Ok I will take that as an answer. You would not write a letter to the slave owner and ask him to let you pay his bill and send the slave back. Someone might say, you should do that because that is what Paul would do. But you would say, that does not apply because we are in a culture today where this kind of thing is outlawed everywhere and our government will protect this man and I am not under any biblical obligation based on the literal reading of Philemon to do it exactly the way Paul with Onesismus. Therefore cultural conditions can be taken into consideration when we read instructions about Slaves and masters.
I am sure that every thinking person can agree with this and it is also true that women were treated like slaves and that they suffered conditions in the 1st century that was not the will of God for men to treat women but it was going to take centuries to changes. We are still in that transition in many parts of the world they haven't changed at all.
If he says that a bishop or elder should be blameless married to one wife it is because it was assumed he would be a male since it would have been unheard of to allow a woman to be a bishop. It is not a specific ban on women. It is assumed due to the culture of that day. Yes I do see a cultural context. The treatment of women and slaves are two examples that should be considered in a cultural context.
You said..........
"If he says that a bishop or elder should be blameless married to one wife it is because it was assumed he would be a male since it would have been unheard of to allow a woman to be a bishop. It is not a specific ban on women. It is assumed due to the culture of that day. Yes I do see a cultural context. The treatment of women and slaves are two examples that should be considered in a cultural context."
Again, you are saying that "Culture" dictates the meaning of God's Word.
So by that "Philosophic" position, homosexuality is today OK with God as the culture today has accepted it as normal.
Then by that same thinking.....abortion is now OK with God because society has accepted it as birth control.
I say NO!
God said...........
"This is a true saying, if a
man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the
husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach".
A Pastor must be a "Married MAN" according to God.....not culture or society.