One-Woman Man

I am looking forward to our Sunday School lesson this week as it deals with the qualifications for spiritual leadership for Pastors and Deacons. It is significant that in describing the qualifications, the apostle Paul focuses on the character rather than the function. A man is qualified because of who and what he is, not because of what he does.

I also must admit this lesson is very personal for me. Many of my members are attacked in this town for attending, joining and worshiping at a church where the Pastor is single. They have been told by other church members, non-church members and a few Pastors that they are wrong for coming to this church and their basis for this is I Timothy 3:2.

"The husband of one wife" is not the best translation of I Timothy 3:2 according to the Greek. "Wife"(gunaikos) and "husband"(aner) are better translated "woman" and "man" with the construction of the Greek placing the emphasis on the word "ONE" which communicates the idea of a one-woman man. There are many interpretations over what this verse means:


Interpretation#1: Many Commentators believe this to mean an elder can't have more than one wife at a time. ANSWER: Understanding the religious and cultural climate of the day this is written, this view is unlikely as neither Jews nor Romans engaged in this practice.

Interpretation#2: Some believe this verse means a man can't be a Pastor if he has remarried for any reason. ANSWER: This view cannot be true because God permits remarriage after the death of one's spouse, (cf. Rom.7:2-3; I Cor. 7:39; I Timothy 5:9-15)

Interpretation#3: Some contend this was a prohibition for divorced men being unfit or unable to serve as elders/pastors. ANSWER: This verse is not a prohibition against divorced men serving as Pastors because the Bible teaches that under two(2) Circumstances, remarriage after a divorce is within God's will. (cf. Matthew 5:31-32, I Corinthians 7:15)

Interpretation#4: Some people contend this verse prohibits single men from serving as Elders/Pastors. ANSWER: This view cannot be true as Paul operated within the office of elder/Pastor as a church planter; giving Pastoral advice; conferred through the laying on of hands as an elder statesman pastor(cf. I Timothy 4:14, II Timothy 1:6) and he did all of this while single.(cf. I Corinthians 7:7-9)

Therefore, the concept of a one-woman man has nothing to do with marital status, social status or external conditions but rather it deals with the state of heart of the person seeking this job. IT DEALS WITH CHARACTER.

John MacArthur states it better than I can in his book, "The Master's Plan for the Church", If he is married, he is to be devoted solely to his wife. If he is not married, he is not to act or behave as a "Ladies man". For the man who looks down upon the single pastor, "Unfortunately it is possible to be married to one woman and yet not act or behave as a one-woman man." (cf. Matthew 5:28)

What Paul told Timothy is that a married----or unmarried man who lusts after many women is unfit for ministry.

Sunday School will be fun! I am tempted to teach this one to all the adults myself.