Celibacy and why?

[Solomons Porch]

Lets all become celibate then yes! I'm down!

*clears throat and coughs while smirking at her BUD*
GUESS WHO THIS IS?

 

[Solomons Porch]

Hi Solomon's Porch

Here is the answer to your question.

1Co 7:1-9
1) Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2) Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3) Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4) The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5) Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

6) But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7) For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8) I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9) But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

Be Blessed

Nailed it

 

[Hidden In Him]

Example: what IF you are married, one partner wants to be celibate (for personal reasons) but the other not, now this is gonna be a huge problem for sure (or so I suspect) has anyone here had this issue within marriage? and if so how did you handle it and what was the outcome "if not too personal"? If it's too personal simply dont reply I am not expecting you to

I read through the entire post, and it does seem no one addressed question #5:

5. IF married, does your partner do the same OR is celibacy NOT included in a marriage? Was there an agreement made?

Yes, an agreement must be made. From the start of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 7, this was the specific question being raised, though I have yet to ever see verse 1 translated out properly except in more scholarly works.

Proper translation should be, "Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a husband not to have sexual relations with his wife."

This is the way these two Greek words are translated out consistently in the next four verses:

"But since sexual immorality is occurring, each husband should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each wife with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

What brought about the question is the issue of fasting, which is extremely beneficial spiritually to believers (especially those who wish to devote themselves to prayer), but also lessens the sex drive. So the question they had asked Paul was, "Is it good for two married people to abstain from sex, even though married?" He eventually gets to the answer in verse 5, which is again corrupted in most translations:

"Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to fasting and prayer, and then come together again so that Satan not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

Virtually every single authoritative text on the planet includes the words "fasting and prayer" here, yet the word fasting is often written out of modern translations, and this completely obscures proper interpretation of what was being taught.

The teaching was this: A married Christian couple should devote themselves to prayer and fasting (and by extention, celibacy), but only for a time, not forever. The exception for this might be if they have become of such an age that their diminished sex drives no longer pose much of a serious threat to infidelity on either one's part.

But the ultimate goal Paul was urging for all believers, including married Christians, is right here:

"What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away."

Thus, the entire passage was a call for even married couples to live as celibates, if they could do so without becoming tempted and committing adultery. Christians were not to become "engrossed" in the things of this world, so even married couples as much as possible should be giving themselves to spiritual things (not sexual relations). But Paul could give no such command in the matter, for some couples (especially the young ones) might be flirting with real disaster by trying to go without sex. The man's need for physical release was usually the greatest, so the command here was primarily for the husband's sake, to make sure he was provided for, lest Satan tempt him to end up getting his needs met elsewhere.

Hope this helped (it was a piece of work).

 

[brinny]

I read through the entire post, and it does seem no one addressed question #5:


Yes, an agreement must be made. From the start of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 7, this was the specific question being raised, though I have yet to ever see verse 1 translated out properly except in more scholarly works.

Proper translation should be, "Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a husband not to have sexual relations with his wife."

This is the way these two Greek words are translated out consistently in the next four verses:

"But since sexual immorality is occurring, each husband should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each wife with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

What brought about the question is the issue of fasting, which is extremely beneficial spiritually to believers (especially those who wish to devote themselves to prayer), but also lessens the sex drive. So the question they had asked Paul was, "Is it good for two married people to abstain from sex, even though married?" He eventually gets to the answer in verse 5, which is again corrupted in most translations:

"Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to fasting and prayer, and then come together again so that Satan not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

Virtually every single authoritative text on the planet includes the words "fasting and prayer" here, yet the word fasting is often written out of modern translations, and this completely obscures proper interpretation of what was being taught.

The teaching was this: A married Christian couple should devote themselves to prayer and fasting (and by extention, celibacy), but only for a time, not forever. The exception for this might be if they have become of such an age that their diminished sex drives no longer pose much of a serious threat to infidelity on either one's part.

But the ultimate goal Paul was urging for all believers, including married Christians, is right here:

"What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away."

Thus, the entire passage was a call for even married couples to live as celibates, if they could do so without becoming tempted and committing adultery. Christians were not to become "engrossed" in the things of this world, so even married couples as much as possible should be giving themselves to spiritual things (not sexual relations). But Paul could give no such command in the matter, for some couples (especially the young ones) might be flirting with real disaster by trying to go without sex. The man's need for physical release was usually the greatest, so the command here was primarily for the husband's sake, to make sure he was provided for, lest Satan tempt him to end up getting his needs met elsewhere.

Hope this helped (it was a piece of work).

Re: a married couple, this is referring to "abstaining" from sexual relations (for a time).

Not "celibacy".

 

[toLiJC]

Definition of celibacy

1. 1: the state of not being married
   
   
2. 2a : abstention from sexual intercourse
   
   
3. b : abstention by vow from marriage

This is Websters definition of celibacy. I have noticed a lot lately that persons profile status is one of celibacy. So I have a few questions:

1. What brought you to the point of celibacy?
2. Is it a religious reason or due to life situations or personal convictions?
3. When you choose celibacy is it for life or is it temporary?
4. How do you handle the intimate issues that you feel when they arise if any?
5. IF married, does your partner do the same OR is celibacy NOT included in a marriage? Was there an agreement made?
6. Is celibacy in the bible and if so could you share the scriptures?
7. What has being celibate done for you in a positive way or negative way?
8. If you believe being celibate is not Godly or scriptural pertaining to marriage can you share scripture and why?


