Setting Things In Order

b. Let’s consider the phrase using Greek Parsing. Recall Greek Parsing means “to divide (a sentence) into grammatical parts and identify the parts and their relationship to each other.” Reference, Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

1) In this case, we will examine a word or phrase in a sentence from the Greek Text to connect its adjective or verb; to its proper definite article, noun, or pronoun; that agrees within the Text by (case, number, and gender).

2) We explain this process more entirely in the lesson: "The Husband of One Wife."

3) Let's consider a brief snapshot of this process. Observe,

c. The phrase in Greek: “One wife a husband,” 1 Timothy 3:2, NRSV, page 720.

1) The word “one” in Greek is: “heis,” which is an adjective (numeral), modifying its upcoming noun in the Text.

2) The word “wife” in Greek is: “gyne,” which is a feminine noun, completing the phrase. The word “wife” refers to a woman married or betrothed. The word wife is the person in this verse and it does not imply the state of marriage, which the verb “gameo" does.

3) The phrase “a husband” in Greek is: “aner,” which is a noun referring to the words “a bishop,” earlier mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:1.

4) Thus, complete the sentence: "heis gyne aner” or “one wife a husband.” In Greek Parsing, we map this sentence in this manner:

a) The word “one” is “heis,” an adjective, A-GSF.

b) The word “wife” is “gyne,” a noun, N-GSF.

NOTE: Each word agrees in case, number, and gender— [GSF--means Genitive Singular Feminine].

c) The word “a” is the definite article “ho,” or T-ASM, connecting the word “bishop,” or “ho episkopos,” the article and noun, are T-ASM and N-ASM, respectively.

d) The word “husband” is “aner,” also a noun, N-ASM.

NOTE: Each word agrees in case, number, and gender— [ASM--means Accusative Singular Masculine].

NOTE: NRSV is the New Revised Standard Version Greek-English Interlinear New Testament. See references below.

d. Conclusion: I, therefore, conclude that the Greek words “heis gyne” meant "one wife," not “married only once”: at the time, the husband desired to be a bishop. The word “one” is an adjective (a cardinal numeral) “one,” modifying its noun “wife,” or, i.e., one (1) wife.

1) This Christian characteristic applies when “anyone desires the office of a bishop or deacon." It does not insinuate he has been "married only once." But he must be "blameless and husband of one wife."

2) This phrase is not a prohibition to the number of times one can be married, but how many wives the husband can be married to when he desires the office of a bishop.

3) And so, says the Greek! (Through Greek Parsing). See [One, µias — numeral], www.BLB.org.

e. Conclusion: I believe we all can agree that Paul's instruction was that a candidate being considered for leadership "must be blameless, and husband of one wife” at the time of his consideration. The words "must be blameless" forms the very foundation of not only his marriage but all the other Christian characteristics: the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to mandate for the prospective leader to meet, and having so proven before the entire congregation, as well as “those without,” within the community, 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 6:1-6.