1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. Titus, brother of Africaner, was the only individual on the station who had two wives, and fearing the influence of example, I have occasionally made a delicate reference to the subject and by degrees could make more direct remarks on the point which was one of the barriers to his happiness; but he remained firm, admitting, at the same time, that a man with two wives was not to be envied, and added, "He is often in an uproar, and when they quarrel he does not know whose part to take." He said, he often resolved when there was a great disturbance, he would pay one off. One morning I thought the anticipated day had come. He approached my door leading an ex upon which one of his wives was seated. "What is the matter?" I inquired. Giving me a shake of his hand, and laughing, he replied, "Just the old thing over again. Mynheer must not laugh too much at me, for I am now in for it." The two wives had quarrelled at the outpost, and the one in a rage had thrown a dry rotten stick at the other, which had entered the palm of her hand, and had left a piece about an inch long, and the thickness of a finger. The hand had swollen to nearly four times its usual size. "Why" I asked, "did you not bring her sooner?" "She was afraid to see you, and would not come till I assured her that you were a maak mensche(a tame man). Having made an incision and extracted the piece of wood, she was melted into tears with gratitude, while I earnestly exhorted her to a better way of life. (Dr. Moffatt.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.WEB: Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. |
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