By Shimelis Mergia
From senior essay
25/09/2004
The Ascetical
teaching of St. Ephrem was just like St. Paul teaching to the Corinthian
Christians, who taught about virginity.(1cor.7:11) such Ascetical life which
introduced by St. Paul and later by St. Ephrem
is more biblical than Egyptian monasticism. St. Paul taught about virginity
like this;
“I say this concession, not as a command. I
wish that all men were as I am but each man has his own gift from God; one has
this gift anther has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: it is
good for them to stay unmarried” (1cor.7:6-8)
According to St. Paul virginity is the
preferable way of life to please God. But he couldn’t say marital life cannot
be pleased God. However, it may have obstacles to serve God in whole life.
