1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy

Given the difficulty of fitting the details of the pastoral epistles into a framework of the book of acts, the most likely conclusion is: A. The pastoral epistles may occupy a time after the conclusion of the acts chronology B. The author of acts did not know of these events in Paul's life C. The author of acts had valid reasons for omitting these details D. The pseudonymous author invented the details

A

Many of the virtues that 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus hold up for Christians to embrace: A. Correspond to virtues in Greco Roman and Hellenistic Jewish teachings B. Were generally despised by the Greeks C. Were embraced by the classical Greek writers but abandoned by the time of the first century D. Diverge significantly from Hellenistic Jewish teachings

A

Prevailing academic dogma today asserts that: A. The entire corpus of pastoral epistles is pseudonymous B. Only 2 Timothy is pseudonymous C. Despite irregularities, the pastoral epistles are authentic documents written by Paul D. The pastoral epistles are church manuals written to guide the churches around Corinth

A

When assessing all the complex issues of the authorship of the pastoral epistles, one true statement is: A. We cannot blithely assume Paul's authorship B. The preponderance of evidence unequivocally demonstrates that Paul wrote all three letters C. Paul very probably wrote 2 Timothy though the status of 1 Timothy and Titus is suspect D. We can confidently assume that Paul did not write any of the letters

A

Historical situation at Ephesus (1 timothy)

A. False teaching may have similarities to the heresy addressed and Colossians B. Possible incipient - gnostic elements i.e. - Myths, speculations - Asceticism - Ideals falsely called knowledge C. Possible "Jewish" connections D. Likelihood that some elders had defected - 1:3 -> Timothy had access to the teachers - 1:6-7 -> Somehow departed - 3:1-13 -> Need for qualified leaders - 6:5-10 -> Greed - The "women issue" may be a key

Concluding warnings of 1 Timothy

A. Final denunciation of false teachers (indicates their root problem: love of Money) B. A personal charge to Timothy - The proper response to error consists of truth, love, righteousness, obedience, etc. - Remind the rich to hope only in God and to be generous - Exhortation and benediction

The recipient of Titus

A. He was a Greek. Despite the teachings of the Judaizers, Paul refused to have Titus circumcised B. He was closely associated with Paul in ministry in a variety of functions and places, though his name is not mentioned in acts - He was probably a convert of Paul - He accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem - Paul sent him to try to settle the trouble in the Corinthian church - He led the Corinthian church in collecting and offering for the poverty stricken believers in Jerusalem - He met Paul in Macedonia as Titus was returning from Corinth, at which time he informed Paul of the improved situation at Corinth and then returned to Corinth with the letter we call 2 Corinthians - Paul left him on the island of Crete to organize the church(es) there - In the Titus letter Paul informed Titus he would be relieved by Artemis or Tychicus and was then to come to Paul at Nicopolis - He was in Rome with Paul during his final imprisonment, though Paul then sent him to Dalmatia

Quite likely, the central message of the three letters taken together (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) is: A. Qualifications for leaders in the churches B. How Christians should behave in God's household C. How to prepare for the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior D. To follow false teachers will lead only to destruction

B

Though the authorship of these letters (1&2 Timothy and Titus) is contested on the basis of their distinctive vocabulary and style, the textbook argues that besides pseudonymity, all the following factors could account for these features EXCEPT: A. Vocabulary required by the specific historical situation B. The authors ability to improve his ability to write Greek C. The teaching and behavior of the opponents D. The use of traditional material and topics

B

In selecting leaders for the churches under the direction of Timothy and Titus, important qualifications include all of the following EXCEPT: A. Masters of themselves B. Through grounding in the apostolic faith C. Experience in church planting D. Model heads of households

C

Countering the heresy #2 (1 Timothy)

Careful control over church leadership (appropriate leaders) A. Overseers = bishops (& elders) - Qualifications that mark mature believers qualified to lead B. Deacons: servants of the church (both men and women) C. Summary and confession of faith

Where is Timothy when 2 Timothy was written

Could be Asia somewhere

Greek term for bishops and elders

Episkopos

What theology of suffering emerges in Paul's call to discipleship (2 timothy)

Suffering came with the territory if we are truly following God's word (which makes others uncomfortable and how they live) We are called to be Christians - called to peace, hope, unity etc.

