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One-Wife Requirement of an Overseer/Bishop “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; ” (I Timothy 3:2) Polygamy was a practice during the era of the first and second law (Deuteronomy). However, at the time of the reproof of the redaction (Deuteronomy) by the Lord Jesus, he referred to the monogamy of Adam and Eve (Mark 10:6) as an original, good and acceptable example. Hence, it seems followers of Jesus and teachers of the church recognized a monogamous and better way for their men to exemplify the restoration of the monogamous institution of marriage and fulfillment of the law in their personal lives. None of the early church officials were noted as having more than one wife, nor as antagonists against the reproof. The overseer/bishop is relatively over the deacons, and of course, meeting or surpassing the character required of them. The local church has gifts and is under his theological authority. The overseer is subject to the pastoral letters (I Ti. 3:14-16). He should be able to teach the about the mystery of the church as it is related to marriage (Eph. 5:25). He should be able to teach the constitution of marriage from the aspect of the law (I Ti. 1:8-11), and be able to explain the difference between adultery and fornication. Ministers of the church of the living God are men who direct the pillar and ground of the truth (the local church). They must know how to teach from the law and the bible, not as inadequate philosophers with college degrees. They may take on the position of anointing elders as Titus did. 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus, chapter 1) The office of an overseer/bishop is for a family man, not a bachelor or even a married man without children. An overseer must be married (formerly a virgin) and not a polygamist or remarried! He must have a well-controlled family including a clean (not defiled) wife and orderly children. He is over the deacon, more mature, experienced, knowledgeable and profound, and therefore should be an example as the man of God's man, holy and blameless, with no bad talk of a fault from him according to the public. He must demand male leadership and the women to be in silence in the assembly (the local church) according to the law (I Cor. 14:34). Society looks upon such men and their close relatives for an example how their own families should live. Ministers of the church are as stars in the dark sky, they give light and direction. Someone like Kenneth Copeland could not qualify as an overseer/bishop. He has had more than one woman (wife). Actually, he should be shunned at the doors of any congregation unless he annuls his adulterous relationship with Gloria. Seminaries, bishops and deacons need to learn how to teach their students how to discern between adultery, fornication and approved marriage; and how to prove it using the law.
Links: Transparency: Discernment Between Fornication And Marriage Edification On The Gift Of Tongues
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