“Eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven”: the biblical basics of celibacy – literary-exegetical analysis Mt 19:10–12 Cover Image

„Eunuchowie ze względu na królestwo niebios”: biblijne podstawy celibatu – analiza literacko-egzegetyczna Mt 19,10–12
“Eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven”: the biblical basics of celibacy – literary-exegetical analysis Mt 19:10–12

Author(s): Dawid Napiwodzki
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Biblical studies, History of Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
Keywords: unmarried; celibacy; eunuchs; kingdom of heaven; mashal

Summary/Abstract: The content of the article is a literary-exegetical analysis of Mt 19:10–12. This pericope deals with the subject of celibacy. When Jesus speaks of the unmarried, he uses the word “eunuchs”. He distinguishes three groups of eunuchs, the first two of which do not raise any doubts. However, the most surprising is the third group, as they are the ones who made themselves “eunuchs” for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. We are dealing here with a metaphorical approach to the celibate. It is emphasized that this state of life is not understandable for everyone, but only for the chosen ones, for those who do it for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus’ speech, we find traces of typically Semitic literary structures and figures. We are dealing here with the spiral structure of the phrase (Mt 19:12a–c), which is typical of the Semitic form of mashal, which confirms that we are dealing with ipsissima verba Jesu. The researched pericope constitutes its own material, characteristic only for the Gospel of Matthew. It perfectly fits the structure and editorial concept of chapters 19 and 20. The study shows the biblical, evangelical rooting of celibacy, the source of which is Jesus himself.

  • Issue Year: 2021
  • Issue No: 28
  • Page Range: 85-105
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Polish