If the wife of a layman has committed adultery and been clearly convicted, such [a husband] cannot enter the ministry; and if she commit adultery after his ordination, he must put her away; but if he retain her, he can have no part in the ministry committed to him.
If a woman had been accused and convicted of adultery,1 her husband was banned from serving as overseer, elder, or deacon. While the man is the one to be recognized or ordained to a position, this does not absolve the woman of responsibility in conduct. They are one flesh, and as such Paul relates how wives are to be faithful to their husbands for them to be considered and serve (1 Tim 3:4-5, 11).
The surprising portion of this canon is the requirement for divorce if she committed adultery after he was ordained. While the need for purity in the marriage of a spiritual leader is paramount, severing the bond is highly extreme. Possibly the intent of the canon was to protect the cleric from a wayward spouse, thus allowing him to continue in his office.
1 This accurately describes what was required in the Law (Deut 19:15-21) forming a basis of what was taught by Christ (Matt 18:15-20) and Paul (1 Tim 5:17-20).
If a woman had been accused and convicted of adultery,1 her husband was banned from serving as overseer, elder, or deacon. While the man is the one to be recognized or ordained to a position, this does not absolve the woman of responsibility in conduct. They are one flesh, and as such Paul relates how wives are to be faithful to their husbands for them to be considered and serve (1 Tim 3:4-5, 11).
The surprising portion of this canon is the requirement for divorce if she committed adultery after he was ordained. While the need for purity in the marriage of a spiritual leader is paramount, severing the bond is highly extreme. Possibly the intent of the canon was to protect the cleric from a wayward spouse, thus allowing him to continue in his office.
1 This accurately describes what was required in the Law (Deut 19:15-21) forming a basis of what was taught by Christ (Matt 18:15-20) and Paul (1 Tim 5:17-20).
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