Finally, it was Jesus Himself in His teachings and
those of the apostle
Paul that a
balance was created in the importance to the roles of marriage
and non marriage, to sex within marriage and sexual
continence or
celibacy/virginity within or without marriage. Jesus,
the Evangelists and
Paul would see the advantages of all states of life
within the Church,
not just marriage.
The primary example of
celibacy/virginity is clearly the lifestyle
example of Jesus
himself. The practice is further
sanctioned by the New Testament.
Matthew 19:12
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 sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.
Lifestyle
vocations within the New Testament Church