Our 10th emphatic belief states "that the Bible provides clear but strict rules for identifying and ordaining church leaders (married men with children in subjection; no women pastors, teachers or deacons)". This week, we simply supply the Biblical data behind this strong stance, which is increasingly at odds with common church practices these days.
Quals per Tit. 1:6-9 |
Quals per 1Tim. 3:1-7 |
Reasons Given |
Blameless (twice) |
Blameless |
As the steward of God |
Husband of one wife |
Husband of one wife |
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One that ruleth well his own house |
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Having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly |
Having his children in subjection with all gravity |
For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? |
Not selfwilled |
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Not soon angry |
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Patient |
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Not given to wine |
Not given to wine |
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No striker |
No striker |
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Not a brawler |
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Not given to filthy lucre |
Not greedy of filthy lucre |
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Not covetous |
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A lover of hospitality |
Given to hospitality |
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A lover of good men |
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Sober |
Sober |
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Just, Holy |
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Temperate |
Vigilant (Temperate); of good behavior |
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Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught |
Apt to teach |
That he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. |
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Not a novice |
Lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil |
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Must have a good report of them which are without |
Lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil |
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wives must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things |
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Legend: Black = 1 mention, Red = 2 or more mentions given, Yellow Highlight = Reason given, Bold italic = Several of these!