Description of the Cretan heresy (Titus)

Titus is to make sure the right people become elders A. Heretics appear to be like those at Ephesus, with Judaizing and gnostic elements, plus other generally obnoxious traits - Paul is sending him to do a job that is really tough B. Note distinctive Cretan elements in verse 12 C. Paul's advice: Shun asceticism, though this is no license to allow sin - Ritual purity is artificial, but if what people do reflects who they are (pure within) then all things are pure

Overarching statement for 1 Timothy

How to oversee a church in trouble and turn it away from heresy

Deacons: servants of the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13)

(Both men and women) 1. Two qualifications for overseers that are not required for deacons: - Able to teach - Hospitable (But otherwise parallel requirements) 2. This implies that deacons functioned in a helping role subordinate to the overseers, and probably formed the pool from which overseers were eventually selected. 3. Who are the "women/wives" of verse 11 - Could be deacon's wives - More likely they are women deacons

Current positions about the authorship of the pastoral epistles

- For Pauline authorship, probably with the use of an amanuensis - traditional view mostly held now mostly by conservative scholars, with notable exceptions - Allonymous Authorship: Written by a close associate of Paul or a member of Paul's Circle soon after his death. (Incorporated genuine fragments of Paul's own writings, telling Timothy and Titus what the author believes Paul would have said to them about their ministries) - Fragment hypothesis: pseudonymous author who incorporated and expanded some genuine Pauline materials, probably within decades of Paul's death - Completely pseudonymous: written in the late first or second century A.D. to bring to bear the weight of Paul's authority to new situations

Rationale for godly conduct (Titus)

- God's grace has the intent of bringing salvation to our - Grace has educative in this age: trains us to godly living; we must respond! - Grace holds promise for the age to come - the blessed hope of the church: Jesus appears! 1. Note Paul's emphasis upon the apologetic value of proper behavior for Christians, seen already in previous verses 2. Paul makes a further point: God's power enables his people to live properly; so do it! - v. 11 Identifies the universal availability of salvation to all people due to God's grace - v. 13 Defines the "Blessed Hope of the church" as the visible appearance of Jesus - v. 13 Makes a clear statement of Jesus' deity

Call to committed discipleship: four key stages of 2 Timothy 2:2

1. Don't break the leadership chain - Reproducer of what Paul passed to Timothy 2. Be single minded and your commitment - Soldier: can't be involved in civilian affairs - Athlete: has to compete according to the rules - Farmer: always thinking about the harvest 3. Be ready to follow Jesus' example - Like Christ - Follow Paul - Embodying hymn: Died with Christ and now lives with him. If we endure we will also reign. If we deny him he will deny us - future tense * Not a Peter kind of denial but a Judas kind of denial (about the verdict of our life - not an episodic denial) * Our ultimate security depends on his faithfulness 4. Be an approved worker - Handled God's word accurately - skilled worker - (that the quality can be presented to Jesus where he says well done) - Avoid foolish controversies - Be a clean vessel - useful (be the kind of vessel Jesus can use)

Hermeneutical reminders (1 Timothy)

1. Exegesis is a cross-cultural enterprise 2. Communication across the centuries is complex * Paul to Timothy in Ephesus (sender) —> meaning —> Bible —> meaning —> Denver (recipient) 3. An application of the sender's meaning or principle might differ in the recipients context, especially when the recipient is now a modern reader in a different culture, time, language, etc.

Sound doctrine - the imperative of godly conduct (Titus)

1. Generally, older men and women should model dignity and morality to those younger 2. Older women have teaching role with younger women - Submission emphasized - Emphasis on home workers is not that women must stay home, but that they work when at home (in view of the heretics who beguiled some women here and at Ephesus) - Younger men must develop self control - As a leader, Titus must set the pace by his good example

Possible historical reconstruction assuming Paul's authorship of the pastoral letters

1. Paul was released from prison after his trial 61/62AD 2. He had planned a visit several places if he was released: Philippi, Colossae and Spain 3. He left Timothy in Ephesus 4. He went to Macedonia 5. Possibly, he went to Spain - In his epistle to the Corinthians Clement of Rome states that Paul "passed to the boundaries of the west" - The Muratorian fragment refers to Paul's journey to Spain 6. Paul left Titus in Crete 7. All visited Troas 8. Call visited Miletus 9. Paul planned to winter in Nicopolis 10. At some point Paul was re-arrested and imprisoned by the Romans 11. He was tried, found guilty, and executed by Nero - Some early sources placed the date in 64/65 AD in the aftermath of the great fire of Rome (Klein thinks this is the more likely date) - Others put Paul's death shortly before Neroes death sometime in 67/68 AD

