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Question
The elder/pastor/shepherd qualifications (as well as deacon) in 1 Tim & Titus state that a man must be the husband of one wife. While some seem to believe strongly that this prohibits a man who has been divorced to serve I'm not sure it's that clear to me. If I ask someone if they have a wife they don't respond with "I have two" or if asked their spouse's name they don't say "which one?". The way the qualification is worded (or disqualifications as we tend to use the passage in reality) would seem to lend itself to the idea of no plurality of wives. Which would also seem to fit with the tenor of the other listed items which indicate a man being considered for a leadership role should not be given to excess of any kind. Was polygamy a concern in Paul's time when he wrote the letters to Timothy & Titus?
Great question! However, we cannot be sure of the answer and there are many opinions. Polygamy was rare in Paul's time, yet this verse could be a timeless condition knowing that polygamy will always be present in this world. Obviously there are many different views and there are many denominations which allow divorced pastors/elders so if that is a concern of yours and you are led to serve, you would want to look at these denominations to serve. Personally I don't have a problem with someone being a Pastor/Elder if they got divorced some time back, depending on the circumstances (e.g. their spouse committed adultery or sought the divorce).
Unfortunately there is not a clear answer to this question but that's for asking it!
Todd
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Todd Tyszka
Expertise
My degrees and studies are mostly in Christian doctrine but I will answer questions having to do with almost any aspect of Christianity and The Bible.
Experience
My experience consists of over 20 years as a Pastor, Youth Pastor, missionary, counselor, teacher, writer, Bible quizzer, and various other leadership positions. I've studied the Bible for over 20 years at 5 different schools/seminaries but I can explain things in simple terms anyone can understand and currently teach Sunday School to 1st-5th graders. I specialize in Christian apologetics (evidences for Christianity) and Polemics (debate denouncing false teachings), as well as understanding difficult verses, and topics such as heaven & hell, denominations/sects, false teachings/heresies/cults, the Holy Spirit, gifts of the Holy Spirit, spiritual warfare, apostolic reformation, emergent/emerging church, prosperity teaching, contradictions/discrepancies, charismatic studies, creation/evolution, Greek/Hebrew studies, end times, deliverance, the apocrypha/pseudepigrapha, etc. I daily answer questions on Global Media Outreach, AllExperts, YouTube, through email, and various personal websites where I have posted many Christian videos.
Education/Credentials
Graduated from a private Christian High School, went to Nazarene Bible college and then Eastern Nazarene College (Boston) for Youth Ministry and Pastoral Studies/Christian Theology, transferred to Asbury College where I completed my degree in Christian Education and Missions, and most recently attending the Calvary Chapel Bible Institute.
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