Paul immediately transitions from the general topic of irreproachability to the specific topic of marital fidelity. Phillip Ryken notes,“ to be above reproach, an elder must be ‘ the husband of one wife.’ This does not prohibit bachelors from serving as elders. Commonly, elders will be married, and god will use the demands of their callings as husbands and fathers to do much of the sanctifying work that needs to be done in their lives before they are ready to serve as officers in the church. But remember that Paul himself was single and commended singleness to others as an opportunity ofr greater service in the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 7:17;9:5). Some suggest that the phrase means ‘married only once.’ This would disqualify widowers who remarry , as well as men who have been through a divorce. If this is what Paul meant, however, one might expect him to be more explicit."
The point of the phrase is probably more general: elders must be morally accountable for their sexuality. The Greeks and the Romans of the day generally tolerated gross sexual sin. Polygamy was practiced by both Greeks and Jews. Marriage was undermined by frequent divorce, widespread adultery, and rampant homosexuality. The words of Demosthenes show the scope of the problem: ‘Mistresses we keep for the sake of pleasure, concubines for the daily care of our persons, but wives to bear us legitimate children.”[1]
Within a culture that mimics the Greco-Roman era, the snare of the Devil can be immobilizing with the single click of a mouse or a flirtatious comment to a coworker. Therefore it is incumbent upon the overseer to demonstrate irreproachability by being faithful physically, emotionally, and spiritually (Eph. 5:26) to his wife. A ‘one woman man’ requires the man of God to drink only from one cistern (Prov. 5). His must not be physically aroused by the ads in the magazine racks. He must not look at porn on the internet. He must not be a man of second glances, nor should he be excited to converse with other women as a means to arouse an emotional connection. His physical satisfaction and his emotional involvement must be given entirely to his wife.
Discuss: What biblical strategies have I put into place in order to establish sexual purity before God and why?
Answer the following questions:
Single Men:
1. What are your habits regarding dating and fellowship with Christian women?
2. What standards have you established within you dating experiences?
3. What entertainment choices do you make and do you view sexual explicit material or pornography?
Married men:
1. Do you evidence fidelity to your wife? Are you faithful emotionally and physically?
2. What strategies have you used to protect your faithfulness to your wife? Do you organize your interactions with female coworkers and ladies in the church in a way that provides full accountability and transparency?
3. Do you define beauty by beginning with your wife?
4. Are you faithful in making your home marriage-centered and how?
Both married and single:
4. Are you faithful in making your home marriage-centered and how?
Both married and single:
Theological and then practically, how does one battle lust?
Read: Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry, General Causes of the Want of Success in the Christian Ministry, p.72-102
[1]Ryken, Phillip. 1 Timothy. (Phillipsburg, NJ: PandR Publishing, 2007) 111.
Read: Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry, General Causes of the Want of Success in the Christian Ministry, p.72-102
[1]Ryken, Phillip. 1 Timothy. (Phillipsburg, NJ: PandR Publishing, 2007) 111.