Was the apostle Paul married?

It seems he was, though he may have been widowed and/or living in a sexually continent marriage by some point.

In 1 Corinthians 9 he refers to his wife, and complains that he and Barnabas should be compensated for their expenses just as Peter and the Twelve are, so that they can, among other things, afford to bring their wives with them.

(He goes on to make it clear he’s not just whining for a raise – he pays his own way, but still has a right to compensation, as does anyone else who gives their life to ministry.)

In Philippians 4, he enjoins his wife (sometimes translated as ‘companion’) to take care of some women in the Church.

Early Church Fathers also attest to Paul’s married status, including Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius of Caesarea. Origen of Alexandria also refers to the tradition that Paul was married.

Finally, Paul is, by his own admission, a Pharisee, and obedience to the commandment “be fruitful and multiply” was then, and is now, taken seriously by Orthodox Jews (as one rabbi friend told me, obedience to the commandment means married couples should have sex daily, and twice on the sabbath!). We would know Paul was almost certainly married, or at the least a widower, from that bit of information alone.

Though there is a passage in 1 Corinthians 7 that he recommends people engaging in missions who can “should remain as he is”, such as widows and the unmarried – which probably means widowers.

This has been interpreted at later ages to say he was celibate, but that seems to have been because of the growth of importance of celibate monks, and later of celibacy as part of clerical reform, rather than what is actually indicated. He may mean celibacy as a widower, and not remarrying, or he may mean remaining continent within marriage, and both of these ideas gained traction over the centuries and inspired clerical practice and discipline; but it is also possible he means something else altogether: Chastity, rather than continence or celibacy, or perhaps a willingness to leave the wife at home while he goes on mission, or something that would have been more clear at the time.

I have even heard it suggested that he really did not like his wife, or that perhaps he was a closeted gay man, and felt she was inflicted on him to keep him humble, so much so that she is in fact the “thorn in his flesh” (cf 2 Corinthians 12). I’m not sure if this is reflecting the reader’s misogyny, Paul’s, or something else entirely, though. (And, since this wasn’t clear to some readers, I don’t give much credit to either theory, but they are out there.)

So while much has been made of Paul’s celibacy at various points in history, it seems it was unwarranted. He was pretty clearly married, at least for some part of his life.

Now, that being said – it isn’t an article of faith. Whether Paul was married or not, or whether he was widowed by the time of his conversion, or his wife left him when he did, or anything, simply doesn’t matter to the gospel. It has no effect on the central message of Christianity, it has no effect on Church teaching, except where people have justified mandated celibacy using Paul as an example, but even that is adiaphora, not dogma. It is interesting to piece together, but it isn’t something that should challenge one’s faith.

Replies:

August Guillaume

When I read 1 cor 9, Paul says he has a right to be married, but later he mentions he did not use that right. In Phill 4 he mentions some women who worked with him, but no hint of marriage to one of them.

Raytoons Cartoons

Your right. Paul later declared that he had the gift of celibacy in 1 Corinthians 7:1-7.

Paul Summers

There is nothing in the Biblical texts that consider Paul to be married or widowed.

He is clearly single as he writes the letter to the Corinthian Church, and nothing compels any serious reader to think otherwise, unlike one builds on sheer conjecture.

Devon Davis

Acts 7:58

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

We see here the first mention of Paul by his original name Saul. It says that he was a young man. Now we must also understand that he was a pharisee who was very knowledgeable in the law and he went about operating with great authority so it is reasonable to assume that he spent a great deal of his youthful days as an understudy to a doctor of the law. This means that he must have already committed himself to celibacy or he was a eunuch. A eunuch had no desire for pleasures of the flesh and was committed to service. In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 Paul also hinted to the fact that he was neither married or intended to be but he acknowledged that everyone can’t be like him. He was totally committed to doing God’s work, being duty-bounded to no one else. This is what made him one of the most prominent of Apostles. He had no ties to other humans

Moses Adigbli

Let’s get real here. How can one expect all these disciples and apostles of Jesus not to be married. How did these men who were so busy spreading the teachings of their master – Jesus live as unmarried men, looking after themselves, doing all the household chores all by themselves as single men? All of them had wives or female companions. That they were celibate, I will go along with that, because the level of their spiritual advancement demanded it.

Harry Richey

Before I say anything, I should say that, while it is interesting to discuss, it is not an issue that makes a difference one way or another. I disagree that Paul is referring to his wife in 1Cor. 9. It seems to me that he is making the contrast that he and Barnabas had to provide for themselves while other apostles would not only be supported but also have their families supported. In 1Cor. 7 he clearly refers to himself as single (I’m not sure celebate is the correct term, as he speaks often of the virtues of marriage, unattached might be a more fitting term.) In addition, there is no other passage referring to Paul having a wife. In contrast, Peter’s mother in law is mentioned and Peter refers to himself as an elder (1Peter 5:1, qualifications for elder found in 1Timothy include having a wife and children).

