CELIBACY
What Is Celibacy and Is It Recommended in the Bible?
This word derives from a Latin term meaning "unmarried."
In the divine scheme of things, the ideal is for human beings to marry (Gen. 2:18; 1 Tim. 5:14). Sometimes, however, it is not advisable to marry. One such time would be during severe persecution (1 Cor. 7:26, 35, 40).
Even then, however, marriage between two eligible people (Mt. 19:9) is not a sin (1 Cor. 7:36). Nor is remaining single sinful. An eligible person may marry at any time, and to forbid a legitimate marital union is a mark of apostasy (1 Tim. 4:1ff).
The dogma that the celibate state is holier than the married state is a religious superstition, not Scripture.
In the divine scheme of things, the ideal is for human beings to marry (Gen. 2:18; 1 Tim. 5:14). Sometimes, however, it is not advisable to marry. One such time would be during severe persecution (1 Cor. 7:26, 35, 40).
Even then, however, marriage between two eligible people (Mt. 19:9) is not a sin (1 Cor. 7:36). Nor is remaining single sinful. An eligible person may marry at any time, and to forbid a legitimate marital union is a mark of apostasy (1 Tim. 4:1ff).
The dogma that the celibate state is holier than the married state is a religious superstition, not Scripture.
