Do Pastors HAVE to Be Married?

I started this thread for brother Seth. Let's discuss from the Scriptures.

1 Timothy 3:2
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach

Yes, that is the passage in my mind. Does that speak of a necessity of a pastor being married, or does it speak of the character of a man who is to be a pastor? Would Paul not have qualified for the office of pastor because he was never married?

Okay .. so was Paul really a Pastor or just a Missionary ?

Or Maybe since Paul was an apostle , did God give him special grace to take on some of the duties that he was charged with ?

simply seth wrote:

Okay .. so was Paul really a Pastor or just a Missionary ?

Or Maybe since Paul was an apostle , did God give him special grace to take on some of the duties that he was charged with ?

No, Paul wasn't a pastor. He was an apostle. But, what I'm asking is, would Paul have been unqualified for the pastorate because he was unmarried?

Expo wrote:

simply seth wrote:

Okay .. so was Paul really a Pastor or just a Missionary ?

Or Maybe since Paul was an apostle , did God give him special grace to take on some of the duties that he was charged with ?

No, Paul wasn't a pastor. He was an apostle. But, what I'm asking is, would Paul have been unqualified for the pastorate because he was unmarried?

Accordin' to the scripture above .. I would say .. Yes

Okay, but is that passage speaking more of him being married, or of the type of character that a pastor should possess, being the husband of one wife, as opposed to a polygamist or a man who was married, then divorced, then married again?

I'm not taking any position in this conversation yet. Just posing questions about the text.

i'm not sure where i stand on the issue... but there are plenty of benefits for being married as a pastor as opposed to being single... i.e. the whole lust/fornication issue

plus, the evidence of seeing how he is able to handle his household b4 leading an entire congregation of believers

lj.

I agree, LJ.

The Bible says that a pastor must not be a novice, so he has to be well-versed in the Scrips. And like you said, it also says that he should have his home in order so that he'll know how to lead in the church.

I've always felt, personally, that a single man should not be pastor, mostly because of the temptation factor. Women often throw themselves at preachers.

I totally agree


and hence there is no chance I can ever be a pastor ... Praise be to God

Bro, there is hope. I'm not married, either, and I'll be thirty in less than two weeks. If it's God's will for me to become a pastor, then I know he'll provide me with help meet for me. Just continue to do what He's called you to do. You will find her in His time, when He's ready for you.

Expo wrote:

I'll be thirty in less than two weeks.

Happy Early Birfday Youngun

LaRosa wrote:

i'm not sure where i stand on the issue... but there are plenty of benefits for being married as a pastor as opposed to being single... i.e. the whole lust/fornication issue

plus, the evidence of seeing how he is able to handle his household b4 leading an entire congregation of believers

lj.

I agree. I also feel that, as a pastor, your duty is not only to teach the scriptures, but to act as a spiritual conselor to your congregation, and what better way to council a broken marriage than personal experience in a marriage? As for the verse, it doesn't appear to say that you must be married, but that if you are, you are to have only one wife. No polygamy allowed. Personally, of I had the authority to decide, I'd only allow married men to seek position of pastor.

Expo wrote:

I've always felt, personally, that a single man should not be pastor, mostly because of the temptation factor. Women often throw themselves at preachers.

Surely we know this....see it in Baltimore pretty heavy.

word up... that's why i love my wife she's an ex-Marine & knows how to handle a deadly weapon... another woman takes her own life in her hands if she tries to throw herself @ me LOL

lj.

LaRosa wrote:

word up... that's why i love my wife she's an ex-Marine & knows how to handle a deadly weapon... another woman takes her own life in her hands if she tries to throw herself @ me LOL

lj.

Ahoooora Semper Fi !!