1 Timothy 4:1-4

[Belaflek]

As a Catholic…could someone explain this…seems a bit…err…sounds like us

1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 

4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

 

[ST100]

heres a site that might help you in explaining this verse…

cin.org/users/james/questions/q029.htm

 

[Genesis315]

Belaflek:

As a Catholic…could someone explain this…seems a bit…err…sounds like us

1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Well, most non-Catholics attack priestly celibacy and abstinence from eat on Fridays with these verses. The Church does not forbid anyone to marry. Priests choose that lifestyle. There was an early group of heretics called Albegensians (sp?, something like that, lol). Anyway, these people forbade marriage altogether. They only allowed fornication. Likewise, the above verses talk of forbidding meat altogether, which the Church does not do. I think that’s what you were getting at. Hope that helped.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

Genesis315:

Well, most non-Catholics attack priestly celibacy and abstinence from eat on Fridays with these verses. The Church does not forbid anyone to marry. Priests choose that lifestyle. There was an early group of heretics called Albegensians (sp?, something like that, lol). Anyway, these people forbade marriage altogether. They only allowed fornication. Likewise, the above verses talk of forbidding meat altogether, which the Church does not do. I think that’s what you were getting at. Hope that helped.

Hi Genesis, I believe you are only speaking half truth here. Any one who entered the priesthood single must remain single.Marriage is forbidden.The church does forbid a married person from entering the priesthood[excluding prior married clergy of another denomination]. If I,m wrong I stand corrected. God Bless.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Once again, Spokenword, the scripture under question says “forbidding to marry”, NOT “forbidding their priests to marry”. It is not forbidding ALL people to marry. There is a big difference. No Catholic is forbidden to marry, but in the early Church many people, Gnostics for example, taught the heresy that spirit = good and body = bad, thus calling for EVERYBODY to remain celibate. This, of course, is not something the Church does. A man who considers the priesthood is not forbidden to marry; he has the choice to marry (and not seek the priesthood) or not marry and seek the priesthood; same with women, who may choose to marry or may choose to live as celibate nuns. The interpretation put on this scripture sounds for our times more like the Shakers, who, although they could marry, lived celibate lives, with men and women living in separate dormitories.

Being a priest, or a nun, or even a married person, is not some sort of right that one demands–it is a vocation for which one studies, and most especially, for which one PRAYS, and then lives.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

Tantum ergo:

Once again, Spokenword, the scripture under question says “forbidding to marry”, NOT “forbidding their priests to marry”. It is not forbidding ALL people to marry. There is a big difference. No Catholic is forbidden to marry, but in the early Church many people, Gnostics for example, taught the heresy that spirit = good and body = bad, thus calling for EVERYBODY to remain celibate. This, of course, is not something the Church does. A man who considers the priesthood is not forbidden to marry; he has the choice to marry (and not seek the priesthood) or not marry and seek the priesthood; same with women, who may choose to marry or may choose to live as celibate nuns. The interpretation put on this scripture sounds for our times more like the Shakers, who, although they could marry, lived celibate lives, with men and women living in separate dormitories.

Being a priest, or a nun, or even a married person, is not some sort of right that one demands–it is a vocation for which one studies, and most especially, for which one PRAYS, and then lives.

Hi Tantum, Oh, I see, Does that mean priests are not included in this verse? If a man does choose to be a priest he is forbidden to marry. You say he has a choice to accept the priesthood or not But that does not disqualify the requirments. God Bless

 

[Scott_Waddell]

SPOKENWORD:

Hi Tantum, Oh, I see, Does that mean priests are not included in this verse? If a man does choose to be a priest he is forbidden to marry. You say he has a choice to accept the priesthood or not But that does not disqualify the requirments. God Bless

Some people during their studies at theological school choose to make a vow to God that they will not marry.

The Latin-rite Church at this time calls only those who have made this vow to be priests.

The Church does not “forbid” them to marry in this sense, but they expect them uphold their vow to God which they made of their own accord.

Scott

 

[Tmaque]

Belaflek:

As a Catholic…could someone explain this…seems a bit…err…sounds like us

1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 

4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

#1
Sounds like us??? Sounds like like everyone BUT us.

#2
See response to question #1

#3
Jesus and Paul recommended celibacy if possible. The Latin rite of the Church takes that recommendation seriously and requires it’s priests to be unmarried(in most cases) in order for them to be fully devoted to their vocation. Most other rites of the Church do not have such a requirement. As stated by other posters, that passage is talking about forbidding the laity to marry. It is not refering to clerical disciplines.
Mt 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.
1 Cor 7:6-7
This I say by way of concession, however, not as a command. Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am (single? widowed?), but each has a particular gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
1 Cor 7:32-34
I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

#4
Catholics are not required to be vegetarians, which is what the passage suggests. During Lent we are required on Fridays to give up meat as a form of penance, a form of sacrifice. If a person gives up meat and then gorges on lobster and halibut they’ve missed the point entirely. It’s about sacrifice. I would say that if you don’t like meat and love fish you should give up fish. It’s not about the meat. It’s about being penitent.