It is normal to ask for abstinence when being in a position that requires dedication to God and taking care of the Church.

If the bible was self-evident interpretation wise there wouldn't be 3000+ Protestant denominations

The great Protestant experiment failed, give it up

In the times then, sure, Christianity was emerging, the pool of people was small, so at least you ask that someone hasn't been practising polygamy

But we can see that it was mainstream that if someone was married prior to being a bishop, he would abandon conjugal rights

Those Bishops and early Christian's were looking at the same Scripture you are, but also participating the the living Body of Christ's Church. Unbelievably few of them were married, and all of them under very specific circumstances. Many Bishops were widowers, which is not the same thing.

It's almost as though those Christians operating with more information than us ended up practicing celibacy once they became Bishops.

On purpose.

I'll talk about it with a priest. Right now I am unconvinced and I trust the Lord my God to guide me to the Truth, so that my soul will be tucked away with Him and be written in the Book of Life.

I will also consult my elders.

When in doubt, it is a nice idea to see if there was a very prominent idea in the earliest Church

Calling clerical celibacy "traditions of men" is in itself a tradition of men

It doesn't have to be strictly decisive, but if you see there are many writtings against a position, explicitely and clearly, it should be something to consider

Also, when in doubt, BEGOME ORDODOGS :DDD

Orthobro, do your priests marry?

And have children

@OrthoBro

We just ask for this discipline, ONLY for a positon of special holyness, that requires special dedication. It is pointless to say that we cant have this requirement as if it contradicted a verse that refers to forbidding marriage, when people are free to not to pursue this position

It says in the previous chapter that bishops have wives and children. It never changes the subject.

Orthodox have married priest though I don't know the detail. Orthobro said up above that the Bishops are pulled from celibates

Do any of you understand my hesitation?

I can see why the passage would be confusing without historical context yes

Back then it would be the case that someone who was ordained bishop had a previous marriage, that chapter merely refers to the fact that a bishop should be a person with integrity, which excludes people with more than one wife

But you have the two oldest and largest Christian branches in agreement on it.

If a verse mentions that a bishop must be a good person, it is normal then to ask for the most holy choice of virginity

Noone in those first days were already closely celibate, so if they constrained themselves they'd have no priests or Bishops

They also used to have a way for a person to become Bishop out of popularity

1 Thessalonians 2:11

Otherwise you would be implying that Paul is saying that we cant ask for that much goodness to a bishop, precisely when setting requirements of goodness for a bishop

**1 Thessalonians 2:11 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)**

```Dust


<11> As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, ```

See St. Ambrose of Milan

Alright. I am done here for the day. I love you all in our Lord Christ. I will consult my Elders and the Priest, and read the book he recommended.

Otherwise we're just going to talk ourselves in circles.

I hope you all have a good day. I pray for the Lord's guidance, and if you have been led astray I will pray for you.

Good day bruh

Is Remus secretly Daniel Judd?

That's the impression I'm getting.

Does anyone else replaced Saint with based in casual conversations?
I.e. Based John of the Cross

Means the same thing, essentially. Only Saint means you were so based you got into Heaven.

I don't care even if he is secretly the pope lmao

St. Chav

Idk who judd is, just googled him

Mormons are heretics

*heathens