many€dictators€in€Independent€Baptist€churches€who€abuse€the€flocks€that€God€has€givenÐ €  Ðthem€to€shepherd.€They€demand€that€their€ð ðauthorityðð€is€not€to€be€challenged€in€any€way.€They€ruleÐ lø Ðas€absolute€despots.€The€charge€to€the€pastor€is€not€to€Lord€his€position€and€scriptural€authority€overÐ X ä Ðthe€congregation€that€he€pastors.€We€are€to€respect€the€office,€but€if€you€as€the€pastor€have€toÐ D!Ð Ðconstantly€demand€respect€then€you€are€already€in€trouble€because€you€have€not€earned€theÐ 0"¼ Ðcongregationððs€respect.€We€are€told:€ð ðTouch€not€Godððs€anointedðð.€Yeh,€that€is€especially€true€if€itÐ #¨ Ðapplies€to€him€if€he€is€stealing€from€the€church€or€a€whoring€around€on€his€wife.€Some€pastors€areÐ $” Ðmore€like€unto€the€fallen€anointed€cherub.€We€have€already€stated€that€pastors€are€to€be€followed,Ð ô$€  Ðto€be€obeyed,€and€to€be€submitted€to.€If€you€as€a€pastor€have€to€constantly€badger€a€congregation,Ð à%l! Ðthen€one€or€both€of€you€is€not€yielded€to€the€Holy€Ghost.à p àÐ Ì&X" Ðà  àOne€of€the€most€neglected€passages€of€scripture€in€fundamentalist€and€Baptist€churches€is€theÐ ¸'D # Ðfront€end€and€the€last€half€of€1€Timothy€3:2€and€also€verses€3„7€of€the€same€chapter.€It€is€amazingÐ ¤(0!$ Ðto€us€that€God€did€not€take€husband€of€one€wife€out€and€make€it€a€separate€book!€It€is€also€amazingÐ )"% Ðthat€many€Baptist€churches€can€maintain€such€high€and€holy€standards€for€their€pastors€and€preachersÐ |*#& Ðwhile€the€green€fruits€of€their€ministry€rot€in€the€pews€and€live€like€the€Devil€himself.€They€will€putÐ h+ô#' Ðan€innocent€divorced€man€out€of€the€ministry€while€they€allow€a€whore€and€a€whoremonger€toÐ d Ðcontinue€in€full€fellowship€with€the€ð ðchurchðð.€They€will€allow€a€child€molester,€an€adulterer,€a€thief,Ð Pì Ða€liar,€a€heretic,€an€apostate,€and€so€forth€to€continue€in€the€pulpit€and€the€pastorate.€Most€pastorsÐ <Ø Ðtoday€would€choke€to€death€on€their€own€hypocrisy€if€they€were€required€to€exercise€churchÐ ( Ä Ðdiscipline.€How€about€you€pastor?€What€I€am€talking€about€here€is€the€toleration€of€the€open€sin€ofÐ  ° Ðmen€and€women€sitting€in€the€pews€and€the€pastors€who€lead€them.€God€is€no€respecter€of€personsÐ  œ Ðwhen€it€comes€to€the€judgment€of€sin.€Judgment€will€start€at€the€house€of€God€and€that€does€notÐ ì ˆ Ðexclude€the€congregation.€If€you€as€a€congregation€refuse€to€exercise€righteous€discipline€over€aÐ Ø t Ðpastor€who€is€in€open€sin,€you€are€asking€God€to€kill€your€church.€Most€Independent€Baptist€churchesÐ Ä ` Ðwill€not€deal€with€the€sins€of€their€pastors€because€they€have€been€threatened€and€beaten€with€theÐ °L  Ðfully€loaded€ð ðtouch€not€Godððs€anointedðð€pistol.€Not€only€do€many€Independent€Baptist€pastors€getÐ œ8  Ðblind€loyalty,€they€demand€it.€It€is€a€malignant€cancer.€If€you€as€a€pastor€go€a€whoring€around€on€yourÐ ˆ$  Ðwife,€then€you€have€also€gone€a€whoring€around€on€the€Bride€Of€Christ.€If€you€as€a€pastor€refuse€toÐ t  Ðexercise€righteous€judgment€in€the€house€of€God,€you€will€lose€the€anointing€of€the€Holy€Ghost€ofÐ `ü  ÐGod.€Your€preaching€will€have€no€power€in€it.€€You€may€as€well€take€a€knife€to€the€congregation.