Can someone be saved by reading the NIV?

[pneu-engine]

I agree, Bakers-6. :D

The phrase, "husband of one wife" can be taken to mean, "husband of one [b]living[/b] wife".

Jerry,

I've heard those arguments, too, and still wonder mine-own-self does the passage mean, "never divorced", or does it mean, "must have a wife". I know what my personal preferences are, but suppose a man who has the nature of celibacy (and I really think that it is a God-given attribute not to need or desire female companionship) desires the office of deacon or wants God to use him as a pastor. I'm still working on this one. :)

[pneu-engine]

It still remains though, that any and all divorcees are rendered non-usable for the office of deacon or the position of pastor/teacher. For an evangelist to be divorced, who would give him credibility; I know I wouldn't. We are allowed to use God-given common sense.

[chev1958]

[quote]
Was that comment really necessary?
[/quote]

I'm sorry, Chelle, that wasn't intended to be offensive nor smart-alecky. One of these days, I'll learn.

Mitch

[Jerry]

[quote="Bakershalfdozen"]
Of course, God may see a widower-remarried man as only having one wife and a divorced-remarried man as still being married to his first wife so, not sure on that one.
[/quote]

When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman in John chapter four, He did not state she "[b]has[/b] five husbands", but that "thou hast [b]had[/b] five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband." Verse 18.

[Bakershalfdozen]

Ok, yeah. I was trying to think of an example. Thanks.

[chev1958]

A widowed pastor, I believe, is still qualified. The death of his wife frees him from the law. He still fulfilled the standards of 1 Tim and Titus, even if he doesn't remarry, IMHO.

But I'm of the persuasion pastors and deacons must have "only one living wife," as PE so adeptly put it. A pastor needs a helpmeet, and a deacon who really is a deacon (and just doesn't play one on TV) will need a helpmeet as well.

It kind of goes to the credibility issue PE is talking about with divorced evangelists. Marriage difficulties will be one of the most difficult and frequent issues a pastor deals with. If he's not married, no matter how knowledgeable he is about what the Bible says about marriage, he will not come across as credible.

A fellow co-worker who is Roman Catholic is going through a divorce right now. His wife is leaving him with four children. He's a great guy, and it's hard to imagine why any woman wouldn't appreciate him. He has come to me for counseling because his two priests can't relate to his situation, and haven't displayed a true pastoral love (if what he's telling me about their counsel is true).

Mitch

[Mike]

:goodpost:

[Guest Guest]

Boy has this thread gotten off-topic! My reply to an unfounded insult was mostly the cause of this, I know. But the answer to the OP is that almost every version contains enough of the Word of God as to be able to cause a listener to hear, and Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

I believe that most versions [i]contain[/i] the Word of God; the King James Bible is the only Book that [i]is[/i] the Word.


In final response to the Off-topic topic, there are many schools of thought on this. By the Old Testament Law, a man was absolved of his marriage by a divorce. Christ taught that a man or woman commits adultery by divorce. Today's law also absolves a marriage by a legal divorce. I believe that the verses in the Bible that deal with this issue and Pastors is talking about polygamy, not divorce. Different people must decide, based on the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Ghost on what they believe on this issue. For instance, if the pastor of the church that you are attending is 'double-married," and you feel that this is wrong, then leave; don't attend such a church. Different people interpret this differently, which causes confusion when they try to impose it on others. I say to figure out what you believe, and abide by it.

[Mike]

MC,

Are you saying that we should abide by the law of today concerning Divorce rather than what Christ taught?

[Bakershalfdozen]

[quote]
Today's law also absolves a marriage by a legal divorce.
[/quote]

Mark 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

[quote]
Different people must decide, based on the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Ghost on what they believe on this issue. For instance, if the pastor of the church that you are attending is 'double-married," and you feel that this is wrong, then leave; don't attend such a church. Different people interpret this differently, which causes confusion when they try to impose it on others. I say to figure out what you believe, and abide by it.
[/quote]

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

[Chelle]

Well, MC, you're right about one thing. Everybody has to decide.

Are you going to obey God (Christ) or man?

[lettheredeemedsayso]

You know this may be another weed.
I vaguely remember there being a scripture in the law that states if someone is divorced that they could not remarry their former spouse.
He specifically stated a former spouse. It seems to me that if remarriage was totally out of the question that he would have addressed it at all. He would have stated, point blank, there is no remarriage.
I will have to do some research and I will provide the exact scriptures.

[Mike]

[quote="My Saviour Leads Me"]
You know this may be another weed.
I vaguely remember there being a scripture in the law that states if someone is divorced that they could not remarry their former spouse.
He specifically stated a former spouse. It seems to me that if remarriage was totally out of the question that he would have addressed it at all. He would have stated, point blank, there is no remarriage.
I will have to do some research and I will provide the exact scriptures.
[/quote]

Definetly please let me know about this. Never heard nothing like that.

[Jerry]

Linda is referring to this passage of Scripture:

Deuteronomy 24:3-4 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

God says it is an abomination when someone goes back to their previous spouse, when that previous spouse has been married and divorced again. Verse 1 and 2 also discuss divorce, which was the passage that Jesus was quoting.

1 Corinthians 7 lays it out for the Christian - while a Jew may have been able to do certain things in this area (have more reasons for divorce, and be able to remarry, though not the same spouse), the NT commandments for Christians are a lot stricter. From what I understand, this chapter (and the quotes from Jesus Himself) teaches that the only reason in God's sight for divorce is in the case of adultery/fornication or when the non-Christian departs (ie. leaves the marriage relationship) the Christian (not the other way around). Then Paul states in the same chapter about remaining unmarried or being reconciled to the same spouse (of course, I believe that this would not be allowed if that spouse got remarried and divorced in the meaning - God hasn't changed and the things that were an abomination to Him in the OT are still an abomination).

[lettheredeemedsayso]

Pertaining to those who are remarried:

Deut 24:1-4