Command or Practical

With an anti-law theology most commandments were viewed as mere expediencies. All Christian commands could be changed as the environment warranted.

• • change to a diocese system under Clement.

  • Celibacy under the influence of Marcion, marriage of bishops was seen as an expedient, not as a command.

This violated Paul's letter to Timothy, which looked at Bishops and marriage as a command. Paul gave the command to Timothy after the other verses Catholics use were written, thus he did not use them for celibacy as Catholics did. He wrote many of the verses they use, and did not use them to create celibacy among Elders/Bishops.

1Ti 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

The commands in Paul's letter were to be considered commands and unchangeable. Catholics simply argued the commands were not commands at all. Which is a sense of the lawlessness of the Catholic church in these areas.

Remember Faith is a go here go there type concept, arguing against God's commands is a lack of faith, as if Christ allowed you to grow the church as you wish.

Despite all the scriptures used to show the wisdom of celibacy, neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit chose to implement celibacy concerning Elders/Bishops. By God's wisdom which is superior, the unique office of Bishop, required marriage or those who had been married and raised families.

1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

When you look at the arguments by Catholics, all are heavily slighted and easily clarified.

Consider:

• 1. Jeremiah was told, Jer 16:1-2, not to take a wife in this place. (Jeremiah wasn't made celibate, he was forbidden to take a wife from one Location.)

  2. Jesus said some make themselves eunuch's for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake. Where did Jesus apply this to the office of Bishop? Presumptuous to apply to Bishops when the Church had no Bishops when spoken. Matt 19:10-12

  3. Peter said, if so it is better not to marry, Matt 19:10-12, Jesus corrected his thinking saying not everyone can receive this. This has nothing connecting it to Bishops. It would make the Genesis passage that man should cling to his wife seem irresponsible on God's part.

  4. Catholics use some non-bishops who were single to create precedence for Bishops. Paul was single but not a local elder/bishop.

  5. Catholics use I Cor.7 in various ways, but leave out many clarifying details.

1Co 7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

1Co 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

They fail to acknowledge it was a time of severe persecution, thus he was saying times will be tough for the married.

This would not allow Elders to leave their wives since commanded to stay with them, and it doesn't say the unmarried without families can be elders.

Again, them applying all the human wisdom in the world does not change what God ordained. They are simply rejecting God's wisdom.