Ð Lè  ÐThe€pastorððs€charge€is€to€feed€and€edify€the€sheep€and€not€to€go€howling€and€ravening€after€theÐ 8Ô  Ðdivorced€sheep€seeking€who€he€may€devour.€This€is€an€issue€that€is€also€very€unscripturally€hurtfulÐ $À Ðto€the€wives€of€men€who€have€been€divorced.€An€unscriptural€attack€upon€her€husband€is€an€attackÐ ¬ Ðupon€her€also.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ ü˜ Ðà  àMost€pastors€in€the€pulpits€of€Independent€Baptist€churches€cannot€preach€all€theÐ è„ Ðqualifications€of€1€Timothy€chapter€3€with€any€authority€and€under€the€anointing€of€the€Holy€GhostÐ Ôp Ðof€God€because€they€are€grossly€guilty€of€not€meeting€many€of€the€standards€themselves.€Many€ofÐ À\ Ðthem€use€their€pulpits€to€be€strikers€of€divorced€people.€Using€the€same€corrupt€hermeneutics€thatÐ ¬H Ðthe€ð ðonce€marriedðð€preachers€and€pastors€use,€we€can€throw€out€the€clause€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeððÐ ˜4 Ðand€take€the€rest€of€the€qualifications€for€bishops€(pastors)€and€deacons€in€1€Timothy€chapter€3€andÐ „  Ðdisqualify€at€least€90%€of€the€men€occupying€pulpits€in€fundamentalist€churches.€Soon,€we€will€doÐ p  Ðjust€that€by€using€an€extended€parody€in€the€pages€of€this€chapter.€What€this€will€prove€is€that€theÐ \ø Ðð ðonce€marriedðð€preachers€and€pastors€already€have€an€unscriptural€and€theologically€corruptÐ Hä Ðhermeneutic€that€is€filtered€through€their€own€prejudices€and€self„righteousness.€We€IndependentÐ 4 Ð ÐBaptists€are€quick€to€publicly€expose€the€ð ðsinðð€of€divorced€men€while€we€allow€the€vilest€ofÐ  !¼ Ðundivorced€men,€many€of€them€unsaved,€€to€occupy€our€pulpits€and€pastorates.€The€three€biggestÐ  "¨ Ðqualifications€we€miss€when€considering€whether€to€put€a€man€into€a€pastorððs€position€or€a€deaconððsÐ ø"” Ðposition,€or€to€keep€them€there,€is€whether€he€is€of€honest€report€AND€full€of€faith€AND€full€of€theÐ ä#€  ÐHoly€Ghost€(You€do€remember€that€Acts€6:1„7€is€still€in€the€Bible,€donððt€you?).€By€the€way,€theseÐ Ð$l! Ðwere€the€only€three€scriptural€standards€for€the€first€seven€deacons.€Now€letððs€take€a€look€at€1Ð ¼%X" ÐTimothy€3.Ð ¨&D # ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h/k#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔà  àDo€you€believe€that€the€so„called€qualifications€for€church€office€are€absolute€standards€orÐ ”'0!$ Ðare€they€intended€to€be€a€general€standard€by€which€the€overall€present€character€and€conduct€of€aÐ €("% Ðman€may€be€judged€to€determine€his€suitability€to€serve€in€the€offices€of€bishop€and€deacon?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hs#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€Sadly,Ð l)#& Ðin€application,€most€ð ðonce€marriedðð€preachers€have€but€one€absolute€ð ðqualificationðð€in€1€TimothyÐ X*ô#' Ð3€and€that€is€ð ðthe€husband€of€one€wifeðð.€Most€ð ðonce€marriedðð€preachers€interpret€ð ðhusband€of€oneÐ D+à$( Ðwifeðð€as€meaning€a€divorced€man€is€permanently€disqualified€from€the€ministry.€They€consistentlyÐ 0,Ì%) Ðread€divorce€into€this€passage.€While€they€preach€absolute€qualifications€for€the€remainder€of€1Ð t ÐTimothy€3,€you€will€not€catch€them€living€by€them.