Marg Mowczko

@Craig

The Greek phrase “a one woman man” (usually translated into English as “the husband of one wife”) was a very common idiom and as Don mentioned was often found on gravesite inscriptions.

The idiom refers to marital faithfulness. BDAG (p292) mentions that it is used in numerous sepulchral inscriptions to “celebrate the the virtue of a surviving spouse by noting that he or she was married only once, thereby suggesting the virtue of extraordinary fidelity.” (cf Anna in Luke 2:36, and the widows in 1 Timothy 5:13-15.)

I have written a bit about this here: http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/pauls-qualifications-for-church-leaders/

I found the following paper very useful. It takes an indepth look at the meaning and application of “a one woman man”. http://www.spiritandtruth.org/teaching/documents/articles/15/15.pdf