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To: NYer
You are mistaken. In fact, the Catholic Church forbids no one to marry.

Semantics. You cannot be a leader in the Catholic Church and be married.

Paul is not saying don't do this and you'll be ok. Paul has seen a vision of the last days. He talks about this further in 2 Tim 3.

2 Tim 3:
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Paul is following the pattern that God has set from the beginning and that is to explain the signs and wise people will understand and heed them.

Jesus Himself gave several warnings, such as Matt 7:21-23. About people that think they are walking with Jesus, but He says they are not and He will cast them out at the judgement.

Paul gives a sign so that the wise will make the connection and not fall into that dilemma. This particular sign is "forbidding to marry".

Paul said he saw another church that "abstain from eating meat". That's the Seventh day Adventists. I'm sure he saw tons of churches or maybe all of them and their various doctrines. So he briefly commented on a couple.

IMO, this is prophesy come true and says to me that yes, Paul was a true Apostle and prophet. And it's not just some game, it's real.

We can discuss this further if you'd like, but probably in another thread. I don't know any Catholics in my personal life, so it's interesting to discuss these things and get your perspective.
51 posted on 01/29/2013 7:32:40 AM PST by MeOnTheBeach
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To: MeOnTheBeach
You cannot be a leader in the Catholic Church and be married.

I beg to differ. The Eastern Catholic Churches have married priests.

Paul is not saying don't do this and you'll be ok. Paul has seen a vision of the last days. He talks about this further in 2 Tim 3.

Dear friend, the topic of this thread is Celibacy and the Priesthood. You have bypassed the topic and moved on to Paul's letters to Timothy on a multitude of topics. In 2 Timothy, Paul urges Timothy to protect the community from the inevitable impact of false teaching (2 Tim 2:14-3:9), without fear of the personal attacks that may result (2 Tim 3:10-13). It recommends that he rely on the power of the scriptures, on proclamation of the word, and on sound doctrine (2 Tim 3:14-4:2), without being troubled by those who do not accept him (2 Tim 4:3-5).

Back to the topic of this thread, it is important to note that Paul lead a celibate life. So far from "commanding" marriage in 1 Corinthians 7, in that very chapter Paul actually endorses celibacy for those capable of it: "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well 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 be aflame with passion" (7:8-9).

It is only because of this "temptation to immorality" (7:2) that Paul gives the teaching about each man and woman having a spouse and giving each other their "conjugal rights" (7:3); he specifically clarifies, "I say this by way of concession, not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another" (7:6-7, emphasis added).

Paul even goes on to make a case for preferring celibacy to marriage: "Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. . . those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. . . . The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband" (7:27-34).

Paul’s conclusion: He who marries "does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better" (7:38).

53 posted on 01/29/2013 1:53:39 PM PST by NYer ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." --Jeremiah 1:5)
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