€But,€if€you€let€a€divorced€man€step€into€a€pulpit,Ð `ì Ðit€is€like€the€abomination€of€desolation€has€appeared€in€the€congregation.€When€is€the€last€time€youÐ L Ø Ðheard€some€preacher€say:€You€are€not€qualified€to€be€a€pastor€or€preacher€if€you€do€not€pay€your€bills;Ð 8 Ä Ðor,€You€are€not€qualified€to€be€a€pastor€or€preacher€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h°t#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔbecause€you€cannot€teach;€or,€You€are€notÐ $ ° Ðqualified€to€be€a€pastor€or€preacher€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h¤x#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔbecause€your€children€are€out€of€control;€or,€You€are€not€qualifiedÐ  œ Ðto€be€a€pastor€or€preacher€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hIy#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔbecause€you€are€a€lazy€bum€(striker);€or,€You€are€not€qualified€to€be€aÐ ü ˆ Ðpastor€or€preacher€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hþy#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔbecause€you€are€to€focused€on€money;€or,€You€are€not€qualified€to€be€a€pastor€orÐ è t Ðpreacher€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h¯z#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔbecause€you€have€been€guilty€of€fornication€and€adultery.€If€your€hermeneutic€is€going€toÐ Ô` Ðbe€consistent€in€interpreting€this€passage,€then€why€isnððt€someone€who€will€not€pay€their€billsÐ ÀL  Ðpermanently€disqualified;€or,€why€is€€someone€who€commits€adultery€and€fornication€notÐ ¬8  Ðpermanently€disqualified.€To€be€consistent,€letððs€extend€your€ludicrous€hermeneutic€for€ð ðhusband€ofÐ ˜$  Ðone€wifeðð€to€the€rest€of€this€passage.Ð „  Ðà  àBy€your€reasoning,€if€there€ever€was€a€time€when€you€were€not€blameless€then€you€areÐ pü  Ðpermanently€disqualified.€If€there€ever€was€a€time€when€you€were€not€vigilant,€€then€you€areÐ \è  Ðpermanently€disqualified.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h_{#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€If€there€ever€was€a€time€when€you€were€not€patient,€then€you€areÐ HÔ  Ðpermanently€disqualified.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h¬~#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€If€there€ever€was€a€time€when€you€were€not€in€control€of€your€children,Ð 4À Ðthen€you€are€permanently€disqualified.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h]#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€If€there€ever€was€a€time€when€you€were€greedy€of€filth€lucre,Ð  ¬ Ðthen€you€are€permanently€disqualified.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h"€#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€If€there€ever€was€a€time€when€you€were€not€apt€to€teach,€thenÐ  ˜ Ðyou€are€permanently€disqualified.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hÝ€#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€If€there€ever€was€a€time€when€you€were€covetous,€then€you€areÐ ø„ Ðpermanently€disqualified.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h“#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€If€there€ever€was€a€time€when€you€committed€adultery€or€fornication,€thenÐ äp Ðyou€are€permanently€disqualified€and€so€forth.Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hA‚#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€All€of€us€know€how€ridiculous€all€this€sounds,€but€thatÐ Ð\ Ðis€exactly€where€your€method€of€interpretation€leads€us.€Contending€for€absolute€qualifications€leadsÐ ¼H Ðus€into€yet€another€trap€especially€in€dealing€with€the€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð.€If€a€man€must€be€theÐ ¨4 Ðhusband€of€one€wife,€then€no€man€who€is€single€either€because€he€has€never€been€married€or€becauseÐ ”  Ðhis€wife€has€died€is€qualified€for€the€ministry.€€If€ð ðthe€husband€of€one€wifeðð€qualification€applies€toÐ €  Ðmissionaries,€preachers,€and€evangelists€then€neither€Paul€or€those€that€he€recommended€stayingÐ lø Ðunmarried€would€ever€be€qualified€for€the€ministry.€Then,€what€of€Timothy€and€Titus€who€wereÐ X ä Ðobviously€at€least€church€planters€and€more€likely€pastors€of€churches.€There€is€no€mention€of€eitherÐ D!Ð Ðof€them€being€married.€If€a€husband€and€wife€cannot€have€children,€then€the€husband€cannot€haveÐ 0"¼ Ðhis€children€in€subjection€to€him.€A€lot€of€the€problem€before€us€is€rooted€in€the€uncanny€ability€ofÐ #¨ Ðmany€pastors€and€preachers€to€read€the€word€divorced€into€1€Timothy€3:2€and€Titus€1:6.Ð $” ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hƒ#Ôà  àThe€question€arises:€ð ðIs€there€a€Greek€word€used€for€divorce?ðð.€The€answer€is€of€courseÐ ô$€  Ðbecause€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€Himself€used€it€in€Matthew€5:31,€Matthew€19:7,€and€Mark€10:4.€If€theÐ à%l! ÐHoly€Ghost€intended€that€husband€of€one€wife€in€1€Timothy€3:2€and€Titus€1:6€be€interpreted€ofÐ Ì&X" Ðdivorce,€then€why€did€He€not€use€the€Greek€word€for€divorce€which€is€ð ðòòÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔapostasionÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hû‰#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔðð€óóin€the€context.Ð ¸'D # ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hGŠ#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔSince€every€standard€for€bishops€and€deacons€in€these€passages€is€in€the€present€tense,€then€we€mustÐ ¤(0!$ Ðassume,€that€in€the€context,€the€Holy€Ghost€is€interested€in€the€present€conduct€of€the€individualÐ )"% Ðunder€consideration€to€become€or€continue€to€be€a€bishop€or€deacon.€That€has€to€be€the€case€becauseÐ |*#& Ðif€it€were€not€then€NO€man€would€ever€be€qualified€to€be€a€bishop€or€deacon.€The€problem€withÐ h+ô#' Ðmaking€divorce€the€only€sin€€that€permanently€disqualifies€a€man€from€the€ministry€is€that€it€makesÐ d Ðdivorce€an€unforgivable€sin€only€in€the€context€of€a€manððs€ministry.€It€makes€the€Church€and€GodÐ Pì Ða€respecter€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hµŠ#Ôof€persons.€Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔIn€context,€the€most€natural€sense€of€the€phrase€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€isÐ <Ø Ðhaving€one€wife,€but€not€more€than€one.