No idea what you're talking about and what you're getting at. That post was about Paul's reasoning for a bishop's and a deacon's qualificatino, I mentioned nothing about divorce.
How long have you been single?
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Was the apostle Paul married? Divorced? A widower?
www.logosbiblestudy.com
Many scholars, including some early church leaders, point out that Paul was a devout Pharisee. During the first century, it was highly expected, if not strictly required, that Jewish religious leaders and Pharisees be married. Under this theory, it is plausible Paul was once married but his wife either died or divorced him following his conversion to Christianity.
In 1 Corinthians 9:5, Paul defends his right to bring along a "believing wife" like the other apostles. Some commentators interpret this—along with his reference to a "true yoke-fellow" in Philippians 4:3—as evidence that he had a wife who chose not to travel with him on his missionary journeys.
1 Corinthians 9:5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
Was St. Paul Married? — Logos Bible Study
Here’s the question: “Was St. Paul married?” Here’s the answer: Judaism teaches that marriage is the normal, natural state for adults. Unlike in some Christian denominations, refraining from marriage is not considered praiseworthy or holy in Judaism; rather, it is considered aberrant and unnat
www.logosbiblestudy.com
Many scholars, including some early church leaders, point out that Paul was a devout Pharisee. During the first century, it was highly expected, if not strictly required, that Jewish religious leaders and Pharisees be married. Under this theory, it is plausible Paul was once married but his wife either died or divorced him following his conversion to Christianity.
In 1 Corinthians 9:5, Paul defends his right to bring along a "believing wife" like the other apostles. Some commentators interpret this—along with his reference to a "true yoke-fellow" in Philippians 4:3—as evidence that he had a wife who chose not to travel with him on his missionary journeys.
1 Corinthians 9:5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
That's a lot of speculation as to Paul's situation in life based on a few bible passages and cultural norms. I suspect it's much more likely that he was happily fully married maybe even had a couple kids. Then got converted and his wife took the kids and left her apostate husband. That would mesh with what he advised the Corinthians about believers shouldn't leave their unbelieving spouse but if the spouse wants to leave, let them leave the believer isn't bound in such cases. But again it's all speculation because the bible is silent on the details of Paul's marriage or lack thereof.
Because of YOUR comments after a post discussing "controlling his house poorly" If a person has been divorced.
Nope, "controlling his house poorly" means gross negligence or incompetence as the manager of his own household, thus making him not qualified for managing God's household. It has nothing to do with divorce.
It's not a bridge too far...
And maybe it is a bit of speculation...but it's not unreasonable or outrageous.
The biggest thing about it is that it makes Paul just a simple but real person with real and identifiable passions. One of us....and we get uncomfortable with that because we feel more guilty about not doing more.
It also rubs some very common denominational theologies and practices the wrong way......
Kinda like Phoebe at the end of Romans....a woman most conservative denominations want to forget about. But she was a deaconess....and more capable of answering questions on one of the most foundational doctrine books of the New Testament than most Pastors today.
A woman "teacher" and Deaconess....some guys get their misogyny/Trad feelings hurt by the reality of it.
That is dubious, the word for "wife" means woman in general, which could be any female follower who was accepted into the body of Christ, transcending sexism of the time. KJV reads, "Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?" This shows a sister in Christ is accepted and treated equally to the male followers in Christ. Then you read the next few verses, it is clear that "taking along" or "leading about" is referring to evangelizing to their own households, bringing them into the body of Christ. Reading it as a proof of anyone's marital status is out of the context.Was the apostle Paul married? Divorced? A widower?
Was St. Paul Married? — Logos Bible Study
Here’s the question: “Was St. Paul married?” Here’s the answer: Judaism teaches that marriage is the normal, natural state for adults. Unlike in some Christian denominations, refraining from marriage is not considered praiseworthy or holy in Judaism; rather, it is considered aberrant and unnat
Many scholars, including some early church leaders, point out that Paul was a devout Pharisee. During the first century, it was highly expected, if not strictly required, that Jewish religious leaders and Pharisees be married. Under this theory, it is plausible Paul was once married but his wife either died or divorced him following his conversion to Christianity.
In 1 Corinthians 9:5, Paul defends his right to bring along a "believing wife" like the other apostles. Some commentators interpret this—along with his reference to a "true yoke-fellow" in Philippians 4:3—as evidence that he had a wife who chose not to travel with him on his missionary journeys.
1 Corinthians 9:5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
No, take along means to bring as a traveling companion.
“to take along”
περιάγειν (periagein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 4013: To lead or carry about (or around), go about, traverse. From peri and ago; to take around; reflexively, to walk around.
“wife”
γυναῖκα (gynaika)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1135: A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.
You are wrong about interpreting "taking along" or "leading about" to be referring to evangelizing to their own households, bringing them into the body of Christ.
The next few verses have nothing to do with evangelizing their own households. That is far fetched to say the least!
The context is clearly about the right for traveling preachers to bring along a wife and to get financial support, paid expenses on the missions.
1 Corinthians 9
3This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:
4Have we no right to food and to drink?
5Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
6Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?
8Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?
9For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?
10Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.
11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?
