Why does 1 Timothy 3 require church leaders to be husbands and fathers?
Paul carries the Old Testament premise into church leadership: leaders must lead intelligently and from experience, having carried the responsibility of husband and father. Just as Sanhedrin members needed marriage and children to judge family relationships, church leaders need that same family experience to guide the church.
Les explains that under the Jewish Old Testament economy, a man could not be a member of the Sanhedrin unless he was married and had children. The reason is that one cannot judge family relationships without having experienced them. Les then says Paul carries this same premise into the leadership of the Church in 1 Timothy chapter 3: leaders must be able to lead intelligently and from experience, having had the responsibility of being a husband and a father. Les uses this to press the question of where churches get their reasons for church government or organization.
More Questions
Where does the Bible give the reasons for church government and organization?
1 Timothy chapter 3 is one of the places to look for the biblical reasons behind a church's government or organization.