Examples from the early church.
Examples from the early church.
§ 102. Bellarmine takes the second class of arguments for establishing the evangelical counsels from the examples of the early church: “They had possessions in common (Acts 4[:32]). Philip had four daughters who were virgins (Acts 21[:9]). Philo and Justin mention the celibacy of many people.”
We respond. By no means do we disapprove of celibacy in suitable persons, and in its own place there will be a treatment of what gave cause for its admiration [cf. On Marriage, Celibacy, and Similar Topics (Commonplace XXVIII), §§ 490–91, 499–500]. A common sharing was adopted by the apostles not for the sake of a work of supererogation but because of the perils of persecutions, as an indifferent and temporal thing rather than a perpetual [institution]. Nor was any such thing established by the apostles among the Gentiles (as is clear from 2 Cor. 8:13, etc.; 9:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; 1 Tim. 6:18; 1 John 3:17). (See Chemnitz, Loci, part 2, ch. De paupert., p. 400.) As regards Philip’s daughters, it is uncertain whether or not they all retained their virginity as they grew old. Clement of Alexandria (Stromat., 3, p. 210): “Peter and Philip fathered sons; also, Philip gave up his daughters to husbands.” Assume that Philip’s daughters did grow old in their virginity: must we assume from this that they created a work of supererogation out of their virginity?
** Luke mentions this as something unique, that these virgins were prophesying; that is, they were foretelling the same thing as the seven disciples and Agabus, that Paul was going to be handed over to the Gentiles. Eusebius ([Histor.,] bk. 3, ch. 30) writes that two were given in marriage, and (in ch. 31) he adds that two grew old in their virginity. **