The most important qualifications when selecting leaders for the churches under the direction of Timothy and Titus

1. The overseers and deacons are to be masters of themselves, showing self-control and mastery of passion (money, wine, temper) 2. Model heads of households - especially showing evidence of having brought their natural children into the faith 3. They are to be thoroughly grounded in the apostolic faith

Purpose for writing 1 timothy

1. To charge Timothy for his difficult task 2. Enhance the societies perception of Christians 3. Combat heretical teaching 4. Instruct about church administration and leadership

Purpose of Titus

1. To instruct Titus and the Cretan believers about church organization 2. To warn against false teachers 3. To instruct the members of the church about how to live godly lives 4. To arrange for some personal matters

Date and place of writing (2 Timothy)

A. Nero died in June 68AD 1. Jerome writes that Paul was martyred in the 14th year of Nero (some say Paul died near the end of Nero's life) 2. On the other hand, other sources suggest that Paul was executed during the program that Nero instigated against the Roman Christians on or shortly after 64/65 when Nero sought scape goats on whom to blame the great fire - This tradition appears to have more credibility 3. 2 Timothy 4:6-9 indicates that Paul wrote the letter shortly before his impending death 4. Thus, the date could be - 64/65 if the early date for Paul's death is correct - 67/68 if the later date is correct 5. Those conservative scholars adopting the early date (64/65) insist that after Paul's release from his house arrest in Rome, he engaged in a period of ministry before he was re-arrested, tried, and then executed 6. If some secretary/amanuensis aided Paul, the letter was written quite close to the time of his death B. Tradition has it that Paul wrote Timothy from the Mamertine prison in Rome - It contained a lower cell entirely underground and reached only through a hole in the ceiling - according to tradition, the cell in which Paul was held was 19 feet long, 10 feet wide and 6.5 feet high C. Of course, if Timothy is pseudonymous - either with the fragment or totally fictitious hypothesis - the dates for its composition must be later - For a fragment theory, possible dates go from the time of Paul's death to the end of the first century, but generally tend towards the latter to account for its acceptance - If the letter is completely fictitious - not even a close follower of Paul wrote it and it contains no genuine Pauline fragments - then dating becomes more hypothetical (i.e. 100- 115) * Others who see a more fully developed gnosticism in view pushed the date much later into the second century

Encouragement and exhortation to fearless, faithful service (2 timothy)

A. Thanksgiving for Timothy's spiritual heritage B. Call to courageous use of Timothy's spiritual gift C. Remind her of the examples of polls Associates D. Call to committed discipleship

Sound doctrine for various groups (Titus)

A. The imperative of godly conduct B. The conduct required of slaves C. Rationale for godly conduct

Call to preach the word during the times of apostasy of the "last days" (2 timothy)

A. These are the last days (in the last days times will be tough) B. The exhortation to faithful commitment to the gospel: the antidote to error - Follow Paul's example despite obstacles and evil doers - Highly regard the holy Scriptures: crucial test for doctrine of inspiration - argues that Scriptures are God breathed and are thus eminently useful. At that point Paul was referring to the Old Testament. C. Final appeal to preach the word (the word must be preached) - Be faithful despite opposition * Preach whenever people listen using whatever tactics are appropriate - Paul's farewell: athletic metaphors overlapping with the sacrificial system

Reason for 1 timothy

A. Timothy is to refute false teaching - Charge the Timothy Dash stand firm against false teaching B. The nature/description of the heresy - A Jewish Gnostic syncretism - Note: emphasis on misuse of the Old Testament law (Judaizing?); Myths and genealogies (possibly Jewish, but in view of 4:1-4 and 6:20 certainly tinged with paganism); what is "falsely called knowledge" (smacks of some kind of gnostic teaching) C. True teaching about salvation - Paul praises God for salvation: for his and all sinners - God saves even the worst of sinners D. Orthodoxy is URGENT - What chapter 1 is all about; if you don't have correct orthodoxy you are in the realm of Satan - Paul believed orthodoxy was paramount - the faith can be shipped wrecking * Holding onto the fait's * And a good conscience (your life reflects what you say you believe is essential) - Note the consequences of abandoning the faith (example of being thrown out of the boat to the sharks)

