Cheryl Schatz

Ramon,
Then of course we must also exclude any men whose wives have died. They too are unqualified because they are no longer husbands. I am sure that you tell all of the pastors who are not fathers and unmarried or widowed men that they are sinning against God’s rules, right? Even Paul wasn’t qualified to be an elder was he?

The issue of “husband of one wife” is the issue of marital faithfulness (if one is married) and a married man is to have his household in order (if he has children). Surely Paul was able to demonstrate that he was able to shepherd the sheep without having children, wasn’t he?

I have no idea what you are talking about when you say “they would be interchangeable according to your interpretation”. If you mean that husbands and wives are interchangeable, I didn’t say anything like that. IF that is not what you mean, I am totally lost.

We are all responsible to study to show ourselves approved unto God a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Scripture interprets scripture and a prohibition is different than moral qualifications.

God is responsible for His laws and His rules and He has never yet condemned one of his female “sons” for using their God-given gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ.