Men and boys are called to virginity of life sexually Apoc.14: 4 by Rev Fr Paul Ikechukwu OGUJIOFFOR

From ages past talking about virginity all eyes, revolve on women, ladies and girls. The reason is that the meaning of virginity circumvents on women and girls all the time. Is it possible for a man or a boy to be a virgin sexually all through his life or remain such when married? The answer is not farfetched. Yes! Continence and abstinence are very important in this regard for men. The Word of God said: Hi sunt, qui cum mulieribus non sunt coinquinati: virgines enim sunt. Hi sequuntur Agnum quocumque ierit. Hi empti sunt ex hominibus primitiæ Deo, et Agno- οὗτοί εἰσιν οἳ μετὰ γυναικῶν οὐκ ἐμολύνθησαν, παρθένοι γάρ εἰσιν. οὗτοι οἱ ἀκολουθοῦντες τῷ ἀρνίῳ ὅπου ἂν ὑπάγῃ. οὗτοι ἠγοράσθησαν ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀπαρχὴ τῷ θεῷ καὶ τῷ ἀρνίῳ,-These have kept their virginity undefiled by the touch of woman; these are the Lamb’s attendants, wherever he goes; these have been ransomed for God and the Lamb as the first-fruits of mankind Apoc.(Rev.) 14: 4.

Furthermore, to stand before the throne of God clothed in white robes implies purity of thoughts, words and actions. Ipso facto, this implies virginity. The Bible said: stantes ante thronum, et in conspectu Agni, amicti stolis albis, et palmæ in manibus eorum-ἑστῶτες ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου καὶ ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου, περιβεβλημένους στολὰς λευκάς, καὶ φοίνικες ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν-These stood before the throne in the Lamb’s presence, clothed in white robes, with palm-branches in their hands Apoc.7: 9b.

It is good to note that this sexual virginity for men makes them holy in their different states of life. If they are married they should be virgins towards their conjugal love, if they are celibates more is demanded of them for total purity, if they are spinsters friendship is not sexual intercourse or relationship. The Bible is very clear to us in this, for it admonishes us all thus: Hoc autem dico secundum indulgentiam, non secundum imperium. Volo enim omnes vos esse sicut meipsum: sed unusquisque proprium donum habet ex Deo: alius quidem sic, alius vero sic. Dico autem non nuptis, et viduis: bonum est illis si sic permaneant, sicut et ego. Quod si non se continent, nubant. Melius est enim nubere, quam uri-τοῦτο δὲ λέγω κατὰ συγγνώμην, οὐ κατ' ἐπιταγήν. θέλω δὲ πάντας ἀνθρώπους εἶναι ὡς καὶ ἐμαυτόν: ἀλλὰ ἕκαστος ἴδιον ἔχει χάρισμα ἐκ θεοῦ, ὁ μὲν οὕτως, ὁ δὲ οὕτως. Λέγω δὲ τοῖς ἀγάμοις καὶ ταῖς χήραις, καλὸν αὐτοῖς ἐὰν μείνωσιν ὡς κἀγώ: εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται γαμησάτωσαν: κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν γαμῆσαι ἢ πυροῦσθαι-I say this by way of concession; I am not imposing a rule on you. I wish you were all in the same state as myself; but each of us has his own endowment from God, one to live in this way, another in that. To the unmarried, and to the widows, I would say that they will do well to remain in the same state as myself, but if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry; better to marry than to feel the heat of passion 1 Cor.7: 6-9.

When the Word of God recalls ‘feeling the heat of passion’ it tries to take root from itself as to avoid wrong and sinful impression of friendship. This is why it warns us all saying: Non te reputes in multitudine indisciplinatorum. Memento iræ, quoniam non tardabit-μὴ προσλογίζου σεαυτὸν ἐν πλήθει 18 ταπείνωσον σφόδρα τὴν ψυχήν σου-Do not join the company or be friends with sinners, remember that the wrath of God will not be delayed Sirach 7: (16) 17-18.

Therefore, situating our discussion in reality of the fact of nature of man, let us look at the etymology of the word in question. Virgin or virginity is etymologically attached to Almah (עלמה, plural: alamot עלמות), a Hebrew word meaning a young woman of childbearing age who has not yet had a child, and who may be an unmarried virgin or a married young woman. The term occurs nine times in the Hebrew Bible. The masculine equivalent of almah is elem ("עלם") meaning "youth" or "young man of the age of puberty". Feminizing these terms would result in "young woman" or "young woman of the age of puberty". The masculine elem means puberty, but it does apply to bachur or "young warrior", when boys have matured to the point of being able to support a new household. Almah has a list of sequential "terms, each depicting a fresh stage of life". Viz;

·         yeled or yaldah – new born boy or girl.

·         yonek or yanak - suckling baby.

·         olel - suckling who also eats food, this is translated as "young child/ren" in Lam.4:4.

·         gamal - weaned child (under 3 years old).

·         taph - young child, one who still clings to mother. Derived from the word for brisk, small, tripping steps of young children.

·         elem or almah - firm and strong child

·         na'ar (masc) or na'arah (fem.) - "independent or free child" (from a root meaning "to shake off"), also "handmaid", "servant" or just "girl".

In Greek, virginity or virgin has its meaning with the Hebrew Almah, hence, παρθενίας ή παρθένα ; parthenías í̱ parthéna ? virginity or virgin?  παρθένος, ου, ὁ, ἡ, means a maiden, virgin; extended to men who have not known women. Parthénos is properly, a virgin; a woman who has never had sexual relations; a female (virgin), beyond puberty but not yet married; figuratively, believers when they are pure (chaste), that is faithful to Christ their heavenly Bridegroom (cf. 2 Cor.11:2; Rev.14:4).

Beloved brothers the Bible said:Beati mundo corde: quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt-μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται-Blessed are the (pure in heart) clean of heart; they shall see God Matt.5:8. For the many times we have sin against him through dis-virgining our virginity by ourselves or with others, let us sincerely pray with the Psalmist thus: Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine, Domine, quis sustinebit?-ἐὰν ἀνομίας παρατηρήσῃ κύριε κύριε τίς ὑποστήσεται-If you O Lord should mark our iniquities Lord who would survive? Ps.130:3.