From Nave’s Topical Bible
Celibacy
Every passage the 1896 Nave’s Topical Biblegathers under this heading, in Nave’s own arrangement and then in Bible order. MannaFest has not written this page — it is the older index, transcribed, with the Word travelling beside each reference.
- 10Passages listed
- 4Books of the 66
- 1896Nave's edition
How Nave’s arranged it
The passages, in Bible order (10)
The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 10 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.
- Matthew 19:10–12
His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”
Commentary on Matthew 19:10–122 voices
In these verses we have the mind of Christ declared on two subjects of great moment. One is the relation of husband and wife; the other is the light in which we should regard little children in the matter of their souls. It is difficult to overrate the importance of these two subjects: the well-being of nations and the happiness of society are closely connected with right views upon them. Nations are nothing but a collection of families.
J.C. Ryle· Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew, 1856
(Verse 10.) His disciples said to him: If such is the case between a man and his wife, it is not expedient to marry. The burden of wives is heavy, for apart from the cause of fornication, they cannot be divorced. For what if she is drunken, if she is angry, if she is of bad morals, if she is lascivious, if she is gluttonous, if she is wandering, if she is quarrelsome, if she is abusive? She must be endured. For when we were free, we willingly subjected ourselves to servitude.
Jerome· Commentary on MatthewPatristic
- 1 Corinthians 7:1
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:12 voices
Heb 13:4, in opposition to ascetic and Romish notions of superior sanctity in celibacy, declares, "Marriage is HONORABLE IN ALL." Another reason why in some cases celibacy may be a matter of Christian expediency is stated in 1Co 7:34, 35, "that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction." But these are exceptional cases, and in exceptional times, such as those of Paul.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871Reformed
But it is good, that is, either abstracting from circumstances there are many things in which the state of celibacy has the advantage above the marriage state; or else at this juncture, by reason of the distress of the Christian church, it would be a convenience for Christians to keep themselves single, provided they have the gift of continency, and at the same time can keep themselves chaste.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- 1 Corinthians 7:2
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:22 voices
The dignity of marriage is set forth by Paul (Eph 5:25-32), in the fact that it signifies the mystical union between Christ and the Church. The duty of cohabitation on the part of the married. due benevolence--The oldest manuscripts read simply, "her due"; that is, the conjugal cohabitation due by the marriage contract (compare 1Co 7:4).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871Reformed
You have given up your wife, to whom you are bound. This is a big step you have taken. You are not abusing her, you say, but claiming that you can be chaste and live more purely. But look how your poor wife is being destroyed as a result, because she is unable to endure your purity! You should sleep with your wife, not for your sake but for hers.
Origen of Alexandria· COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 3.33.23-25Patristic
- 1 Corinthians 7:7–9
I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:7–92 voices
For I would that all men were herein even as I - I would that all believers who are now unmarried would remain "eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake" St. Paul, having tasted the sweetness of this liberty, wished others to enjoy it, as well as himself.
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, 1755Evangelical
For I would ... - I would prefer. That all men ... - That Paul was unmarried is evident from 1Co 9:5. But he does not refer to this fact here. When he wishes that all people were like himself, he evidently does not intend that he would prefer that all should be unmarried, for this would be against the divine institution, and against his own precepts elsewhere.
Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)Evangelical
- 1 Corinthians 7:25
Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:252 voices
In the third case (1Co 7:12), the Old Testament commandment of God to put away strange wives (Ezr 10:3), Paul by the Spirit revokes. mercy of the Lord-- (1Ti 1:13). He attributes his apostleship and the gifts accompanying it (including inspiration) to God's grace alone. faithful--in dispensing to you the inspired directions received by me from the Lord.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871Reformed
And this, also, was not their private opinion, but a divine rule of faith and practice. As one whom God hath made faithful in my apostolic office; who therefore faithfully deliver what I receive from him. This is good for the present distress - While any church is under persecution.
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, 1755Evangelical
- 1 Corinthians 7:26
Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:262 voices
Now, if in all cases he says it is best for a man thus to be; "Thou art joined to a wife seek not loosing" (that you may give no occasion to adultery); "thou art loosed from a wife, seek not a wife," that you may reserve an opportunity for yourself: "but withal, if thou shalt have married a wife, and if a virgin shall have married, she sinneth not; pressure, however, of the flesh such shall have,"-even here he is granting a permission by way of "sparing them."
Tertullian· On ModestyPatristic
This is good for the present distress - There was no period in the heathen times when the Church was not under persecutions and afflictions; on some occasions these were more oppressive than at others. The word αναγκη signifies, necessity, distress, tribulation, and calamity; as it does in Luk 21:23; 2Co 6:4; 2Co 12:
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the BibleEvangelical
- 1 Corinthians 7:32–40
I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:32–402 voices
Indeed to be careless is a fault; a wise concern about worldly interests is a duty; but to be careful, full of care, to have an anxious and perplexing care about them, is a sin. All that care which disquiets the mind, and distracts it in the worship of God, is evil; for God must be attended upon without distraction,
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
This is the general rule, which every one's discretion must apply to his own particular case; and by it should he endeavour to determine, whether it be for marriage or against. That condition of life should be chosen by the Christian in which it is most likely he will have the best helps, and the fewest hindrances, in the service of God and the affairs of his own salvation.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- 1 Corinthians 9:5
Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 9:52 voices
Thus it comes to pass that "all things are lawful, but not all are expedient," so long as (it remains true that) whoever has a "permission" granted is (thereby) tried, and is (consequently) judged during the process of trial in (the case of the particular) "permission." Apostles, withal, had a "licence" to marry, and lead wives about (with them ).
Tertullian· On Exhortation to ChastityPatristic
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife,.... The phrase "a sister, a wife", is an Hebraism, and answers to אחתיכלה, "my sister, spouse", Son 4:9. The Jews called their wives, sisters, not on account of religion, which also is not the meaning here; but because of the common relation that men and women, all mankind, stand in to one another, antecedent to any nearer relation, as that of man and wife.
John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)Reformed
- 1 Timothy 4:1–3
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
Commentary on 1 Timothy 4:1–32 voices
In 2Th 2:3 (written earlier), the apostasy of the Jews from God (joining the heathen against Christianity) is the groundwork on which the prophecy rises; whereas here, in the Pastoral Epistles, the prophecy is connected with Gnostic errors, the seeds of which had already been sown in the Church [AUBERLEN] (2Ti 2:18).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871Reformed
But the Spirit saith - By St. Paul himself to the Thessalonians, and probably by other contemporary prophets. Expressly - As concerning a thing of great moment, and soon to be fulfilled. That in the latter times - These extend from our Lord's ascension till his coming to judgment.
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, 1755Evangelical
- Revelation 14:1–5
Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Commentary on Revelation 14:1–52 voices
THE SCENE of this marvellous and magnificent vision is laid upon Mount Sion; by which we are to understand, not Mount Sion upon earth, but Mount Sion which is above, “Jerusalem, the mother of us all.” To the Hebrew mind Mount Sion was a type of heaven, and very justly so. Among all the mountains of the earth none was to be found so famous as Sion.
Charles Spurgeon· The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 110: “Heavenly Worship” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition), 1856
As the 144,000 of Israel are "the first-fruits" (Re 14:4), so "the harvest" (Re 14:15) is the general assembly of Gentile saints to be translated by Christ as His first act in assuming His kingdom, prior to His judgment (Re 16:17-21, the last seven vials) on the Antichristian world, in executing which His saints shall share.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871Reformed