Is it Biblical to enforce celibacy to Christian preachers and those who married will not be preachers anymore? - pastors, ministers, priests what ever you call -
Because Paul said this:
1 Cor 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (NKJV)
If Paul preached as a single like Christ, Christian preachers must do the same.
This is the reason why it is better to be single forever as Christian preacher.
1 Cor 7:32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.
That is up to the individual whether they want to marry or not, and Paul did not get married for he was sent to the Gentiles which took up time, and was dangerous at times, and wanted to dedicate himself solely to the Lord for a more effective job at preaching, and reaching the lost, and staying right before God.
1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Paul did not say this by the commandment of God, but had permission to speak his position on the matter that it is better to not marry for a better spiritual walk with God, and to the unmarried to be as him, but Paul also said it is better to marry than to be unmarried if they have trouble in the flesh concerning fornication, or lusting for it.
And Paul was speaking to the saints in general, and not only to the preachers.
1Co 7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1Co 7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
1Co 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
1Co 7:30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
1Co 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1Co 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord.
Again Paul is not speaking from the commandment of the Lord, but his judgment.
1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Paul is speaking to the saints in general, and not only to preachers, and he is not stating this concerning marriage, but to live a life like him, and follow his example as he follows Christ, a Christlike lifestyle.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
God said in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, and forbid to marry, and command to abstain from meats, which God said is wrong, which this applies to the new age movement which will be in the latter times, the last days of the last days, which is now and the new age movement not that old, even though it is of the occult that is from way back, but it got more arrogant, and self exalting, than in time past, for they do not acknowledge a personal God as in time past, but honor the God of forces, the power of nature, and evolution through the power of nature to be greater, and spiritual in the future.
But it can also apply to the Catholic Church that it is wrong for the Pope to forbid the priests to marry, and to abstain from meats on Friday.
No one has the right to command them to abstain from those things for God said it is good.
Mat 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.
1Co 9:4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
1Co 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
Some of the disciples were married.
Luk 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Zecharias was a Leviticus priest and was married.
God said that it is wrong to forbid to marry for those in positions of leadership that would forbid people to marry, such as the new age movement leadership that will forbid to marry which the new age movement is the future for this sinful world, and the Pope that forbids to marry for the priests.
The priest's job is not one of great demand on them so marriage would not be in the way for them to do their job effectively.
But Paul had a great demand placed on him, and he suffered many things for the Lord, and dangerous at times when dealing with the Gentiles, so he thought it best to not be married.
But Paul did not think it was wrong for him to be married, but that it would hinder him doing a great work for the Lord, and keeping himself dedicated to God, but God might of wanted Paul not to be married, but that would not extend to all preachers.
But then Paul said he spoke not by the commandment of God, but his judgment, so he probably could of got married if he wanted, but he did not want it to take up his time, and put a burden and worry on a wife.
Even Moses that had a great demand on him was married.