Is Celibacy a Requirement for Christian Ministers?

GOD'S VIEW OF CELIBACY

God's view of celibacy is clearly expressed in his Word, the Bible.  In it we read Jesus' words about those who remained single, as he did,  "on account of the Kingdom of the heavens."  (Matthew 19:12) Along the same line, the apostle Paul spoke about Christians who chose to follow his example of singleness "for the sake of the good news." -1 Corinthians  7:37, 38; 9:23.

However, neither Jesus nor Paul were commanding ministers to be celibate. Jesus stated that singleness was a "gift" not possessed by all his followers.  When Paul wrote about "those who have never married,"  he frankly admitted:  "I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion." -Matthew 19:11; 1 Corinthians 7:25.

In addition, the Bible shows that many Christian ministers in the first century, including the apostle Peter, were married men.  (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:29-31; 1 Corinthians 9:5)  In fact, on account of the prevalence of immoral sexual practices in the Roman world of that time, Paul wrote that if a Christian overseer was married, he was to be "a husband of one wife" and have "his children in subjection." -1 Timothy 3:2, 4. 

These were not celibate  marriages, for the Bible candidly states that a "husband [ought to] give to his wife her due" and that married couples should "not deprived each other of intimacies.  (1 Corinthians 7:3-5) Clearly, celibacy is not required by God, nor is it compulsory for Christian ministers. 

Next time: Is Celibacy a Requirement for Christian Ministers?/FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS

From the  Watchtower magazine