Yes, the link between hypersexuality is OCD is well-documented. I was diagnosed with OCD and it manifests itself in me as compulsive masturbation.

Matthew 19:12 - heh, nice Bible reference. I am a Christian as well. I wanted to have my testicles removed long before I became a Christian, because I was sick of sexual frustration, but the desire to be a eunuch for the Kingdom has increased my desire to do so.

FYI... Here's the verse you all mentioned.

Matthew 19:12

New Living Translation (NLT)

Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”

The Greek literally says that some "make themselves eunuchs." The paraphrase "some choose not to marry" is an interpretation. Frankly, I'm not sure whether or not Jesus intended to be taken literally.

iamdaniel (imported) wrote: Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:08 pm The Greek literally says that some "make themselves eunuchs." The paraphrase "some choose not to marry" is an interpretation. Frankly, I'm not sure whether or not Jesus intended to be taken literally.

Another one of the mysteries of the Bible. To truly understand what was meant in that line one has to take the practices of the times in to perspective and then decide if he was talking in a figurative or literal figure. Please let me know what you figure out. I've got my own thoughts on this verse but I'd rather hear what others have to say first.

Thanks!

I've actually looked into its socio-historical context, and been unable to determine whether or not it's literal or figurative. I did learn, however, that the Jews of Jesus' time (we know this from Josephus and Philo) found literal castration abhorrent and associated it with paganism. Even celibacy was typically regarded as unmanly among the Jews, for the most apart, although the Qumran community/Essenes practiced mandatory celibacy in their monastic community. They were considered oddballs for the most part. Women were not allowed in the community, due to their belief that all women were sexually unfaithful, and they kept their community going by adopting orphans. Many scholars have attempted to link Jesus, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul to the Essenes(they were all celibate). They all do share a similar predestinarian theology, and John's ascetic impulse at first glance seems similar to that of the Essenes, but it's mostly conjecture. Studies on Second Temple-era Judaism in general are problematic due to the lack of data we have. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., Pharisaic Judaism became normative and all the different "Judaisms" vanished. So the short answer to what Jesus is saying in Matt. 19: I dunno. A literal interpretation seems consistent with a surface reading, since Jesus lists those who:

1) are born that way(obviously literal)

2) made that way by other men(obviously literal)

3) make themselves eunuchs(parallelism suggests literality?)

On the other hand, Jesus is prone to rabbinical exaggeration, for example, when he commends gouging out one's eyes and cutting off one's limbs in order to avoid sin (Matt. 5:30, Mk. 9:43).

The early church writer Tertullian wrote that he knew, personally, the author of the Gospel of Matthew, and that he was a eunuch. He also wrote that Jesus was a eunuch and recommended such a lifestyle to others. Tertullian described Jesus himself and Paul of Tarsus as "spadones", which can mean either "eunuch" or "celibate." The meaning of spado in late antiquity can be interpreted as a metaphor for celibacy, though Tertullian seems to refer to Paul as having been literally castrated. Paul gives an account of his celibacy in 1 Corinthians 7, but gives no indication whether or not he's literally castrated.

Most of this is hearsay. Interesting hearsay to be sure, but from the standpoint of serious historical scholarship, very much inconclusive.

I neglected to mention Origen of Alexandria because his case is so well known. He allegedly castrated himself upon reading Matt. 19:12. Justin Martyr also mentions, with tacit approval(I think), a Christian who castrated himself in order to exonerate Christians from the accusation, by the emperor, that they'd regularly engage in orgies or something. While Origen's case is also conjectural, and many people believe it to have been a rumor started by his enemies, Eusebius, who was basically Origen's hagiographer, grudgingly admits that Origen did castrate himself, and chalks this up to youthful, misguided zeal and spiritual immaturity. While here, as elsewhere, the evidence is scarce, using the historiographical standard of the "criterion of embarrassment", I think this does give us decent evidence that Origen did in fact go through with the procedure. The criterion of embarrassment states that, all things equal, a writer is unlikely to record something that would harm his or her cause, mar the image of someone he or she admired, etc.

Origen himself condemns the literal interpretation, calling it an outrage, and writing of the physiological effects of castration with a familiarity that suggests personal experience.

Well as you say, the first two mentioned in Matthew 19:12 could only be interpreted as literal, so it would be inconsistent with context to then make the final eunuch category as symbolic. Eunuch means castrated person, just as it did with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:32, where the same word is used.

2135 εὐνοῦχος [EU)NOU=XOS] {eunoûchos} \yoo-noo'-khos\

from εὐνή [EU)NH/] {eunḗ} (a bed) and 2192; a castrated person (such being employed in Oriental bed-chambers); by extension an impotent or unmarried man; by implication, a chamberlain (state-officer):--eunuch.

But we dont have to be scholars, or intelligent even, to understand Scripture. If we have the Holy Spirit, He will lead us into all Truth (1 John 2:27, John 16:13). Because Scholars that dont have the Holy Spirit will not be able to discern Scripture correctly anyway. Their eyes will be Spiritually blinded. Jesus said that the Father had hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes (Matthew 11:25), so it would be foolish to consult the wise of this world. Rather if we want to understand Matthew 19:12, or any other verse, all we need to do is just humble ourselves and pray for the true understanding.

The Holy Spirit is certainly necessary for a proper understanding of scripture, as is evident from the passages you've pointed out(and many others), but this doesn't exclude the necessity of careful study of the text(Acts 17:11). For the record, I agree that the text appears to be literal. Interestingly, though Josephus condemned castration, he mentioned that the prophet Daniel and his friends were eunuchs.