Confused About Evangelical Counsels or Counsels of Perfection

[Bookcat]

I’m still wondering why he would say that he wished “all men” were as he was. Could he actually mean “all men who were in his kind of intense, direct, religious service”, or should we take the “all men” as truly a blanket statement applying to absolutely everyone?

He wished all were as he himself was.

He was extolling *celibacy *- and expressing his personal thought. (And also He may at that time he was writing that letter thought perhaps the parousia was not too long off…)

Which he then quickly follows with the reality that each has his** gift **from God.

 

[Sirach2]

I’m still wondering why he would say that he wished “all men” were as he was. Could he actually mean “all men who were in his kind of intense, direct, religious service”, or should we take the “all men” as truly a blanket statement applying to absolutely everyone?

I think someone has deluded you with this verse, for in this entire listing of all bibles, there is only ONE (Phillips) that uses the words “all men” - and that wording is an extrapolation that is amplified beyond Paul’s meaning.

Upon further consideration, Paul is NOT speaking in the role of Peter (the first Pope), but in his own opinion. We cannot take this out of context and apply it to the entire human race, lest nobody marry and perpetuate humanity with children. Who is it that is influencing you so strongly that you are unable to discern that God calls each of us to a different vocation? There are many verses in scripture, even from Jesus Himself, that are not to be taken literally, such as virtually plucking out one’s eye, “hating” your father, mother, etc. This is Spirit-breathed, as well, so would you follow it?