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Did the apostle Paul promote celibacy?

Gramps,Was the apostle Paul supporting the practice of being celebate as he has stated in his letter to the Corinthians that he would that we remain even as he was?

L. from India

Dear L.

In 1 Cor. 6, Paul is admonishing the Saints to avoid unchastity. (v 18, Flee fornication). He continues the theme in Chapter 7:1—

It is good for a man not to touch a woman,

referring undoubtedly to those who are not married. He then admonishes husbands and wives to treat each other kindly, v 3—

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband).

He then returns in verse 8 to address those who are single, and admonishes them to be as he is

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

Paul is using himself as an example of strict chastity and virtue for those who are not married, but he is in no way suggesting celibacy, i.e., that men and women should not marry. To the contrary, he cites marriage as a requirement to live in the presence of God.

Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord (1 Cor. 11:11).

Gramps

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