Celibacy

– 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.