President Trump Is Morally Unfit For Office

There…we said it.   We the members of Philadelphia Apostolic Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, NC affirm, & do not deny:  based on the clear teaching of 1 Timothy 3, Donald J. Trump is morally unfit for office 

What follows is our reasoning: 

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach,faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

1. The Greek word for overseer (ἐπισκοπῆς) in a non-religious context refers to an inspector / inspector general.    

We see then that an episkopos is a person who looks at something intensely.  In the ancient Greek world, an episkopos could be a military general who periodically visited various units of the army to make them stand inspection. If the troops were alert, sharp, and battle-ready, then they received the commendation of the episkopos. If the troops were slovenly and ill-prepared, then they received a stinging rebuke from the episkopos. (RC Sproul)

In non-biblical Greek the gods were referred to as episkopoi, that is as over-seers and protectors of men. Likewise men were referred to as episkopoi, as overseers or tutors or guardians, or even scouts or spies. One special usage should be noticed: in the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. the word was used for the governors or magistrates sent from Athens to rule over the cities that were under its authority. Other government officials held the title of episkopos as members of the secret police or as judges. Still others were in charge of money matters. And later on even Emperor Constantine was called an episkopos (Donald Deer).

2. The Bible, in the Temptation Narratives teaches the 3fold use of the Law & Gospel : Individual/Familial, Ecclesiastical, and CIVIL.    Thus, the quasi-axiomatic excuse among the People that they voted for Policy &/or President — not a Pope — ought to be challenged & confuted by application of the Bible correctly exegeted, exposited, & understood. 

3. The Transitional Prophets (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, John the Baptist, & David) & Christ (the Redeemer-Mediator) all exercise the Keys common & corresponding to the 3fold offices of Prophet, Priest, & King.   Other characters like the Davidic kings, exercise 2 of the 3 keys.  Josiah & David are depicted as prophet-warrior kings.   The prophets Jeremiah & Ezekiel are depicted as priestly prophets.  

The offices & their keys are perichoretic, reflecting the essence & attributes of God in whom they inhere.

• God is a triune Spirit 
• Father, Son, Spirit 

• 3 Cardinal Offices
• Prophetic, Priestly, Kingly 

• 3 General Uses
• Individual, Ecclesiastical, Civil 

• 3 Sets of Qualifications 
• Individual, Ecclesiastical, Civil 
• Prophetic, Priestly, Kingly 

The qualifications are perichoretic just as God’s attributes are perichoretic.  Ergo, the qualifications for ecclesiastical office apply to the offices of prophet king/judge/ruler/governor. 

4. To those who claim the term “exousia” applies to rulers & authorities & the term “episkopos,” because it appears in 1 Timothy in connection to ecclesiastical authority & ought to be there confined we say that the term “exousia” appears in prophetic & ecclesiastical contexts as well as civil.   

We agree with Gotquestions.org: 

Exousia is a Greek word most often translated as “authority” or “power.” It is especially used in terms of moral influence. Exousia can also be thought of in terms of jurisdiction or dominion over a certain realm, right, privilege, or ability.

Exousia is used in Matthew 7. Verses 28–29 say, “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority [exousia], and not as their teachers of the law.” The word is also used in Matthew 9:6 when Jesus demonstrates that He has “authority” to forgive sins by healing a paralyzed man. The word is again used in Matthew 21:23–27 when the chief priests and elders question Jesus’ authority. Interestingly, in Luke 4:6 it is exousiawith which Satan tempts Jesus. However, in Ephesians 1:18–23 we see that Jesus is far above all authority, dominion, and power.

 Colossians 1:15–20 and Colossians 2:10 also affirm the supremacy of Jesus. True exousia is His.

When Jesus commissioned His disciples, He gave them a measure of authority, too. In Mark 6:7 Jesus gives the Twelve authority, or exousia, over impure spirits when He sent the disciples out to preach.

Ephesians 2:2 talks about the “ruler of the kingdom [exousia] of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” But this is not a ruler we need fear. Ephesians 3:10–11 says, “[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we struggle against those powers or authorities. But it also assures us that God has given us spiritual armor for the battle and that we can be strong in the Lord and His mighty power.