Date and place of writing (Titus)

After Paul's released from prison in Rome Dash following ministry in Crete A. Paul wrote this letter to Titus sometime after his two year house arrest recorded in acts 28. thus, we must date it after 62 AD (though it is impossible to determine if Titus preceded or follows 1 Timothy) B. Though a variety of locations are suggested for its place of origin, we cannot know with certainty where Paul was when he wrote the letter - Various suggestions include Ephesus, Macedonia, Nicopolis and Corinth -However, none of these can be substantiated

The conduct required of slaves (Titus)

Culturally conditioned - so that masters wouldn't see their Christian slaves as worse than non-Christians (to make the gospel look good)

As to genre, the author argues that 2 Timothy: A. Is most likely a friendship letter B. Is a deathbed "testament" written after Paul's death C. Probably fits the category of "Ambassadoral" letter D. It's not so obviously a "testament" that it has to be pseudonymous

D

Major objectives in 1 Timothy include all of the following EXCEPT: A. Help Timothy address would be teachers B. Provide guidelines for selecting local leaders C. Give practical directions for regulating the support of widows D. Urge Timothy to follow Paul's example of faithful service

D

The author promotes the view from 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus that: A. Christians will always be at odds with the prevailing social order B. Trying to present the best possible face to the culture will inevitably lead to compromising the faith C. To win their pagan neighbors to Christ, Christians may, however rarely, need to adopt their ethical values D. In following Christ Christians will sometimes find themselves treated as shameful deviants by the world around them

D

Concluding exhortations of Titus

Do you what is good and greetings 1. To proper conduct before outsiders 2. The basis: we have been transformed through regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (note key theologically crucial affirmations) - Salvation is not based on works = not on merit - 3:8, 14 - the goal of salvation is that believers "devote themselves to doing what is good" (salvation results in works = transformation) - 3:9-11 "works" also shows who are not saved 3. To avoid controversies and divisive people

The question of pseudonymity of the pastoral epistles

Facts to keep in mind - Definition - Often Apocalypses and testaments were pseudonymous - Good letters be - particularly if their style or content call into question their authenticity? Later Christians rejected pseudonymity, mostly on the basis of content, not authorship, as a defense of orthodoxy - but was that the case for the apostolic period? To us, deception seems inherent to the practice, but must that always be the case if the practice was common? We don't have a large enough sample of Paul's writings to measure alleged writings against - what he could or could not have written We can't know how much freedom amanuensis were given in the composition of letters What is at stake here? - Does this call into question the doctrine of inspiration? - Is the authority of the books compromised - Remember: the early church recognized their authority and canonized these letters

Introduction/greetings of Titus

Fairly elaborate greeting - Orthodoxy and godliness

Call to courageous use of timothy spiritual gift (2 Timothy)

Fan into flame the gift - Laying on of hands when the gifting was "revealed" - Deposited to our account to be passed on to others Crucial lessons for ministry - Guard the deposit entrusted to us

Remind her of the examples of Paul's associates (2 timothy)

Follow good examples, not the bad ones! Contrast those disorders in Asia with Onesiphouous' household

Overarching or central message of the pastoral letters taken together

God's household management - the fundamental concerns of the genuine Christian teacher

Or the following instructions "principles" or the "application" of principles (hermeneutics)

If it is a principle it needs to be applied to all Christians John 13:14-15: Wash each other's feet (application of the principle of servant hood) - Bring a sick person a meal Luke 22:19: continuing to practice communion - Practice and also embodies a crucial principle of Jesus body and blood (but doesn't work with pizza and Coke) 1 Corinthians 11- Women wear head coverings - The principal Paul is trying to get at that required the culture bound principle of head coverings Exodus 20;15 - Don't steal Oxen - Don't steal 1 Thessalonians 5:26: Greet with a holy kiss - Application of a principle Scripture is not always normative at the surface level The content (principal) may be supracultural whereas the form (surface application) in which it is expressed in the Bible may be a culture specific The task of biblical interpreters is to discern the supracultural content or meaning and apply it in the most culturally relevant way to today's circumstances

Problem of authorship and the pastoral letters

Internal evidence - The writer calls himself Paul - Personal references seem to point to Paul - The theology of the pastoral is in harmony with what Paul teaches elsewhere - Is mention of "overseers" and "deacons" corresponds with his use elsewhere External evidence - overwhelming support Pauline authorship - Listed in the Muratorian canon (170 AD) - Irenaeus (140-203 AD) - Clement of Alexandria (155-215 AD) - Tertullian (150-222 AD) Evidence is as strong or the pastoral epistles as for most of the other apostles attributed to Paul, except 1 Corinthians and Romans.

