Husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3) refers to polygamy, not divorce

Mike interprets the requirement in 1 Timothy 3 (and Titus 1) that an elder/bishop be the "husband of one wife" as a prohibition against polygamy, not a disqualification for divorcees. He argues that if Paul meant to exclude the divorced, he would have said so directly rather than using this phrase. He provides historical context: first-generation Christians could have converted from a polygamous background and still be living in that family structure. Having a former polygamist become a church leader would confuse the congregation about appropriate Christian conduct.