The Forgotten Gift of God
The following is an outline of the subject Celibacy of which an article will be published next week. We decided to first publish the outline as a case study. This allows you to do the groundwork or Bible study before the article is published. This is the first time we have chosen to do something like this. We anticipate that our readers will begin to develop positions on their own through rigorous study of scripture. Take the time, slowly. Go over the outline. See if you can determine where the eventual conclusion will lead. This is a taboo subject in almost all faith-based communities. We wanted to tackle the issue with the goal of truth and the glorification of God in mind.
Outline on Celibacy
Introduction – Celibacy is rarely spoken about these days anymore. The mere mention of the word invokes antiquated notions of abstinence, medieval times, and chastisement. However, the main of all Christendom is the truth. This truth must be upheld regardless of consequence. It can only be realized in the fidelity to scripture. So, the following lecture is designed to provide a theological basis for celibacy. It will also examine its biblical basis and any relevance it has to the life of a modern Christian.
Celibacy – What is it?
“The maintenance of a state of virginity; the avoidance of all sexual relationships.”[1]
“Abstention by vow from marriage.”[2]
The New Testament is rife with scripture about celibacy (abstinence) in regard to the believing community:
19:10-12; 1 Cor. 7:1, 2, 7-9, 25, 26, 32-40; 1 Cor. 9:15; 1Tim.4:1-3; Rev. 14:1, 4 w/v. 2-5.
The Old Testament is more ambiguous about the topic of celibacy. It is reserved mainly for those waiting to be married. Certainly, the Song of Solomon is a call to abstinence from the women of Israel. The New Testament introduced celibacy as something more regal. It was seen as a “gift” that, if received or chosen, glorifies God. This is normally lost in lectures and sermons.
Can celibacy be more sacred than marriage?
Knowledge of Self/Social Readiness – Once Adam was ready and mature, God made him a partner. This is where we get marriage from. It represents the Genesis of Marriage. God gifts them sex for confirmation of commitment. It is for expressing loyalty and surrendering oneself to another. It helps in setting up family and provides comfort emotionally. It also offers physical pleasure.[3]
Now let’s look to the New Testament for its remedies.
New Testament Doctrine on Sex:
The New Testament is fairly clear on sex. It resembles the Old Testament in this regard. Sex is only for marriage, or one must abstain. However, their placement for celibacy has been maligned over the centuries. As we will see from the scriptures, celibacy is gifted and sacred.
There are two main scriptures to look at concerning celibacy and its holiness. Most passages are for those wanting to marry. Today we look at 1 Cor. 7:7-9 and Mt. 19:10-12.
1 Corinthians 7:6-9: “Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows, I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (ESV).
The strength of this passage is not its intended meaning. That is simple. If you cannot abstain from lust, then marry. The power of the passage lies in the phrase, but each has his own gift from God. What Paul is telling us is that abstention from the perils and complications of sex is a gift from God.
The word gift in the passage is “χάρισμα; meaning (charisma). n. neut. something is graciously given; a gift. Something that is freely given on account of favor and kindness.”[4] Celibacy is not only a choice but a gift from God to serve him as Paul serves him. This has a much different connotation. It differs from abstaining because you cannot control yourself. That is the only way most of humanity can only comprehend.
Matthew 19:10-12: “The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. Some eunuchs have been so from birth. Others have been made eunuchs by men. Still others have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it” (ESV).
This is the most telling of all the scriptures about celibacy although it is the most forgotten. Most people are not even aware that Jesus spoken on this subject, I was not!
Most people zero in on the word eunuch here which is not the focus of the passage. “A eunuch for the sake “of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12 HCSB) is likely a metaphor for one choosing single life to be more useful in kingdom work (cp. 1 Cor. 7:32–34).”[5]
It is easy to overlook this passage because in modern terms we have abolished eunuchs from our society. However, what Jesus is referring to is greater than most people can comprehend. He is exalting celibacy for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
The two main parts of the verse are “can receive” and “those to whom it is given.”
Can Receive (χωρέω) – is a double verb tense meaning cognitive knowledge. to receive ⇔ contain — to receive cognitively, conceived of as being capable of holding or containing something. Christ is emphasizing that only those how can accept this mentally and physically can contain this gift.
Whom it is given “(δίδωμι) – (didōmi). vb. to give, to offer. A general word for giving; in a sacrificial context, it can refer to the presentation of an offering.”[6] Christ is directly explaining to his disciples that few can comprehend this gift. Only those able to accept this should accept it as an offering for the sake of the Kingdom. Like Paul, Jesus tells us that abstaining from the arena of sexual parameters is not only a gift. It should be received as a token of honor. Only a few can receive it.
Conclusion
We can see that sex was given to mankind for his/her benefit. Out of our own self-glorification, we misuse sex for purely self-gratifying reasons. This misuse has caused a great schism in the power of sex. Out of God’s grace and mercy, he has set parameters in our sexual endeavors. These parameters are intended for his glorification and our benefit. Those are marriage and celibacy. We have seen that celibacy is the harder of those two choices. It is not one to be maligned or discarded to the less fortunate. On the contrary, abstaining from the pitfalls caused by sexual passion was emphasized by Paul and Jesus. It is praised as a gift for those few who can receive this favor. They use it to advance God’s great kingdom on earth.
Bibliography
Brand, Chad, Eric Alan Mitchell, Steve Bonds, E. Ray Clendenen, Trent C. Butler, and Bill Latta. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2003.
Cairns, Alan. Dictionary of Theological Terms. Greenville, SC: Ambassador-Emerald International, 2002.
Lo, Jonathan W, and Douglas Mangum. Lexham Theological Workbook. Lexham Bible Reference. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.
Mazzalongo, Mike. “Bible Study on Marriage – What Is a Biblical Marriage?” YouTube, April 4, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP8c-Zbwpug.
Footnotes
[1] Alan Cairns, Dictionary of Theological Terms (Belfast; Greenville, SC: Ambassador Emerald International, 2002), 79.
[2] Chad Brand, Charles Draper, et al., eds., “Celibacy,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 274.
[3] Mike Mazzalongo, “Bible Study on Marriage – What Is a Biblical Marriage?,” YouTube, April 4, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP8c-Zbwpug.
[4] Jonathan W. Lo, “Grace,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
[5] Chad Brand, Charles Draper, et al., eds., “Eunuch,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 517.
[6] Lesley Difransico, “Sacrifice,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
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