Jehovah Witnesses, Jesus called for His ministers to be celibate and so did St. Paul.?

They do not encourage marriage and hope they will die off like the shakers

Jesus attended a wedding feast, so he certainly approved of weddings.

His Father instituted the first marriage in the Garden of Eden.

The Bible says to "marry only in the Lord." In other words someone of the same Christian faith. Wise command, indeed.

Many Jehovahs Witnesses decide to remain single so they can devote more time to the ministry and other spiritual matters.

Married couples preach the Kingdom message together, attend congregation meetings together and enjoy personal Bible study together.

It brings them closer together because they are both serving Jehovah in unity.

The Bible has great advice for those who wish to remain single and those who desire a marriage mate.

Some of the disciples of Jesus were married and they were still great teachers and ministers of the good news of Jehovahs Kingdom. Being married was not a deterrent.

Read Luke 4:38. Simon was a disciple of Jesus.

Read 1st Timothy 3:2

1Co 9:5 ---Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? ASV

Oh dear, you really have shown your lack of scriptural knowledge here father joe. Didnt they cover this in the seminaries which you say the lack of makes us JWs uneducated :)

Jesus did not call on his ministers to be celibate. In fact most of the apostles had wives. Which I pointed out to you previously about Peter. Your answer was that Peter was a widower when he became a disciple - LOL - which seminary taught you that lie? (The Bible tells us of the aggro in which other apostles said they wanted to go on the ministry with their wives, as Peter did with his :) Of course that also means that other basic belief of the RCs is crushed in that Peter, a married man never lived in Rome so there is no apostolic legacy that you claim.

1 Cor 9:3

3 My defense to those who examine me is as follows: 4 We have the right* to eat and drink, do we not? 5 We have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife,*+ as the rest of the apostles and the Lord’s brothers+ and Ce′phas (Peter),*+ do we not?

The same seminary must have taught that Mary's husband Joseph was so old the marriage was never consummated? As the RCs claim the goddess mother (as per the babylonian queen of heaven) was a virgin til she died. Yet there we have the young bros and sisters of Jesus spoken of in the Bible and indeed some became his disciples.

However, the Bible does tell us of the false religions which would, among other things, forbid their priests to marry! Now, does that ring a bell for you?

As it happens, many in the JWs congs choose celibacy so they can devote their lives to ministry here or overseas as missionaries.

I really am shocked that you could be so ignorant of the Bible scriptures and claim to be an educated catholic priest! No wonder so many people in your religion are so superstitious and confused. Where are the SCs, stephs, chi girls, babygirls and matthews when this HUGE mistake is shown for all to see.

Would you like to tackle the trinity and idolatry next? :)

Nothing is the Bible rejects marriage or having children so Jehovah's Witnesses don't either. Celibacy is an invention of the Catholic church. Paul urged those who wanted to to get married.

Marriage is a beautiful arrangement by God. It's a serious commitment, shouldn't be taken lightly and it takes work, especially in these tough times.

Christ nor Paul makes marriage a matter of faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Rather, it is a question of free choice, with the balance tipping in favor of singleness for those who are ABLE to remain chaste in that state. Why ?

Paul explains: "The unmarried man is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he may gain the Lord’s approval. But the married man is anxious for the things of the world, how he may gain the approval of his wife, and he is divided. Further, the unmarried woman, and the virgin, is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in her body and in her spirit. However, the married woman is anxious for the things of the world, how she may gain the approval of her husband. (1 Corinthians 7:32-34)

Paul’s whole argument in this chapter is this: While marriage is legitimate and, under certain circumstances, advisable for some, singleness is undeniably advantageous for the Christian man or woman who wants to serve God with minimum distraction. Whereas the married person is “divided,” the unmarried Christian is free to concentrate attention on “the things of the Lord.”

Married people must divide their time and energy to please and care for their mate. On the other hand, single Christians can apply themselves to the Lord’s service without that obligation.

Single persons are generally freer to devote time to God’s service, which can benefit them spiritually.They can spend more time on personal study and meditation. Single Christians can often fit for an ex their Bible reading into their schedule more easily than those who are married can. All of this is to their “personal advantage.”—1 Corinthians 7:35.

Then, after advising unmarried persons and widows to “remain even as I am,” he was quick to add: “But if they do not have self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be inflamed with passion.” (1 Corinthians 7:8, 9) Again, his counsel to widowers was: “Stop seeking a wife. But even if you did marry, you would commit no sin.” (1 Corinthians 7:27, 28)

Sincerely E

PS...I know of many witnesses that are, by choice, not married. Faithful and happy. Likewise do I know many who are married. Faithful and happy. :)

As for the actual % of how many witnesses that have chosen to marry or who are single ? No idea.

Jesus & Paul recommended singleness mainly because you would not have the distractions that a married/family life would bring. However, they certainly did not say it was compulsory. The term "if you can make room for it" (singleness) means if it is possible for you to do so, not "you must.."

Jehovah's Witnesses never ignore any of Jesus' words.

Maybe you would care to tell why you blatantly ignore Jesus' words at Matthew 23:9? Do you think he was just speaking into the air when he said those words?

Many of the early Christian Witnesses of Jehovah were married even though they were Elders.

Paul never pressured others either to marry or to remain single. (1 Cor. 7:7) He was content to serve Jehovah without a wife, but he respected the right of others to enjoy marriage. Individual Christians today also have the right to decide for themselves whether to get married or to stay single. Others should not pressure them to take one course or another.

Making a Success of Singleness

A notable feature of Paul’s words to the Corinthians is his positive view of singleness. (Read 1 Corinthians 7:8.) Although Paul was unmarried, he did not exalt himself over those who were married, as the celibate clergy of Christendom do. Rather, the apostle highlighted an advantage that many unmarried ministers of the good news enjoy.

CATHOLIC ASKER IS WRONG

Celibacy. The apostle Paul warns that one of the identifying features of the apostasy that was to come would be enforced celibacy, “forbidding to marry.” (1Ti 4:1, 3) Some of the apostles were married. (1Co 9:5; Lu 4:38) Paul, in setting forth the qualifications for overseers and ministerial servants in the Christian congregation, says that these men (if married) should have only one wife.—1Ti 3:1, 2, 12; Tit 1:5, 6.

DON'T BELIEVE FALSE TRADITIONS AND MAKE THE WORD OF GOD INVALID

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200275898?q=TR...

Really? Odd.

Let's check the Bible a little deeper

Matt. 9:15

American Standard Version

and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?

1 Tim 3:2

American Standard Version

The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach

1 Tim 3:12

American Standard Version

Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well

Titus 1:6

American Standard Version

if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly

Weird.

How can bishops and deacons be celibate with a wife and household? Perhaps its due to the fact the Bible doesn't teach celibacy.

Jesus did not call for his ministers to be celibate and neither did the apostle Paul. The fact that Paul did not marry was a matter of choice. Just like it should be today. The Bible speaks very favorably of marriage, and in fact, God instituted marriage. If it was good for God, then it's good for any of Jesus' followers.

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, married, and yes, I AM a Christian.

Why do you reprobate RC bully and pick on anyone you think is inferior to you? I m not a JW but you RC need to know that RC nor JW are correct in their doctrine and practices. Since you RC are so positive you are correct why do you not give Scripture to back you your toutings when you first post your question.

Well certainly by your answers JW's do ignore Christ's teaching and that of St. Paul. All of you are ignoring the question and trying to obfuscate the question by changing it to a question that can be answered with your prejudice. Please deal with the question asked if you can. God bless!

In Christ

Fr. Joseph