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To: DarkSavant

Matthew 19:11-12

“But he said to them, Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

No where in this passage do I read into a requirement of celibacy as a prerequisite for service in the priesthood.

1 Corinthians 7

“It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do NOT (emphasis added)deprive one another, except perhaps by an agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer, but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of control. Now as a concession, NOT (emphasis added)a command I say this. I wish that all were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one kind and one of another.”

No where in the above passage does Paul insist that celibacy must be a requirement for service in the priesthood. Quite the contrary, if you read Paul’s letter to Timothy, he HAS NO ISSUE WHATSOEVER with a married clergy.

” A bishop then must be blameless, the HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE (emphasis added), vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach.”

1 Timothy 3:2


21 posted on 02/02/2015 10:02:28 AM PST by Trapped Behind Enemy Lines
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To: Trapped Behind Enemy Lines
1 Timothy 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
23 posted on 02/02/2015 10:08:14 AM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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To: Trapped Behind Enemy Lines
No where in the above passage does Paul insist that celibacy must be a requirement for service in the priesthood. Quite the contrary, if you read Paul’s letter to Timothy, he HAS NO ISSUE WHATSOEVER with a married clergy.

Is celibacy the ideal Christian life?

Does it stand to reason that at least most of our spiritual leaders should follow the ideal laid out by Christ?

” A bishop then must be blameless, the HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE (emphasis added), vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach.”

Paul was an apostle, a leader of the Church, and unmarried. Was he saying he was not suited for ministry because of this?

A discipline can change, but there is a good scriptural reason for the current discipline.
24 posted on 02/02/2015 10:08:18 AM PST by DarkSavant
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