George Buchanan suggests a connection between Jewish asceticism and the expansion of purity concerns following the destruction of Solomon’s temple: “After the temple was burned in 586 . . . there was no longer a sacred place where the Lord could dwell in the land, undefiled. At that time celibacy became stronger as groups of laymen tried to fulfill that which was lacking. They attempted to keep their place of dwelling as undefiled as the temple, and themselves as undefiled as the priest, serving at the temple. They assumed that the temple would someday be restored and maintained in a state of purity so that celibacy and monasticism would be unnecessary.”
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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