1 Timothy 3:2 - A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach.
 
I know some people see the scripture as you must be married in order to be Pastor but yet the Apostle Paul was single.  I  believe it stating if you are married or when you get married must be with one wife, committed to your wife. What do you think
 
 
Thank You and be Bless
 
 

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Well, isn't Bishop Noel Jones single? He seems pretty successful to me.........

There is no Biblical reason why a man/woman needs to be married for the Kingdom's Ministry. That was moreso an OT requirement. Apostle Paul suggested for people to actually stay single if they didn't have the pressing desire to marry, for the sake of the Kingdom's Ministry.
Yes you can be. Yeshua was single. End of story. There is no extra virtue in being single. It's all about the time and energy you are able to put into the ministry. Catholic priests make the mistake of making a marrital situation situation into doctrine and look how that turned out. YHWH created man to have a partner. When you choose that partner is up to you. Both ways are natural.

Shalom
Personally and seriously, I stand on a monogamous marriage even though polygamy was accepted and practiced in the OT days.

Just like the Catholics made marriage into a doctrine, man instituted polygamy and God accepted this lifestyle during those times. Eccl. 3:1 . . To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Shalom in Yeshua
Interestingly enough, the Church instituted monogamy due to Roman culture, not by Biblical practice. This was admitted by the men at the the time:

"The 3rd century Eusebius of Caesarea wrote the lost work "On the Numerous Progeny of the Ancients", an apologetic work about plural marriage being reconciled with the ascetic life. The fact that the Roman Emperor Valentinian I, in the fourth century, authorized Christians to take two wives supports the fact that Christians were still practicing plural marriage. Although Augustine discouraged the practice, he said that plural marriage "was lawful among the ancient fathers: whether it be lawful now also, I would not hastily pronounce", and that "in keeping with Roman custom, it is no longer allowed to take another wife, so as to have more than one wife living."

It should be noted, however, that St. Basil wrote of plural marriage that "such a state is no longer called marriage but polygamy or, indeed, a moderate fornication." He ordered that those who are engaged in it should be excommunicated for up to five years, and "only after they have shown some fruitful repentance" were they to be allowed back into the church. Moreover, he stated that that the teachings against plural marriage are "accepted as our usual practice, not from the canons but in conformity with our predecessors." Likewise, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Tertullian all spoke against polygamy, condemning it as practiced by Jews or pagans.

In the 16th century, Christian re-examination of plural marriages began to increase, and its supporters grew exponentially. The founder of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther wrote: "I confess that I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the Scripture. If a man wishes to marry more than one wife he should be asked whether he is satisfied in his conscience that he may do so in accordance with the word of God. In such a case the civil authority has nothing to do in the matter."

The Lutheran pastor Johann Lyser strongly defended plural marriage in a work entitled "Polygamia Triumphatrix". As a result, he was imprisoned, beaten and exiled from Italy to Holland. His book was burned by the public executioner. He never married nor desired wedlock.

Several other denominations permit those already in polygamous marriages to convert and join their church, without having to renounce their multiple marriages. These include the African Instituted Harrist Church, started in 1913. The Anglican Church similarly made a decision at the 1988 Lambeth Conference to admit those who practiced plural marriage into the church under certain circumstances.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy_in_Christianity

In other words, St. Augustine said that the law of monogamy amongst Christians was not really a Bible Canon at all, but a practice from Roman culture. Likewise, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Tertullian all placed Jewish practice and pagan practice in the same bag, which was a common trait of anti-Semitism. Martin Luther, though a known anti-Semite, saw the truth behind the subject. A Lutheran Pastor, a man who didn't even want to be married, understood the truth of polygamy. The Anglican Church 21 years ago understood it as well.

Personally, I'm not for polygamy in my life. I'm a one-woman-man. However, I understand that such is my personal and cultural choice. Had I grown up in a different culture, it might have been different, but the Word of GOD is still the same. Marriage is not required to be a Bishop, Pastor, or any type of Minister, but neither is monogamy. This is proven by both Scriptures and Church History. A funny thing is that the Roman Catholic Church does not allow for it's Bishops and Priests to marry.
Good job, Trevor. It's important to be able to objectively research things you don't personally agree with and that's what you did so bravo to you.
Thanks!

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