The God Files

What does the Bible say about singleness?

Some people tend to think that in order to be "holy" one has to be single. This is the Greek mind at work. The Greeks think that dedicating oneself to the Lord’s work and staying single is the mark of being pious. However, in the Jewish mind; a "holy" man or woman should be married. According to the Talmud, the Jewish oral law, some people are destined to be fuel for Sheol (Hell) these include single people and couples with no offspring.

There are three very notable people in the Bible that people think are single but are not: Peter (Cephas), Paul of Tarsus and Jesus Christ. {{{If you think I’m supporting the junk of the Da Vinci code, you’re sadly mistaken. Please read on}}}

Peter, as the Catholics would attest, is the first pope. I have a problem with that; the Bible talks about Peter’s mother in law whom Jesus Christ healed. Nobody can be unmarried and yet have a mother in law. Besides, if he is the first pope then the successors should follow his example and be Jewish.

Paul the apostle is regarded by most Christians as single. I have a problem with that. The Bible says he is the Pharisee of Pharisees, he followed the law and the oral law meticulously. No one can be an unmarried pharisee because according to the oral law; a pharisee should be married in order to be merciful to others. The current theory presents Paul as a widower.

Jesus Christ never married when He was here on earth the first time. He is single even up to this day; However, He is betrothed. He is engaged and the Holy spirit is the engagement ring. Jesus Christ is going to marry the church. To those people who say "I don’t want to marry, I’m already married to the church"; watch out. She’s taken. Revelation says that Jesus Christ will one day come for His bride. It sounds strange to us because we don’t know what a ancient Jewish wedding is like. The parable of the ten virgins reflect this tradition. The groom comes in unannounced and takes his bride away to the wedding feast. Much and in the same way, Jesus Christ will come in and take (the rapture) His bride (the church) away to the feast in Heaven.

In conclusion, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with being single, as long as you can bear it. If you yearn for children and intimate companionship then it proves you don’t have the gift of singleness. But in whatever state you are in now, serve God.