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The 1 Timothy 3 Argument BY RYAN HICKS © 1996-1999 Ryan Hicks |
Many Catholic "apologists" argue that in 1 Timothy 3 Paul teaches that a minister is to be celibate if he is to serve in the church. As amazing as what their argument is, some people actually fall for this deception. These are the same people that think the Bible cannot be understood unless the Catholic church "interprets" it for them (i.e. brainwashes them).
1 Timothy 3:1-13
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The argument goes like this: "Not one man should be selected for the religious life unless they are unmarried and widowed, so that they could devote themselves fully to the work of the Lord. We know that this is true because Saint Paul tells us that their children should be submissive but makes no mention of their wives being so. In light of Eph 5:22, this would be a major oversight unless there were no wives who needed to submit."