Objections to Pauline authorship for the pastoral letters

Linguistic - 306 out of the 848 words in the letters are not found elsewhere and Paul's writings - 175 words are found and no other new testament writing (hapax legomena) - Words/phrases common in Paul are missing - Skeptics allege that the grammar and style diverge too much from other Paulines - Some 60 of that 175 hapaxes occur in the second century church fathers Chronological/historical - Details don't seem to reflect what we know of Paul's career as reported in acts - However, this has less weight if Paul was released from prison in Rome (abrupt ending to Acts) to conduct further years of ministry - such a ministry is suggested in 1 Clement 5:6-7 Theological: not congruent with what we know from Paul's other writings - Key themes missing (i.e. righteousness) - Issues the letters respond to were not on Paul's agenda but emerged at a date after his death - However, in response, the occasion and purposes of the letter determine what subjects the letters treat Ecclesiastical: church structure is to "advanced" for this early in the churches history - Weakest of the objections: how can we say how quickly or slowly the church organized to conduct its business? (Elders already in acts 14 and Philippians 1:1 and care for widows in acts 6)

Countering heresy #1 (1 Timothy)

Living holy lives that enhance the gospel - careful control over church worship A. Centrality of universal prayer: for tranquility and for the spread of the gospel - Prayer for all - Prayer for those in authority (supra cultural) B. Central place of Mission that drives us; that always saved - Christ was a ransom for all - (the way to implement this mission is culturally specific because the mission is supra cultural) C. The proper conduct for men and women

Mistaken views about the pastoral letters

Mistaken view that Timothy and Titus were pastors - They were apostolic delegates (would go in like Paul and then troubleshoot rather than pastors) - Titus and timothy can often get lumped together, but written to two people and years apart

Date and place of writing for 1 Timothy (If written by Paul)

Most likely after his release from jail in 62 - 64 AD - He died no later than 68AD We can't pinpoint the place

Countering the heresy #4: (1 Timothy)

Necessary respect and order for church affairs and its leaders A. Have proper respect and motives (for the aged and the youth) B. Care for widows properly - Note balance between church provisions for genuine needs and care to avoid potential abuses * Real widows had no one to care for them * What is on the list: Christian workers pledged to the service of the church and a (pledge not to get married). The church pays her for her ministry to other women (and meets qualifications) - Verse 8A does not command men to be breadwinners for their families, but rather that adults of all ages care for aged relatives when ever possible, (even pagans do as much!) C. Honor, yet test elders - Terminology for church leaders here switches to "elderly" (presbyteros) implying maturity - "Honor" clearly involves financial remuneration D. Slaves must honor their masters (to avoid a bad reputation in the world)

Other objections (besides linguistic) to the pastoral epistles being authentically Pauline

No mention of Mission to Crete in acts - But acts is a very selective history of the early church - and most pseudonymous Works lack a concrete setting Some say the organization of the local congregation reflect a post Pauline stage in institutional development - But Philippians already refers to overseers and deacons - And there is no direction on division of labor, just qualifications for ministry Theology: these letters emphasize "good works" and stress the moral obligations of the Christian faith - But we must also noticed the commonalities while observing the differences - Nature of the heresy address - gnosticism (theory second century) Genre Dash "testament" - 2 Timothy - But 2 Timothy is not so obviously a specimen of the testamentary genre that it has to be pseudonymous 1 Timothy and Titus could be seen as adaptions of royal correspondents

Closing of 2 Timothy

Personal facts and requests - Roster of personnel (including Priscilla and Aquila) - Paul's first defense - Final greetings

Countering the heresy #3: (1 Timothy)

Teach true godliness as opposed to asceticism A. The error of asceticism (demonic in origin) B. The proper antidotes - Sound doctrine: theology matters (indicts our current dismissal of doctrine/theology in favor of what we perceive as relevant or "true for me") - Spiritual disciplines/exercises (even more crucial than bodily exercise. Again, we seem to reverse the order) C. An encouraging word to Timothy - Be faithful despite your "youth," for a faithful use of spiritual gifts and living an exemplary life counter criticism against anyone (for the ancient world, the division between youth and maturity was 40!)