€That€is€the€most€logical€interpretation€when€it€is€read€andÐ ( Ä Ðinterpreted€literally.€There€is€no€mention€of€the€word€ð ðdivorcedðð€or€ð ðwidowerðð€in€the€context€of€1Ð  ° ÐTimothy€3.€Nor€can€the€words€ð ðdivorcedðð€or€ð ðwidowerðð€be€implied€from€the€context€when€it€is€readÐ  œ Ðin€its€most€natural€sense.€The€words€come€from€speculating:€ð ðWell€did€he€mean€this,€or€did€he€meanÐ ì ˆ Ðthatðð.€The€answer€to€that€question€is,€no,€the€Holy€Ghost€meant€exactly€what€He€said.€For€the€wordsÐ Ø t Ðð ðdivorcedðð€and€€ð ðwidowerðð€to€appear€there€they€have€to€be€read€into€it€through€the€prism€ofÐ Ä ` Ðsomebodyððs€false€doctrine.€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hÙ#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔSome€folks€try€to€add€the€word€living€to€1€Timothy€3:2€to€make€it€readÐ °L  Ðð ðHUSBAND€OF€ONE€LIVING€WIFEðð.€They€do€this€because€they€know€the€implications€of€theirÐ œ8  Ðdoctrine€for€a€widower.€Their€doctrine€disqualifies€a€widower€from€the€ministry.€We€do€not€for€aÐ ˆ$  Ðminute€believe€that€a€widower€is€disqualified€from€being€in€the€ministry.€Neither€do€we€believe€thatÐ t  Ða€divorced€man€is€permanently€disqualified€from€being€in€the€ministry.€Many,€in€a€vain€attempt€toÐ `ü  Ðdisqualify€a€divorced€man,€read€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€as€ð ðhaving€had€only€one€wifeðð.€Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hŠ‘#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔThat€is€a€grossÐ Lè  Ðmisinterpretation€also€because€it€changes€the€Bibleððs€present€tense€ð ðmust€be...the€husband€of€oneÐ 8Ô  Ðwifeðð€to€the€man€pleasing,€past€tense€ð ðhaving€had€only€one€wifeððÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h]”#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ.Ð $À ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hˆ•#Ôà  àFurthermore,€you€will€not€find€the€phrases€ð ðdouble€marriedðð,€ð ðwidowerðð,€or€ð ðdivorcedððÐ ¬ Ðanywhere€in€either€First€and€Second€Timothy€or€in€Titus.€For€you€to€put€those€words€into€thoseÐ ü˜ ÐScriptures,€you€have€to€read€them€into€it€because€of€your€doctrinal€bias.€If€you€do€not€believe€it,€askÐ è„ Ðthe€average€unsaved,€Biblically€illiterate€person€on€the€street€what€is€meant€by€the€phrase€ð ðhusbandÐ Ôp Ðof€one€wifeðð€and€it€is€doubtful€they€will€ever€say€it€means€ð ðthe€husband€of€one€living€wifeðð€or€ð ða€manÐ À\ Ðthat€has€never€been€divorcedðð.€What€they€will€tell€you€is€that€it€means€ð ða€man€does€not€have€moreÐ ¬H Ðthan€one€wifeðð.€What€we€are€saying€is€that€they€will€òòò òliterallyó óóó€assume€that€it€means€not€having€moreÐ ˜4 Ðthan€one€wife€at€the€present€time.€If€you€took€the€average€Biblically,€literate€Christian€who€had€neverÐ ˆ$ Ðbeen€taught€the€doctrines€of€ð ðdouble€married€preachersðð€and€ð ðno€divorced€preachersðð€€and€askedÐ t Ðthem€what€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€means€to€them,€they€would€tell€you€that€it€means€that€a€husbandÐ `ü Ðdoes€not€currently€have€two€or€more€wives€or€that€he€must€be€married€to€serve€as€a€bishop€or€deacon.