The Pulpit

[Barry]

And Barry I live in the trenches that you would have no idea about and have for years.

How do you know what I have and have not experienced?

IHS,
Barry[/color]

[Jimbob]

I was wondering the same thing.

[s1n4m1n]

Seekr,

1 Tim 5:17

17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

I thought that passage reads "labor in the word and doctrine".

And it is about "elders".

Ken

[Barry]

Ken,
Pastors are Elders.

Barry

[s1n4m1n]

Ken,
Pastors are Elders.

Barry

I was thinking of "preachers" since Jerry said preachers/pastors.

Does the ICC (I think that's your affiliation) teach that preachers are pastors?

Ken[/color]

[Barry]

I am in the Christian Church (Independent). I am considered a preaching/paid elder of the church. Unfortunately, not all of our churches view it that way, but it is certainly much more biblical than the other method. The fact is, most preachers are pastors/elders whether the church wants to give them that title or not. In fact, if you look at what elders are supposed to do, you will find that most preachers do a whole lot more "eldering" than most elders do.

IHS,
Barry

[s1n4m1n]

That's interesting.

Are the qualifications in 1 Tim. and Titus followed, you know, "husband of one wife" and such.


Ken

[Barry]

Hi Ken,
Yes, although different people interpret that particular qualification differently. For me it isn't an issue as I've been married to my spouse and no other.

IHS,
Barry

[Bon Voyage]

Ken,

I am part of a Bible Church tradition.  In my tradition almost all preachers are called pastors and are elders.

[memmy]

Couldn't it be that the idea of one wife as a qualification for an elder, just mean a solo wife, meaning that they only have one wife at the present time?

In those days many were married to more than one wife which probably took up more time than those who only had one, which could take too much time away from the responsibility of eldership. :D

Memmy

[Barry]

Hi Memmy,
I've heard that before, but from my research, polygamy was not an accepted or common thing in that culture at all. I think the interpretation of "one-woman man" is the best one. The idea is that he is faithful to the wife that he has. I personally do not think it rules out a divorced man, and I certainly don't think it rules out a man who was never married.

IHS,
Barry