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V e r s e b y V e r s e
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This Rock
Volume 3, Number 8
 August 1992 
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Is celibacy approved by Scripture? Just look:
"Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the for the sake of the kingdom. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it'" (Matt. 19:9-12).
"To the unmarried and to the widows I say: It is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do, but if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire" (1 Cor. 7:7-9).
"An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction" (1 Cor. 7:32-35).
"I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.... These are they who were not defiled with women; they are virgins and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes" (Rev. 14:1, 4).
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