Ð Lè ÐThe€word€ð ðdivorceðð€would€not€occur€to€most€folks€without€having€been€read€into€the€passages€weÐ 8 Ô Ðare€discussing.€You€could€try€taking€your€rules€for€grammar€to€your€favorite€English€teacher€and€seeÐ $!À Ðhow€fast€they€would€run€you€out€of€their€class.Ð "¬ Ðà  àWe€have€heard€the€argument€time€and€again€that€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€disqualifies€aÐ ü"˜ Ðdivorced€man€because€he€has€set€a€bad€example€to€the€flock€when€it€comes€to€the€home.€What€thatÐ è#„  Ðargument€does€is€set€up€divorce€as€a€special€class€of€unforgivable€sin.€What€about€the€other€standardsÐ Ô$p! Ðin€the€list??€€For€those€who€say€ð ðbut€the€divorce€cannot€be€repented€of€or€restoredðð,€what€about€theÐ À%\" Ðguy€who€has€murdered€a€man€or€a€woman,€or€beat€up€his€wife,€or€committed€adultery,€or€hasÐ ¬&H # Ðmolested€a€child,€or€has€raped€a€woman,€or€being€guilty€of€sodomy,€or€filed€a€bankruptcy,€or€beenÐ ˜'4!$ Ðguilty€of€public€drunkenness.€You€cannot€unmurder€someone€(the€apostle€Paul€was€a€murderer),€orÐ „( "% Ðunbeat€up€a€wife,€or€uncommit€adultery,€or€unmolest€a€child,€€or€unrape€someone,€or€unsodomizeÐ p) #& Ðsomeone,€or€unfile€a€bankruptcy,€or€undo€a€conviction€for€public€drunkenness.€If€a€man€cannot€beÐ \*ø#' Ðan€effective€marriage€counsellor€because€he€has€had€a€divorce,€can€he€be€an€effective€financialÐ H+ä$( Ðcounsellor€if€he€has€filed€a€bankruptcy?€If€a€man€cannot€be€an€effective€marriage€counsellor€becauseÐ 4,Ð%) Ðhe€has€had€a€divorce,€then€can€he€be€an€effective€marriage€counsellor€when€he€is€an€unrepentant,Ð t Ðundivorced€adulterer?€Facts€are€stubborn€things.€We€could€go€on€and€on,€but€we€have€made€ourÐ `ì Ðpoint.€Ð L Ø Ðà  àÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔDo€you€believe€the€timing€of€a€manððs€salvation€has€any€effect€on€whether€he€is€qualified€forÐ 8 Ä Ðthe€offices€of€bishop€or€deacon?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h¤¢#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€Do€you€believe€that€if€a€man€gets€a€divorce€after€he€is€saved,€thatÐ $ ° Ðhe€is€permanently€disqualified€from€any€position€of€leadership€in€the€church€including€bishop€andÐ  œ Ðdeacon?€Do€you€believe€that€a€man€who€was€divorced€ð ðbeforeðð€he€was€saved€is€qualified€forÐ ü ˆ Ðpositions€of€church€leadership€including€bishop€and€deacon?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hz£#Ô€Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔDo€you€believe€you€have€theÐ è t Ðdiscernment€to€determine€whether€anyone€is/was€saved€at€a€particular€point€in€time?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹h;¥#Ô€We€do€notÐ Ô` Ðbelieve€that€the€timing€of€a€divorce,€saved€or€unsaved,€has€any€effect€on€the€standards€in€1€TimothyÐ ÀL  Ð3.€Divorce€is€not€the€issue€in€1€Timothy€3.€Furthermore,€if€you€try€to€hold€an€unsaved€manððs€pastÐ ¬8  Ðagainst€him€you€run€into€the€wall€set€up€by€the€Holy€Ghost€in€1€Corinthians€6:6„11€where€He€Ô_Ôsaid:Ô_ԀР˜$  ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ1€Corinthians€6:9„11Ð pü  Ðòò9€óóKnow€ye€not€that€the€unrighteous€shall€not€inherit€the€kingdom€of€God?