12If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
Nonetheless, "believing wife" is translator's own interpretation, gynaika is for female in a general sense, it's the root word for "gynecology". Lord Jesus traveled and evangelized with Mary Magdalene and other women who sponsored him, He was neither married or romantically entangled with any of them. Paul was simply following that example.
And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. (Matt. 27:55-56)
It's not your fault, @JohnDB just gets twitchy if he thinks someone mentioned divorce in a negative way. He is currently on his third marriage if I'm remembering correctly.
He would much prefer to target single people as unfit or inferior, it helps suppress his nagging feelings of inferiority. His mother had a lot of issues and did her best to pass them on to poor Johnny
.This is, of course, assuming that his claim of a happy marriage is accurate; judging from some of his comments you'd swear he was a 30- something incel who spends all day scrolling X and posting from his mother's basement.
Your interpretation is possible, but most scholars claim Paul was married, but his wife died or he divorced her when he became a Christian because she refused to become a Christian, since Paul was a Pharisee and Pharisees were expected to be married.
It is unclear, much speculation involved.
A lot of speculation and nothing Biblical to back up any divorce. Paul studied in Jerusalem under Gamaliel.
If only what you said had any truth to it.It's not your fault, @JohnDB just gets twitchy if he thinks someone mentioned divorce in a negative way. He is currently on his third marriage if I'm remembering correctly.
He would much prefer to target single people as unfit or inferior, it helps suppress his nagging feelings of inferiority. His mother had a lot of issues and did her best to pass them on to poor Johnny
This is, of course, assuming that his claim of a happy marriage is accurate; judging from some of his comments you'd swear he was a 30- something incel who spends all day scrolling X and posting from his mother's basement.
But carry on with your hate....it says volumes about your judgementalism.
But for a reference point...only 30% of people in marriages are successful and never divorced in their lifetimes.
Maybe...just maybe....be MORE like Jesus and try to save the world instead of gossiping, teaching hate and judgemental prejudice.
But that might be a bridge too far for you....dunno.
The entourage of women following Jesus is very different from Paul and the other apostles bringing along a woman in their missionary travels.
The female followers of Jesus were among many other people, but a missionary and his traveling companion were by themselves, so the woman traveling partner had to be a wife, otherwise scandal would erupt.
That's right....Gamaliel was under Hillel. And Paul was under Gamaliel. Something like that...Been a minute since I studied this stuff....I'm just shooting from the hip because it's just the internet and people have access to a WEB OF KNOWLEDGE SPANNING THE GLOBE....at their fingertips. Literally with an AI assistant. And I am NOT a source or resource. I prefer for people to look up things for themselves. (Literally writing a book on the subject)
And for the statement of Paul being divorced....not gonna be in any scripture anywhere. But we do know tradition. Customs, and all sorts of anthropological evidence often completely ignored for flat reading and true "opinion" based on Westernized cultural norms instead of Ancient Near Eastern cultural norms.
The Temple was destroyed in 70AD....nobody argues about that. WHY? It's not biblically stated to be destroyed at that time now is it?
But....
We use a lot of extra biblical sources to ascertain the date, timing, circumstances and method used destroy the Temple don't we?
Kinda like assuming Peter ate fish alot....so did his wife and Mother-in-law.
It's not a stretch to believe such things.
Or that Jesus worked in Sepphoris as a stonemason instead of in Nazareth as a carpenter.
Uncomfortable assumptive truths....but not unlikely even if not directly stated by scriptures.
"Expected to be married" doesn't mean actually and factually married. Paul was at a YOUNG age when he persecuted the church, and very soon, one chapter later, he was converted. Combined with his zeal for Judaism and the law as his top priority, it's reasonable to assume that he was converted before he reached a marriageable age.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. (Acts. 7:57-58)
I don't judge you for being divorced, I don't know the situations surrounding them and might be 100% not your fault.
However, I DO judge many of your comments about singles and women in general. They are divisive and rude, very inappropriate behavior towards your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Your comments towards women are particularly concerning; happily married men simply do not feel the need to denigrate females the way you do. It's rare even among unbelievers and I have NEVER seen such behavior coming from a supposed church leader.
Seems to be getting a lot worse, too. Hope things are OK at home
.
This is still based on the inaccurate translation of "believing wife" instead of a sister in Christ in general. Did Lord Jesus care about scandals, which did erupt when the sinful woman washed his feet with her hair, an extremely indecent, even erotic move?
Judaism teaches that marriage is the normal, natural state for adults.
Unlike in some Christian denominations, refraining from marriage is not considered praiseworthy or holy in Judaism; rather, it is considered aberrant and unnatural. Indeed, the Talmud teaches that an unmarried man is “incomplete,” lacking his bashert, his “soul-mate” (Yebomoth 62b).
In Genesis 2: 18, God says of Adam: “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Thus, in Judaism the primary motive for marriage is not procreation, but companionship and intimacy.
Some rabbis in the Talmud urged that a boy marry upon reaching the age of majority (Sanhedrin 76b), but more commonly a boy would marry around eighteen years old.
A woman publicly anointing or washing Jesus’ feet in the presence of many people is very different from an apostle traveling with a woman, just the two of them. So the verse is likely talking about an apostle bringing his wife along with him, not just a woman he was not married to, which would be inappropriate.
I Corinthians 9
5Have we no right to take along a sister, a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?