Abstract
In a recent Short Study I suggested that St Paul was not discussing virginity in I Cor. vii but dealing with the subject of second marriages and, more specifically in υυ. 36 ff., with levirate marriage. The present article is an examination of early patristic exegesis of I Cor. vii to show that consecrated virginity was not a customary way of life in the most primitive Christian communities. I have given special attention to the Jewish background of Montanism and Tertullian's exegesis during his Montanist period which seems to provide the most substantial evidence that the recipients of St Paul's letter were not posing questions concerning celibacy and perhaps had no conception of this practice for women.
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