Celibacy in the early church : the beginnings of a discipline of obligatory continence for clerics in East and West

Heid presents a penetrating and wide-ranging study of the historical data from the early Church on the topics of celibacy and clerical continence. He gives a brief review of recent literature, and then begins his study with the New Testament and follows it all the way to Justinian and the Council in Trullo in 690 in the East and the fifth century popes in the West. He thoroughly examines the writings of the Bible, the early church councils, saints and theologians like Jerome, Augustine, Clement, Tertullian, John Chrystostom, Cyril and Gregory Nazianzen. He has gathered formidable data with conclusive arguments regarding obligatory continence in the early Church. I. The Labyrinthine Paths Of The Inquiry. Celibacy Is An Inadequate Notion -- In The Beginning There Was A Legend -- New Insights Blaze A Trail -- As Yet No Definitive Line -- Ii. The Continence Of The Ministers In New Testament Times. Jesus And Those Who Accompanied Him On His Journeys -- The Apostles In Their Own Missionary Travels -- Paul's Challenge: Touch No Women -- The Key Is Found In The Pastoral Letters -- Iii. Clerical Continence From The Second Century Until 220. The Saeculum Obscurum Of Clerical Continence -- Further Indications Of A Discipline Of Clerical Continence -- Men In A Second Marriage Are Not Ordained -- Higher Clerics Must Not Marry Again Iv. Clerical Continence From The Third Century Until Nicaea (325). At The Time Of Origen Continence Is Required -- Disputed Canons Of The Ecclesiatical Canons Of The Holy Apostles -- The Celibacy Canon Of The Spanish Synod Of Elvira -- Eusebius Continues The Tradition Of Origen -- Indirect Confirmation Of A Continence Discipline -- V. Clerical Continence In The Fourth-century, Post-nicene Eastern Church. The Complete Discipline Of The Church -- Obligatory Continence Despite Criticism Of The Digamy Prohibition -- The Trend Toward A Celibate Clergy -- Did Clerics Really Have To Practice Continence? -- Vi. Clerical Continence In The Western Church Of The Fourth And Early Fifth Centuries. The Situation In North Africa And Spain -- Conditions In Italy Under Pope Damasus -- Conditions In Italy Under Pope Siricius -- The Situation In Gaul Under Pope Innocent -- Vii. The Common Heritage Of Clerical Continence In The Subsequent History Of The Church. The Responsibility Of The Popes For The Clerical Discipline Of The Universal Church -- The East Continues For A Long Time To Adhere Firmly To The Continence Discipline -- Fundamental Considerations With Respect To The Consensus Between The Eastern And Western Celibacy Disciplines. Stefan Heid ; Translated By Michael J. Miller. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 353-357) And Index. "Heid presents a penetrating and wide-ranging study of the historical data from the early Church on the topics of celibacy and clerical continence. He gives a brief review of recent literature, and then he begins his study with the New Testament and continues through Justinian and the Council in Trullo in 690 in the East and the fifth century popes in the West. He thoroughly examines the writings of the Bible, the early church councils, saints and theologians ......... " [from back cover]