Mods if I posted in the wrong forum please feel free to move to proper location thank you and God bless

the purpose of faith is that the souls be provided with abundant and eternal life, everything else is not so important (i.e. as a possible purpose of faith), as for things such as sex and other natural consumptions, they are not compulsory, nor are they recommendable e.g. why must a/every person necessarily have sex ten-twenty times a day?!

Blessings

 

[brinny]

the purpose of faith is that the souls be provided with abundant and eternal life, everything else is not so important (i.e. as a possible purpose of faith), as for things such as sex and other natural consumptions, they are not compulsory, nor are they recommendable e.g. why must a/every person necessarily have sex ten-twenty times a day?!

Blessings

Good point.

 

[Kenny'sID]

1. What brought you to the point of celibacy?

Not married, so no one to be uncelibate with.

5. IF married, does your partner do the same OR is celibacy NOT included in a marriage? Was there an agreement made?

Wouldn't be included in any way, shape or form if I were married.

I'm late for the party here, so this has probably already been said..but If this has something to do with what you are getting at, I think those that tag themselves as officially celibate in their profile, are mostly just people who aren't married, and marriage is a must for them to not be celibate.

That is unless there are a few that see doing without as something like fasting, or doing without anything for a period of time in order to closer their relation with God.

If that's what makes us closer to God, I should have surpassed "Saint" status by now...

 

[Hidden In Him]

Re: a married couple, this is referring to "abstaining" from sexual relations (for a time).

Not "celibacy".

Correct. I was referring to it as "celibacy" because that's what she had referred to it as in her quote. It was to be inferred that both she and I were actually referencing abstinence.

 

[JIMINZ]

Hi Solomon's Porch

Now coming to the intricacies of CELEBESY.

1) Only pertains to men.
2) For life.
3) Not a choice
4) A gift from God.

1Co 7:8
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

1Ti 5:3
Honour widows that are widows indeed.

1Ti 5:9-10
9) Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
10) Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

1Ti 5:11-14
11) But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12) Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13) And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14) I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Be Blessed

 

[brinny]

Not married, so no one to be uncelibate with.



Wouldn't be included in any way, shape or form if I were married.

I'm late for the party here, so this has probably already been said..but If this has something to do with what you are getting at, I think those that tag themselves as officially celibate in their profile, are mostly just people who aren't married, and marriage is a must for them to not to be celibate.

That is unless there are a few that see doing without as something like fasting, or doing without anything for a period of time in order to closer their relation with God.

If that's what makes us closer to God, I must be a Saint by now...

Not married, so no one to be uncelibate with.

If that's what makes us closer to God, I must be a Saint by now...

LOL!

 

[brinny]

Correct.

LOL!

Why didn't ya' say that then?

 

[brinny]

Hi Solomon's Porch

Now coming to the intricacies of CELEBESY.

1) Only pertains to men.
2) For life.
3) Not a choice
4) A gift from God.

1Co 7:8
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Ti 5:3
Honour widows that are widows indeed.
1Ti 5:9-10
9) Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
10) Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
1Ti 5:11-14
11) But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12) Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13) And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14) I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Be Blessed

Ummmm why is it just for men?

Thanks.

 

[Kenny'sID]

LOL!

 

[Hidden In Him]

LOL!

Why didn't ya' say that then?

I clarified by editing Post #117. I just assumed SP was actually referring to abstinence, so I was rolling with it.

 

[brinny]

I clarified by editing Post #117. I just assumed SP was actually referring to abstinence, so I was rolling with it.

I see the clarification.

However there is a stark difference between "celibacy" and "abstaining" during marriage.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I see the clarification.

However there is a stark difference between "celibacy" and "abstaining" during marriage.

Yes. Total celibacy would be forbidden unless there were no longer any physical sexual needs present in either person. Abstaining from sexual relations to give themselves to prayer and fasting would be highly recommended, but only by agreement, and only for a time.

 

[Solomons Porch]

If that's what makes us closer to God, I should have surpassed "Saint" status by now...

lol

 

[brinny]

Yes. Total celibacy would be forbidden unless there were no longer any physical sexual needs present in either person. Abstaining from sexual relations to give themselves to prayer and fasting would be highly recommended, but only by agreement, and only for a time.

Yes. Perhaps that is why "celibacy" is pertaining to someone who is not married. While "abstaining" is a temporary state in a marriage that is not permanent.

The Bible verses referred to here in this thread address this issue quite well.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Yes. Perhaps that is why "celibacy" is pertaining to someone who is not married. While "abstaining" is a temporary state in a marriage that is not permanent.

The Bible verses referred to here in this thread address this issue quite well.

Paul seems to have covered it quite well yes. Only personally I wish there had been more treatment on the power and value of fasting in general. But I think this was once again a "by permission" matter, meaning it was not something he could teach to everybody. Stressing the importance of fasting too much might have placed an unnecessary burden on some that was simply too heavy to carry. After all, for married couples there wasn't much need to, at least not where sexuality was concerned anyway.

 

[Solomons Porch]

<staff edit>

nor are they recommendable e.g. why must a/every person necessarily have sex ten-twenty times a day?!

Ummmm wow unheard of, but if ya can oki doki, thats a lot !!!

If that's what makes us closer to God, I should have surpassed "Saint" status by now...