Colossians 1:13–14 encourages, “For he has rescued us from the dominion [exousia] of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 2:15 tells us that Christ has “disarmed the powers and authorities [exousia]” and “made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” We battle a defeated foe because we serve the One who has authority over all (see also 1 Corinthians 15:20–28 and 1 Peter 3:21b–22).

Paul uses exousia when talking about the “right” the apostles had to receive financial help from those they served (1 Corinthians 9:1–18; 2 Thessalonians 3:9). He also uses the word in talking about a potter’s “right” to form his clay as he wishes (Romans 9:21)—a picture of God’s right to make and mold us.

Exousia is used in Romans 13 and Titus 3:1 in the context of governmental authority. It is also used in 2 Corinthians 10:8 and 13:10 to talk about the authority God gave Paul for building up the church.

Exousia is used multiple times in Revelation discussing the power and authority given to various players in the end times. It is also used in Revelation in reference to the ultimate authority of Christ. Revelation 22:14 is a great encouragement: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Ultimately, believers will be given the right, or exousia, to eat from the tree of life.

Therefore, the term “ ἐξουσία” is not exclusive to civil authority & is rightly construed as “authority” in general, whereas“ ἐπισκοπῆς” refers to a particular authority bearing office.  

I Timothy deploys it ecclesiastically.  Extrabiblical literature demonstrates its use in multiple contexts.  While Paul speaks directly to the qualifications for ecclesiastical office, in light of the 3 uses of the Law & Gospel, the perichoretic nature of the 3 Offices $ 3 Keys, & the perichoretic usage of “exousia” in multiple contexts, we believe that the preponderance  of evidence demonstrates that the qualifications for ecclesiastical office are applicable to the offices of prophet & king/governor as well.  

5. Qualifications for Overseer 

• Above Reproach:  Donald Trump is by no means a man who is above reproach.  This particular qualification reminds us that an overseer in the home, in the ecclesiastical assembly, &/or as a ruler/governor of the People ought to be a uniter whenever possible, not a divider.  In addition, the overseer should be as free from scandal as is morally required, necessary & possible.  

This is does not mean scandal may not, from time to time, erupt around him &/or among the People.  Rather, the overseer ought not be a lightning rod for scandal if at all possible & ought not be one who places themselves in the public square inviting moral, legal, economic, &/or sociopolitical controversy — especially controversy that really & truly places privately &/or publicly himself or herself in the at &/or in the center of a scandal — and, if the scandal be truly false & conspiratorial,  s/he ought not to seek office; nor should they, for the betterment of the People, themselves, & the State, continue in office.   

• Faithful to his wife:  The Bible, in Matthew 5:28, is clear that lustful intent defines sexual immorality & the identity of the object of that lust defines the sort of sexual immorality committed.

His words about Kamala Harris, Hilary Rodham Clinton, & many others are well known, as is his history of adultery.  In addition, the Stormy Daniel’s case & his desire to suppress the content of the Epstein Files, in our opinion, speak volumes about his attitude toward women, especially women whom he sees as objects of his sexual desire &, when with him, symbols of his alleged virility. 

President Trump is a known unrepentant serial adulterer & misogynist — neither of which ought to characterize the life &/or reputation of a governor of the People. 

• Temperate (Sober): The overseer must be wise/prudent, one who deploys a balanced, judicious, careful approach to the handling of his/her/their own & others’ character flaws, especially as to their own  & others’ mortification of sin.  This qualification for office also reminds us of the need for moderation &/or the exercise of restraint in both public & in private.  

His latest speeches & acts leave no room for doubt that he is tone deaf to the sound of his own voice:  

1. He has publicly stated that he doesn’t love his enemies & does not desire the best for them.  
2. He continues to lie about his achievements.  
3. He has not ended 7 wars.   
4. There is no evidence that he lost his 2nd bid for President due to election fraud.  
5. His choice of a photo of an autopen signing a document in lieu of a proper portrait of President Biden is just plain tacky & mean-spirited.  

• Self-Controlled: The overseer need not be sinless in order to be a good & just ruler/governor.   However s/he must be neither impulsive by nature nor prone to impulsive behavior.  An overseer must carefully & judiciously regulate his/her/their impulsiveness  as to their thoughts, words, & deeds &, when called upon, help others to do so as well — especially as to the mortification of sin, not only individually but also corporately. The overseer must also exercise a degree of discretion & self-discipline so as not to get unnecessarily caught up in others’ drama.  

