Is Christian celibacy Bible based

Answer 1

Depending on why one is celibate, it certainly can be. When a person decides, after much prayer and spiritual discernment, to be celibate of their own volition (not because someone told them to be or that they must be), it can be a real and distinct way of honoring God. However, if someone is celibate because they are told they must be in order to please God, they are operating outside of what The Bible teaches.

The Apostle Paul commended celibacy to all who were able to take it up voluntarily in 1 Corinthians 7, especially verses 8-9: "Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: it is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion" (NIV).

When celibacy is commanded by an organization, such as Catholics of their priests, or taught to be the only proper way to live life, it cannot be supported from the Bible. In fact, Paul condemns such attitudes in 1 Timothy 4:1-5: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with Thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer" (NIV).

Answer 2

Yes, Christian celibacy is based on teachings in the Bible that emphasize the value of remaining unmarried in order to devote oneself wholly to God and His work. The apostle Paul, for example, recommended celibacy as a way to focus on spiritual matters without distraction (1 Corinthians 7). However, celibacy is a personal choice within Christianity and not a requirement for all believers.