Notes from book - 1 Timothy

The author promotes behaviors and attitudes that will reinforce an image of Christians as people who support and respect the social orders - Friends of the Pax Romana, supporting the peace and its guarantors through their prayers and leading unobjectionable, indeed exemplary lives - This is the preferred strategy for evangelism

Ministry formation from the pastoral epistles

The character of Christian leaders - Authenticity is foundational to affective ministry Leadership in the church is a noble task that requires people of noble mind, virtuous conduct, and proven character so that the church and the gospel will not be disgraced Church discipline calls for both courage and humility on the part of the people involved The leader must keep insulating him or herself from the power of shame and the terror of suffering for the sake of boldness for the gospel, or else become a mere puppet for the powers that be Differences of opinion about theology, ethics, and practice will continue among Christians until Jesus second coming. The work of the kingdom, however, must be given priority The pursuit of wealth often leaves very little time for the discovery and exercise of those gifts that God has given each one of us for the nurture of the church and the care of others

Greek word for breathed into by God (God breathed)

Theopneustos

Purpose of 2 Timothy

To pass the baton onto Timothy - Pass on wisdom, encouragement, fortified

Titus' task

To qualify and appoint elders - Different from 1 Timothy where there needed to be replacement elders (here more pioneering) A. This implies a different situation than for Timothy at Ephesus where elders already function and needed to be replaced. Crete was probably only recently evangelized, and the church was not yet qualified to select its own leaders - Start with elders and eventually can recruit deacons under them B. Criteria refer the consistent with 1 Timothy 3 C. Verses 5,7 link "elder" with "overseer/bishop." At this stage the terms are synonymous

What factors could account for the vocabulary and style distinctives of the pastoral epistles?

Unusual vocabulary - 13-16 unique to New Testament words per page versus 4-6 in the undisputed letters - Many common particles and connecting words are absent - The non-Pauline vocab seems to have more in common with early second century literature These can be attributed to: - The specifics of the historical situation - The teaching and behavior of the opponents - The use of earlier traditional material - Expanded range of topics requires an expanded vocab - Different scribe or no scribe

The proper conduct for men and women (1 Timothy 2:8-15)

Verse 8 (men) - Abiding principle: right spirit, moral purity - Cultural application: pray with "holy hands" Verses 9-10 (women) - Abiding principle: modesty, chastity, propriety - Cultural application: dress, jewelry, hair Verses 11-12 (women) - Abiding principal #1: Women submit to men (husbands) - Cultural application #1: Don't ever teach men (husbands) - Abiding principal #2: Teachers (women must not promote false doctrines or subvert cultural norms) - Cultural application #2: Don't teach or usurp authority There are a number of places Paul permits women to teach so this is probably not what Paul is getting at- so women not teaching in this context probably somehow tied to promoting the heresy 1. The role of men in prayer - Holy hands = with hearts free from ill will 2. Women's deportment and dress 3. The imperative for women to learn in quietness - The childbirth reference doesn't mean women will be saved from pain or from death - women's salvation comes not in usurping authority * So either tied back to the cold in someway or women will be saved through the curse through faith, love, and holiness (curse - reminder of what Eve did) Eve —> childbearing—> Artemis —> infection in the church

Thanksgiving for Timothy spiritual heritage (2 Timothy)

What a blessing: three generations of faithfulness in the Jewish and Christian faith - Tells Timothy he needs to build on his own heritage

The qualifications that mark mature believers qualified to lead (1 Timothy)

What was the point of such criteria for Timothy in his role at Ephesus? - This is probably not an exhaustive list - How important is it to apply these criteria today? For example, what about "managing their households well"; "not lovers of money" (what salary package do we "require") or "well thought of by outsiders"? Why is the "husband of one wife" given so much scrutiny? And what does that mean? Options: - Must be currently married? (Rules out Paul and Jesus!) - Must never had more than one wife? - Never divorced? (As a pre-Christian conversion? Does a widower qualify?) - against polygamous men - Currently characterized by marital fidelity (a one woman kind of man)? - Not that they have to be married but that they are faithful husbands