Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
Celibacy was not an unknown thing for the Jews of Christ's time or even before. It is thought that Samson's strength came from his having taken a Nazarite vow of celibacy. This same vow was talked about by Paul and can be found in the writings at Qumran. The early church seemed to be ambivalent about the need for celibacy. On one hand they had Paul's writings and example that showed that a true dedication to God involved everything, including one's sexual nature. On the other hand they were only human and it seems a hard thing to expect young men to handle. Within the Catholic church this became more urgent when remote priests and bishops, who were married, had children and started trying to accumulate wealth to pass on to their offsprings. Sometimes this even included their bishopric. So it was determined that it was better for the church to have unmarried priests that were above earthly concerns about wealth and posterity. This is considered a discipline and they take a vow to uphold their celibacy; but it is not dogmatic and could change if there was an urgent enough reason.The Apostle Paul even speaks of 'celibacy'.
Bwahahaha. That is funny. However, on a serious note. There is some truth to that joke.A new monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to help the other monks in copying the old texts by hand. He notices, however, that they are copying copies, and not the original books.
So, the new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this. He points out that if there was an error in the first copy, that error would be continued in all of the other copies. The head monk says, "We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son."
So, he goes down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it against the original. Hours later, nobody has seen him. So, one of the monks goes downstairs to look for him. He hears sobbing coming from the back of the cellar and finds the old monk leaning over one of the original books crying. He asks what's wrong.
"The word is celebrate not celibate," says the old monk with tears in his eyes.
It is therefore anti-biblical for any church to require celibacy of its leaders.
Why, then, does the Roman Catholic Church (and a few other Christian denominations) require celibacy of priests /church leaders?
Again, the Bible encourages, but does not demand celibacy of priests / church leaders. In fact, Paul recognizes that most church leaders will be married.
Celibacy was not an unknown thing for the Jews of Christ's time or even before. It is thought that Samson's strength came from his having taken a Nazarite vow of celibacy. This same vow was talked about by Paul and can be found in the writings at Qumran. The early church seemed to be ambivalent about the need for celibacy. On one hand they had Paul's writings and example that showed that a true dedication to God involved everything, including one's sexual nature. On the other hand they were only human and it seems a hard thing to expect young men to handle. Within the Catholic church this became more urgent when remote priests and bishops, who were married, had children and started trying to accumulate wealth to pass on to their offsprings. Sometimes this even included their bishopric. So it was determined that it was better for the church to have unmarried priests that were above earthly concerns about wealth and posterity. This is considered a discipline and they take a vow to uphold their celibacy; but it is not dogmatic and could change if there was an urgent enough reason.
Thank you. That is a chapter that bears rereading for it's many jumps between Paul's opinions and the Lord's commands.1 Corinthians 7:1 -
and most of chapter 7
I would say Christ, considering that He lived a life of celibacy and chastity. St. Paul also lived a life such as this, I believe at least St. John the Apostle did as well. There are plenty of early writings that discussed this subject.Was it the Roman Priests that brought 'celibacy'? Or was it Christ Himself?
Was it the Roman Priests that brought 'celibacy'? Or was it Christ Himself?
Who was Jesus married to?Was it the Roman Priests that brought 'celibacy'? Or was it Christ Himself?
No, that's not why the Church requires it of her priests, because it's easy enough to institute a canon law against nepotism. But priests take a vow of poverty, and most priests do not make even minimum wage for their hours worked. Trying to support a family on such a wage would be next to impossible, practically. Priests' family is their flock. Most Protestant pastors either live very poorly or have to take a second job to make ends meet, and thus sacrifice time away from their family and flock. There is the issue of inheritance, but that seems minor.In regards to celibacy of church leaders, in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, the apostle Paul teaches, “An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs — how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world — how he can please his wife — and his interests are divided” (1 Corinthians 7:32-34). In some instances, celibacy has a positive impact on ministry. If a church leader is free from spousal and familial responsibilities, he can better focus on ministering to others. Jesus mentions some becoming “eunuchs” for the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:12). Celibacy is definitely allowed for church leaders, and to a certain degree, it is encouraged. However, Scripture nowhere requires celibacy for those serving in positions of church leadership.
In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9, the Apostle Paul seems to assume that elders, bishops, overseers, and deacons will be married. Notice the phrases “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6), “he must manage his own family well” (1 Timothy 3:4,12), and “his children obey him with proper respect” (1 Timothy 3:4; Titus 1:6). While these Scriptures are not a requirement for church leaders to be married, they most definitely present an allowance for church leaders to be married. It is therefore anti-biblical for any church to require celibacy of its leaders.
Why, then, does the Roman Catholic Church (and a few other Christian denominations) require celibacy of priests /church leaders? The celibacy of priests has an interesting history. The first official church statements requiring celibacy appeared at the Councils of Elvira (A.D. 306) and Carthage (A.D. 390), although clerical celibacy, to a lesser degree, definitely predated these councils. Ultimately, though, celibacy became the official requirement of the Roman Catholic Church due to the practice of nepotism. Church leaders were giving their children positions in the church, despite a lack of any qualifications or training. Further, church leaders were giving church property to their descendants. As a result, the Roman Catholic Church mandated celibacy in order to keep its priests from having familial attachments which made nepotism attractive.
Again, the Bible encourages, but does not demand celibacy of priests / church leaders. In fact, Paul recognizes that most church leaders will be married.
I would say Christ, considering that He lived a life of celibacy and chastity.
Popes who were marriedNo, that's not why the Church requires it of her priests, because it's easy enough to institute a canon law against nepotism. But priests take a vow of poverty, and most priests do not make even minimum wage for their hours worked. Trying to support a family on such a wage would be next to impossible, practically. Priests' family is their flock. Most Protestant pastors either live very poorly or have to take a second job to make ends meet, and thus sacrifice time away from their family and flock. There is the issue of inheritance, but that seems minor.
Well in the beginning it was not from God, as God encouraged us to be fruitful and multiply. There has been celibacy far back into ancient times. Many believed in sexual transmutation. Regarding the Apostle Paul I believe he literally thoughr the return of Christ was immanent. Therfore marriage was not worth pursuing. Generally marriage is highly regarded in Jewish custom.
Jason, I agree with your recounting of history but find it a jump to call celibacy anti-biblical since we have many examples of celibacy in the Bible and they are almost universally acknowledged as good and preferable.
You a Dan Brown Conspiracy kind of guy, eh?The fact that the bible says nothing about Jesus' marital state is not proof that he was unmarried. There are in fact strong suggestions that he might have been married.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?