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Turning the page…
Glory · The Church
No. Scripture counts forbidding marriage a mark of departure from the faith, calls marriage honorable in every station, and treats married ministry as normal, with singleness a gift some receive for undivided devotion. Neither state is required, neither ranks above the other, and both are received with thanksgiving.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/must-gods-servants-stay-unmarried · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
1 Timothy 4:1-5
As you read: The Spirit's explicit warning: teachings that forbid marriage belong to deceiving spirits.
1But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
2through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;
3forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving.
5For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.
1 Corinthians 9:3-6
As you read: Paul names the other apostles' marriages as ordinary, with Peter's included.
3My defense to those who examine me is this.
4Have we no right to eat and to drink?
5Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
6Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
As you read: Singleness valued for undivided devotion, marriage defended against burning: neither commanded.
32But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
33but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
34There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.
35This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.
1 Timothy 3:1-5
As you read: Church leadership assessed partly by faithful marriage and household management.
1This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work.
2The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
3not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
5(but if a man doesn’t know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?)
Paul warns that in later times some will fall away, giving heed to deceiving spirits, 'forbidding marriage,' among other ascetic inventions, and he adds God's verdict: everything created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. Whatever else celibacy rules are, Scripture labels mandatory abstinence from marriage a doctrine contrary to the faith once delivered.
“But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”1 Timothy 4:1-3
“Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.””Genesis 2:18
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.”Hebrews 13:4
Paul assumes the apostles traveled with their wives, 'the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas,' and defends his own freedom to do likewise. Peter, the married fisherman whose mother-in-law Jesus healed, led the early church from a household, and an overseer's fitness was measured partly at home: ruling well his own house first.
“Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?”1 Corinthians 9:5
“When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and served him.”Matthew 8:14-15
“one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; (but if a man doesn’t know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?)”1 Timothy 3:4-5
Paul honors singleness honestly: each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind and another of that kind. The unmarried person cares for the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord; the married person carries two loves at once, and Scripture calls that good too. Celibacy in the Bible is charism, never credential, a calling some receive, never a class above the rest.
“Yet I wish that all men were like me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind. But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am. But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn.”1 Corinthians 7:7-9
“But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.”1 Corinthians 7:32-35
“But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.””Matthew 19:11-12
Marriage is honorable in every respect, the bed undefiled, and Proverbs promises favor from the LORD to the man who finds a wife. So the church holds both callings open before its people: marry if you burn and it is good; remain single if gifted and it is devoted. What Scripture forbids is not singleness but the requirement of it.
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.”Hebrews 13:4
“Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.”Proverbs 18:22
“But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry. But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well. So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her in marriage does better.”1 Corinthians 7:36-38