14/04/2021
Is Marriage a prerequisite for being ordained as a minister of the Gospel?
This is one of the topics that we have debated for the longestest of time as Christians. I strongly believe that the debate has not been concluded because many of our past leaders have addressed this issue on the basis of their own knowledge, experiences and opinions, without properly consulting the scriptures. Therefore, today I would like us to look at what the scriptures say about this matter. Let us start by looking at the verse that many people use to address this.
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife" - 1 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV)
The word that Paul used in this passage for Bishop is the Greek word Episkopos. It literally means an "overseer". That is why other translations use overseer instead of BISHOP. Look at how the NIV puts this passage.
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, [1] he desires a noble task.
2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
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not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
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He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.
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(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)
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He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
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He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. - 1 Timothy 3:1-7
The word episkopos was originally used for government officials who were in charge of different regions. For example, if we were living in Paul's time David Makura would be called the Episkopos of Gauteng. Now Paul in this passage used this word to refer to members of the church who weere leaders in the local church. Here Paul is referring to Bishops, overseers and senior pastors (yes an overseer and a bishop operate in the same office).
In this passage, Paul gives us about 14 requirements that one must meet before being elected to the office of a bishop. However, I will not go through all of them but I'll just deal with verse 2, were Paul addressed the issue of marriage. Paul said that the Bishop (or the pastor) must be a husband of ONE WIFE. this gives us the idea that Paul was talking about someone who was Already married. Paul was not making marriage a prerequisite for leadership but he was addressing the issue of Polygamy in the Church. Paul was actually telling Timothy that when he was considering people for the office of the Bishop he must not consider someone who is in a polygamous relationship or who is cheating on his wife. That is why the NIV says the bishop must be "faithful to his wife" (v2b).
Now that we have established that Paul in 1 Timothy 3 did not make marriage a prerequisite to leadership in the church let us look at what he said about marriage and serving God.
"But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction." - 1 Cor 7:32-35 (NKJV)
In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 Paul addresses the question of marriage in the Christian community. I think it will surprise many people to see that in the above passage (and in the whole chapter) Paul was actually advocating for singleness. In this chapter Paul was showing the Corinthians (and all the believers, including us) that it is better for a believer to remain single than to marry. In verses 32 to 35 he stated the reasons why.
He said that believers who are not married have the advantage of being fully committed to serving the Lord without having to worry about taking care of their families while married believers do not have that advantage, as they have to take care of their families. Therefore, from 1 Corinthians 7 one can conclude that it is better for a Pastor (Bishop or Overseer) to not marry, as they will be able to fully serve God without having to worry about taking care of a family.
Please do not misinterpret this passage by thinking that Paul was forbidding marriage. He was simply showing us the advantage of staying single to serve God. In fact in this same chapter Paul clarified that it is not a sin to marry or to give your daughter's hand in marriage.
36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. - 1 Corinthians 7:36
To conclude this matter I would say, marriage is NOT a prerequisite for church leadership. In fact, sometimes if is good for a full-time minister of the gospel to remain unmarried in order to fully serve the Lord. However, I would also advise all the men who love Jesus and who are burning with passion to get married so that they may not sin against God.
Blessings to you
Br KayGee