€Be€notÐ \è  Ðdeceived:€neither€fornicators,€nor€idolaters,€nor€adulterers,€nor€effeminate,€norÐ HÔ  Ðabusers€of€themselves€with€mankind,€òò10€óóNor€thieves,€nor€covetous,€nor€drunkards,€norÐ 4À Ðrevilers,€nor€extortioners,€shall€inherit€the€kingdom€of€God.€òò11€óóòòò òAnd€such€were€someÐ  ¬ Ðof€youó óóó:€but€ye€are€washed,€but€ye€are€sanctified,€but€ye€are€justified€in€the€name€ofÐ œ Ðthe€Lord€Jesus,€and€by€the€Spirit€of€our€God.ЌРР ÐÌÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hµ§#Ôà  àThe€key€here€is€òòò òsuch€were€some€of€youóó.€ó óIf€you€will€not€let€a€divorced€man€minister€in€allÐ Ød Ðministries€of€the€church,€whether€his€divorce€took€place€before€or€after€he€was€saved,€then€what€youÐ ÈT Ðare€saying€is€that€the€blood€of€Jesus€cannot€cleanse€a€man€from€the€potential€sins€of€divorce.€TheÐ ´@ Ðreason€some€of€you€will€allow€a€divorced€man€to€be€a€preacher€or€pastor€if€his€divorce€took€placeÐ  , Ðprior€to€his€salvation€is€that€the€Holy€Ghost€has€convicted€you€of€your€false€doctrine.€You€also€putÐ Œ Ðyourself€in€a€very€dangerous€position€of€determining€when€a€man€was€saved.€There€is€no€way€youÐ x Ðcan€make€that€decision€because€you€are€not€the€Holy€Ghost.€When€you€will€not€let€any€divorced€manÐ d ð Ðinto€the€ministry€you€promote€the€Devilððs€lie€that€all€parties€to€a€divorce€are€guilty€of€sin.€When€youÐ P!Ü Ðwill€not€let€a€divorced€man€into€the€ministry€you€are€making€divorce€the€unforgivable€sin.€When€youÐ <"È Ðwill€not€let€divorced€men€into€the€ministry€then€you€are€saying€that€you€would€not€let€God€ministerÐ (#´ Ðin€your€churches€because€he€has€been€divorced!€What€complicates€the€matter€before€us€even€moreÐ $  Ðis€that€most€ð ðonce€marriedðð€preachers€will€not€accept€the€scriptural€fact€that€a€divorce€scripturallyÐ %Œ  Ðends€a€marriage.€That€is€our€next€topic.Ô‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔÐ ì%x! ÐÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹hi°#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔò òó óà  àDo€you€believe€that€divorce€ends€a€marriage€in€the€eyes€of€God€so€that€a€former€spouse€is€noÐ Ø&d" Ðlonger€scripturally€a€spouse€in€any€sense€of€the€word?Ô#†X¹hXX#X¹hÀ°#ÔÔ‡#X¹hXXX¹hÔ€Your€answer€to€that€question€will€reveal€yourÐ Ä'P # Ðprejudices.€Another€prejudice€that€enters€into€interpreting€the€phrase€ð ðhusband€of€one€wifeðð€is€theÐ °( ÐÌòòóóò òÔ#†X¹hXX#X¹h8#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔA.€T.€Robertson€on€Matthew€19:9:€Except€for€fornication....€ó ó€ÔGRUS.,ÔThose€who€deny€Matthewððs€reportÐ Œ9 Ðare€those€who€are€opposed€to€remarriage€at€all.€Jesus€by€implication,€as€in€5:31,€does€allowÐ |) Ðremarriage€of€the€innocent€party,€but€not€of€the€guilty€one.€Certainly€Jesus€has€lifted€the€wholeÐ h  Ðsubject€of€marriage€and€divorce€to€a€new€level,€far€beyond€the€petty€contentions€of€the€schools€ofÐ T! ÐHillel€and€Shammai.€[A.€T.€Robertson,€Ô#†X¹hXXX¹hŒ#ÔÔ‡X¹hXXX¹hÔÔUS.,GR.,ëÔÔGRUS.,ÔThe€Gospel€According€to€Matthew€and€the€Gospel€AccordingÐ @"í  Ðto€Mark,€Kregel€Academic,€April€1,€2003,€Page€163]Ð ,#Ù! ÐÔ#†X¹hXXX¹hÛ#ÔÔUS.,GR.,Ôò òó óÌßA€12) °°xdE°%xAßÐ %±# ÐÌ