Donald Trump’s behavior in falsely accusing immigrants in Springfield OH of “eating the dogs” is just one example of his lack of self-control in a public forum.   In addition, his use of social media also displays a propensity to generate controversy, harass his rhetorical (& other) opponents including Rosie O’Donnell & Kathy Griffin & even his erstwhile ally, Elon Musk.    It’s as if he doesn’t realize that he represents the nation, not just himself, when does these things.   

• Respectable:  An overseer ought to be a person of honor, respected by members of his/her/their household, family, business associates, fellow church members/churchgoers (if any), peers, & community.   Ideally, this respect should cut both ways & be voluntary on the part of everyone involved. 

Donald J. Trump, on September 21, 2025, at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in AZ, did openly & brazenly profess to hate his enemies/opponents, not wishing the best for any of them.   In addition, his callous remarks about President Emeritus Biden, who has been recently diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer, his & Vice President Vance’s abuse of President Zelensky, & breaches of etiquette when visiting the UK when Elizabeth II was Queen & now most recently when visiting Charles III, by, on both occasions, stepping in front ot them at Windsor. In the first, he breached protocol.  In the second, he followed the letter, but one wonders what was in his heart.  In addition, posting a photo of himself as the Pope, his  & his propensity to place his faith in popularity over respectability all put his ego on full display, & demonstrate that he is most certainly a man who chronically puts himself first & is an embarrassment both to his own name (which means “Mighty Ruler”) & to the nation.

We remind ourselves, the nation, & Mr. Trump that a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

• Hospitable:  The overseer must not be prone to surround himself with sychophants & other sorts of “yes men.”    An overseer ought to be welcoming — Paraclete to people unlike himself, walking the path set forth in Matthew 5:41 - 48 — meaning the President must always be seen respecting, reinforcing, promoting, & protecting the Civil Rights of all people & people groups, especially those American society (and others) have historically failed: women, immigrants, LGBTQ people, & other maligned &/or marginalized members of American society — not just those of whom the President/the Party &/or religion (if any) &/or liturgical / quasi-liturgical ideology approves.  S/he must do so from their heart not merely going through the motions.  

In addition, an overseer must also be teachable, willing to hear & understand ideas other than those of the Party &/or one’s own personal ideology. He must not be a respecter of persons (i.e. a practitioner of favoritism) — this includes bigotry in all its forms.   

By way of contrast, Donald J. Trump (like Vice President Vance) has, at times, been charged with misogyny, racism/racial prejudice, & homophobia— none of which should characterize a ruler/governor of the People.   

• Able to teach:   In addition to becoming & remaining teachable, the overseer must also be willing & able to correctly articulate his own point of view & that/those of his party & other associates, including religious as well as sociopolitical & socioeconomic points of view.    

Through his use of (allegedly) hyperbolic statements like Black men are “born (to be) criminals,” & his hypocrisy in painting Washington DC & other cities as hellholes in need of military &/or quasi-military intervention when crime statistics paint a different picture, & his cavalier attitude toward fact-checking all reveal him to be a chronic liar & an illegitimate teacher of the People.  

Psalm 5:3 - 5: For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

• Not given to drunkenness:  The overseer must not allow himself or be prone to allow himself to be one who is frequently inebriated with alcohol, drugs, &/or power.    

Donald Trump’s rise to power, his haughty attitude & abuse of power, & the lengths to which he is willing to go in order to gain, maintain, & sustain power in general & political power in particular are well  known.   He has deliberately & high-handedly sought to manipulate the People & has embarked on a campaign of litigiousness as he & those around him seek to amplify the power of his office in accordance with Project 2025.  These actions, as well as his militarization of our cities & his cavalier attitude toward those targeted by ICE, along with his use of his power & authority to deliberately persecute his opponents (& those of many of his fellow Republicans) all prove that he is a man who is power hungry & drunk on power.   

In 2019, he expressed a belief that the Constitution allows him to do whatever he wants.  In May 2025, while interviewed on Meet The Press, when asked if he needs to, as President, uphold the Constitution, he waffled, replying, “I don’t know.  I have to respond by saying, again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.”

• Not violent but gentle:  These words mean that the overseer must endure persecution from time to time, not abusing his/her/their authority &/or power as they endure hardship/persecution.   The opposites of gentleness are anger, a desire for revenge, and self-aggrandizement.