Profile photo for Xenocrites

Xenocrites

Professor:

I’m not sure that 1 Corinthian 9 “clearly” refers to his wife. The expression ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα περιάγειν could be his wife, but it could also just mean a woman who’s a sister in Christ. The Greek just means “woman,” which may or may not be a wife, depending on the context. He might be referring to some who criticize him for having a woman in his entourage when they show up in town.

It’s also not certain that the “syzygos” at Philippians 4.3 is his wife. The basic sense is “fellow worker,” which only by extension can come to mean a wife. Other candidates likely to be referred to as his “yoke make” that have been proposed are Epaphroditus and Timothy. I prefer the former, because he lavishes praise on him in the letter and is sending him back to Philippi, where he’ll be able to help smooth over the dispute between the two ladies.

Whether Paul was or was not married at some point in his life is unknowable, it seems to me, and ultimately unimportant — seems to me.

Andrew Boyd

Basically agreed, which i thought was obvious, too, but based on comments I see I have to add some more to this answer.

Modisa Selowa

Good morning and much appreciations to your comments for sharing your views with us. Back to the question of Paul’s Marrital status, the only source of information where we can get most of his biblical activities is from the bible itself. Apostle Paul without any doubt was not married. First, when he addressed the question about marriage1corinthians7:6-8 he was replying for the criticisms from people who questioned his apostleship. He commented, I would prefer widows and unmarried to be like i am (me). -single. Chapter 9:1–5 he says( am i not a free man just to follow examples of other Apostles like the lord brothers( john and Jude) and peter, by taking a Christian wife on my travels? Of course if Paul had decided to do so (got married) during his (travels) he would not have erred -sinned. Paul gives us the information that we did not know, that some of the disciples took their wives with during their travels which was right. Lastly he acknowledged the fact that everyone has his/her unique gift, that if one feels okay to be alone so it be and him that has passion to marry let him/her do so and that is acceptable. Thanks and God bless you.

Andrew Stuart

Andrew Boyd, like several ‘others’ I also am a little taken aback by some of your ‘own’ points of conjecture . I must admit that several of your own speculations are simply NOT scriptural at all.

Your reference to 1 Corinthians 9 “He clearly refers to his wife…” is simply not a good validation to your own theory. Indeed, Paul himself states further along in that same chapter with 1 Corinthians 9: 19 “Though I am free and belong to no one…”

Also, you seem to assume that Paul was only speaking of himself, “Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles…”

Clearly here, Paul was referring to the ‘royal we’ (meaning those of us) He does NOT simply refer to his own situation only.

Your reference to Philippians 4: “He enjoins his (Paul) wife to take care of some women in the Church”, is NOT entirely the correct use of scripture to substantiate your own personal opinion.

Why? …because that specific letter was written by Paul to ALL of the Christians (particularly the deacons) in Philippi and also to Timothy who was also stationed there in this town (he even refers specifically to him in this text).

Philippians 4: 2–3. “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion (meaning Timothy), help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers…”

Paul even introduces this letter to ‘whom’ this letter was indeed written specifically for: ”Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, TO all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons.”

The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.

The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 14; and in 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 8, 21.

Thus, your own reference to Philippians 4 being any sort of reference to Paul’s wife is incorrect, as there is no reference to his wife here whatsoever. Thus we don’t know ‘if’ he even had a wife (at that point), nor do we know ‘if’ she was still alive. If Paul was indeed a widower, then he wouldn’t have referenced his wife’s name here—if she was dead, would he!

The fact of the matter is that we are NOT clearly informed as to whether-or-not the Apostle Paul was married or not.

He ‘may’ have been at one point, it appears that Paul ‘could’ also have been either divorced or even widowed, although the Scriptures are NOT entirely clear — Why?

Within the inspiration of the ‘Word of God’, the Holy Spirit clearly had no intention of including as to whether-or-not the Apostle Paul was married, or NOT. It just wasn’t that important!

“For in Glory there will be no marriage, nor will we be given in marriage…”

Kathy

No he was against homosexuality, would not inherit God’s Kingdom

1 Cornthians 6:9-11

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

In verse 9 Effeminate means homosexual

Having or showing qualities or characteristics more often associated with females than males; unmanly. The definition of effeminate is behaving like a woman or in a weak way. An example of something effeminate is a voice that is high pitched. An example of something effeminate is a handshake that is soft and gentle.

Have a great day!

Like Our Story ? Donate to Support Us, Click Here

You want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity/live coverage for product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +16477721660 or email Adebaconnector@gmail.com