Some Biblical Instructions Apply More Broadly Than Specifically Mentioned

Because of passages found elsewhere, we know some New Testament instructions apply to more people than who is specifically addressed in a particular passage. Illustrative examples include …

The qualification for an elder include being “vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality … no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous” (I Tim 3:2-3), but everybody knows those traits should be part of every Christians character (Col 3:5 for example).

We are required to have “two or three witnesses” to make a charge against an elder (I Tim 5:19, but two or three witnesses (or other proof) is required to make a charge of sin against any person (II Cor 13:1, Deut 19:15).

Eph 6:4 instructs “fathers” to “provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” but who would argue that command doesn’t also apply to mothers (Eph 6:1, Prov 1:8, 6:20-23, 30:17, 15:20, etc.)?

I Tim 2:9-10 requires “women” to dress modestly, but since it is possible for women to lust after men also (and violate Matt 5:28), we know men need to dress modestly also.

And even though Matt 19:9a (“… Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery”) is put from the standpoint of the man divorcing his wife, the many passages in this linked article would prove it is also authorized for a woman to divorce her husband for fornication – https://www.bibledebates.info/Talks/GenderSwitchingInMDRPassages.DOC

Now the Biblical writer may be doubling down with such statements as the above. For obvious reasons, it is especially important for church leaders to live right, though it is required of all Christians. It is especially important to prove charges against church leaders, though charges of sin against anyone must be proven. Though mothers have a responsibility to bring up children in the Lord also, the father is the head of the family (Eph 5:23). Paul may be doubling down on women dressing modestly because it is possible men have a harder time with lust on the whole. Matt 19:9 probably only puts the divorce scenario from the standpoint of the man so as to use an economy/efficiency of words (to keep from having to say everything twice).

Though there are certainly exceptions, passages like Acts 10:34-35 show us that (as a general rule) most of God’s teachings apply to everybody equally. Let’s be careful to rightly divide God’s word (II Tim 2:15) in this respect.

hear Bible Crossfire Sundays at 8:00 pm central on SiriusXM national radio Family Talk 131 & 62 local stations across America or at www.BibleDebates.info