Automatic Transcript Generated
Speaker 1
So andres is asking who imposed the celibacy order on priests? St. Paul.
Speaker 2
So this is a good question. First, we can look at the Bible. There’s a couple verses where they talk about celibacy in a sense. One is Matthew 19, starting at verse twelve. And in context, people are talking about divorce, and Jesus saying, it’s a big deal, divorce isn’t good. And the disciples like, oh, well, maybe it’s best not to get married. And then Jesus says, for there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are some eunuchs which were made eunuchs of men. So some people aren’t able to procreate because of how they were born, what happened to them. And there may be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. And so there Jesus is saying, especially that last part, those who are willing to make themselves eunuchs, those who are willing to not have kids, who are willing to just be single. Jesus is saying that if you feel that calling, go with it, receive that. But he’s not saying you need to be a eunuch. All of us should be a eunuchs. No.
Speaker 2
Then we go to one. corinthians seven. And this is one of those major chapters talking about talking about this matter. And Paul as the questioner andres said, Did Paul institute celibacy? So this is Paul talking. And he begins in One corinthians seven, verse 25, with this now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. So what he’s saying right now is, okay, God doesn’t have a commandment on this, but he’s going to give some guidance as to one who’s inspired by God. And he says that it is good for a man in verse 26 to remain as he is. And in verse 27 he says, are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loose. Stay in your marriage. If you don’t have a wife, he says, it’s going to stay as you are. But even if you do marry, he says in verse 28, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless, such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you. So what’s he saying, Harry says, is not a sin to get married? Absolutely not. But when you get married, you now have the troubles of two people coming together.
Speaker 2
And sometimes that can slow down what really matters. What really matters is spreading the gospel. That’s the number one most important thing. But depending on who your spouse is, she’s really worldly, or if it’s he, he’s really worldly, that might really hamper your spiritual development, your ability to do what God wants you to be doing right now. So that’s paul’s point. And now again, you could be burdened by someone else and get in the way. But I would say, like for me, I prayed for a ministry partner in God. Brent brought wendy into my life and you can see like, we’re doing ministry work together. So to me, this is ideal marriage and how it’s supposed to be. And the happiest marriages are the ones that centered on marriage. So that’s some free or sorry centered on ministry. There’s some unsolicited marriage of ice. And you could just keep going on and on down through this chapter of First corinthian seven. And Paul keeps emphasizing again the same concept, that marriage is not bad, marriage is fine, marriage is good, but marriage can complicate doing what really matters at times. Now, Paul himself was not married and he says so in One corinthians seven eight.
Speaker 2
But even some of the disciples, including Peter, was married. Matthew 814 specifically talked about how Jesus healed peter’s mother in law. And if we go to Hebrews 13 four hebrews 13, verse four, let’s put that up. This is a very important verse. It says, Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled. So that is a good thing. Marriage is good enough to be ashamed of about sleeping with your wife. That’s what God intended. It’s when you’re doing that stuff outside of marriage, that is a horrible abomination. Now, what’s really interesting is one timothy four this is very important. One timothy four, starting up verse one. It says now the spirit expressly says that in later times and this is Paul speaking, in later times, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. Forbidding to marry. Forbidding to marry in verse three, among other things, and commanding to abstain from foods. I mean, go down list. So one of the things of the sign of apostasy that’s going to come into future Christian Church is forbidding of marriage.
Speaker 2
So where does this come into christianity now? So around the year 305, there was this Council of elvira. So Christians from all over christianity, probably around that time, was to say more like an orthodox church. And there are different patriarchs, different groups, and they come together at the Council of elvira and they decide there that all clergy should abstain from their wives and not to have children. That was the decision of that council. That was canon 33 that came out of that. Then you have constantine who comes along and he actually got rid of that. But then in the 11th century, you have Pope gregory the 7th, who issued a decree requiring all priests to be celibate. So depending on the timeline, when you look at it, those are some of the key developments of when and how we see celebrity getting into the Christian Church. That’s my understanding. Do you guys have thoughts?
Speaker 3
Yeah, go ahead, len.
Speaker 4
Just because I lean forward.
Speaker 3
Yeah.
Speaker 4
I just know that I would probably be maybe like last year or the year before that. But I mean, I would be in like, you know, Africa and the deep jungles proclaiming the gospel, but Rachel just doesn’t like bugs. So there’s, I mean, there are real hindrances, you know, to when you get married for the gospel. You just got to work those.
Speaker 3
I think as far as forcing celibacy on a priest, biblically speaking, there’s no grounds because if you look at priesthood in the Old Testament, that’s the only place you even see priesthood in the New Testament. You don’t see priesthood anymore. But in the Old Testament, when there even was priesthood, they had to be married. The levites, they were commanded to be married and to have children because the priests were sons of priests. And so like, you see, the sons of Aaron were the priests that would take his place. And so it was so important that there was a lineage of priests. And so to me, that doesn’t make any sense to have priests that can’t get married and have children, to raise them up in that environment of priesthood and that holiness. And so just speaking from a biblical perspective, I just don’t see any logic in saying, oh, if you want to be holy, that means you can’t get married. Because, I mean, like you’re saying, Jay, I totally agree that your marriage should be based on ministry. And I think obviously, yes, there’s things you’re sometimes taking care of your spouse can get in the way of maybe doing something bigger ground, you think, for the gospel.
Speaker 3
But I mean, marriage really refines your character and makes you ready for heaven in a way that nothing else does.
Speaker 2
And in fact, that’s where we’re really in the image of God because the godhead is a unity of beings and this is getting to experience something that Jesus says we’re not going to have marriage in heaven. So it’s an incredible experience that we get to have here on earth. And as you said, it really does help perfect character.
Speaker 1
And I think it’s important also to understand that God doesn’t call everyone to do big, huge things actually. It’s the little things on a regular basis and it’s how you show up for people in the little moments that is actually the big things that God wants to have happen. How much more meaningful is it to watch some big name preacher on TV versus somebody who understands the love of God showing up in your life in the moment that you really need that and being there for you with God’s love and care. That’s immensely more powerful than and if.
Speaker 2
You go with the zhijian Six model where women respect men, but men love your wives, that there is telling us practice for heaven like men, practice loving like Jesus, and especially practice that on your wife. I have learned so much about love from wendy and what she’s taught me about it. I wouldn’t even be close to the same person I am today if it wasn’t for that. So I’m truly grateful for God choosing me, calling me to be married. But I think this is the key distinction is, yeah, god says some people is proper for you to be single. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. And Paul was proud of that. But then for me, for tina, for landon, god has called us to be married and given us spouses that we could work with and do ministry purposes with. So whatever you’re called to do, don’t listen to what other people tell you they don’t know. Listen to God. amen.
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In His Service
BibleAsk Team
