– Because of the lack of offspring, celibacy was considered a curse in the OT:
Gen 29:32 : “Because” – she said – “the Lord has looked upon my affliction; now my husband will love me.”
Gen 30:1 : “Give me children” – she said to her husband – “otherwise I die!”
1Sm 1-2 : If you do not forget your handmaid and give her a male child, I will consecrate him to the Lord.
Is 4,1 : At that time, seven women will dispute among themselves a man.
Lk 1:25 : This is the favor the Lord has shown me, when he looked upon me to take away my reproach from among men.
– It can be a sign of divine punishment:
Jr 16,1-4 : You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have a son or daughter in this place.
– Some passages, however, oppose the exclusion of the eunuch or celibate from the people of God:
Wis 3,13-14 : Blessed is the barren woman, but pure from all stain, the one who has not stained her marriage bed.
Is 56,3-4 : Let the eunuch not say: “Oh! I’m just a dry log.”
– In the NT it is considered charisma:
Mt 19,10-12 : And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.
1Cor 7,7-38 : I would like everyone to be like me; but each one has a particular gift from God.
– For the exclusive following and for the love of Christ:
Rev 14:4 : These are the ones who were not defiled with women, because they are virgins.
– No contempt for marriage:
1Tm 4,3 : They forbid marriage, as well as the use of food that God created .
– See CHARISMA, MARRIAGE, FOLLOWING, VIRGINITY.