Donald J. Trump repeatedly bullies & threatens his opponents.  Any good search engine yields evidence that he has used social media to bully &/or lie about himself & other people, including Governor Gavin Newsome, Rosie O’Donnell, Kathy Griffin,  Governor Tim Walz, & a many more.  In addition, he has now professed a belief that he must conduct a war against the enemy from within &, in addition to deploying ICE & the National Guard, he willing to call upon the military to turn some American cities into military training grounds  

Such behavior, like social media addiction (or signs thereof) has no place in the life of an overseer.

• Not quarrelsome:  The overseer must not be one whose heart & mind are unnecessarily argumentative &/or litigious.

In 2022, USA Today reported that he & his businesses have been involved in 4,095 lawsuits over the course of 3 decades.  “They range from skirmishes with casino patrons to million-dollar real estate suits to personal defamation lawsuits.” 

Lawfare Media reports: 

350 active cases challenging Trump administration actions

13 suits by the Trump administration challenging state or local laws

53 suits or appeals dismissed 

16 Supreme Court stays or orders to vacate lower court orders 

1 Supreme Court affirmation of lower court order

9 suits where judges ruled for the federal government

28 suits where judges ruled against federal government

Put together, the qualification precluding a quarrelsome spirit & the qualification mandating gentleness in lieu of a violent spirit preclude warmongering, especially warmongering conducted via corporate & personal vengeance. In addition to his use of tariffs for punitive purposes (see below), Mr. Trump has decided to use the power of his office to pursue his real & perceived personal enemies.  This makes him look easily rattled & exposes his hypocrisy.  On the one hand, he decries the use of the power of the State to pursue him, yet on the other feels few to deploy it as his personal tool for destroying those who he believes once stood &/or now stand in his way.    

• Not a lover of money:  While the Bible does not condemn having lots of money, it speaks against gluttony.  Gluttony encompasses lust for literal money &/or material possessions as well as figurative money & possessions like authority &/or power.  The term also encompasses economic policy &/or activity that (systemically &/or systematically) “unjusts” the hired worker as to wages &/or privileges the rich over the poor &/or the poor over the rich. 

Hawking Teslas on the White House driveway, gilting the White House while the People suffer through rising inflation & other hardships like food insecurity, unjust imprisonment, mounting individual  & State debt, the deprivation of immigrants’ rights/due process, the loss of jobs & the effects of job losses as a result of DOGE’s activity, & his cavalier attitude toward Proverbs 22 — which is clear that those who give to the rich at the expense of the poor will themselves come to ruin — are all examples of his gluttony & moral stupidity.  

• Manages (his) family well: An overseer must sow peace in & among his/her/their family members & manage (not manipulate) them wisely, & neither needlessly nor severely oppress them in the process, preferably not at all.  This qualification applies to the overseer’s behavior in all 3 spheres.  

While we, the members of Philadelphia Apostolic Presbyterian, do not have any information about the internal dynamics of Mr. Trump’s family & how he relates to them &/or they with him, the public record furnishes us (& the world) with documentation of multiple firings within the purview of his administration — firings that have resulted in airplane crashes, needless problems at the citzen-customer level @ the Social Security Administration,  & heavy job losses as a result of DOGE’s activity (losses that have the potential to negatively impact food security, labor disputes, & public confidence & public safety), fears of  possible security breaches, the militarization of Los Angeles, CA & the District of Columbia, & the callous, hamfisted behavior of ICE agents all fit into this category.  

In addition, his tariffs are not merely about American economic hegemony.  He has made it clear that he believes they are punitive.   Likewise, his administration’s involvement in the cancellation of Stephen Colbert & Jimmy Kimmel, threats directed at Seth Meyers & Jimmy Fallon, & general attitude that the FCC is part of the Administration’s propaganda mill & an enforcement arm of it ought to be recognized as reprehensible & morally repugnant in the light of God’s Law & Gospel & legally repugnant to the United States Constitution.  

6. Therefore, Donald J. Trump is morally unfit to hold office as a ruler/governor of the people in general & as President of the United States of America in particular. 

7. HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCHES!   HE WHO HAS AN EAR LET HIM HEAR! 

8. O LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER(S)!