The term "chaste" in the Bible refers to purity, particularly in the context of sexual morality and personal conduct. It is a quality that is highly esteemed and encouraged among believers, reflecting a life that is set apart for holiness and dedicated to God. The concept of chastity encompasses both physical purity and the purity of heart and mind.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of chastity is often linked with the broader concept of holiness and the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Israelites were called to be a holy nation, distinct from the surrounding cultures, which often engaged in sexual immorality as part of their religious practices. Leviticus 18 outlines various prohibitions against sexual immorality, emphasizing the need for the Israelites to maintain purity in their personal and communal lives.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, chastity is further emphasized as a virtue for all believers. The Apostle Paul, in particular, addresses the importance of chastity in several of his epistles. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 , Paul writes, "For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor." Here, chastity is presented as an essential aspect of living a life that honors God.

Paul also advises young women to be chaste in Titus 2:5 , where he instructs older women to teach younger women "to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited." The call to purity is not limited to women, however, as men are also urged to live chaste lives. In 1 Timothy 5:22 , Paul advises Timothy, "Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure."

Chastity in Marriage

Chastity is not only a pre-marital virtue but also a marital one. The sanctity of marriage is upheld in Hebrews 13:4 , which states, "Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers." Within marriage, chastity involves faithfulness and the exclusive devotion of spouses to one another.

Spiritual Implications

Chastity is closely linked with the broader Christian call to live a life that is pleasing to God. It is a reflection of the believer's commitment to holiness and a testimony to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Peter 1:15-16 , believers are reminded, "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"

Cultural and Historical Considerations

Throughout history, the virtue of chastity has been counter-cultural, especially in societies where sexual immorality is prevalent. The early Christians were often noted for their distinct lifestyle, which included a commitment to chastity. This commitment served as a powerful witness to the surrounding pagan cultures and was a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel.

In summary, chastity is a vital aspect of Christian discipleship, reflecting a life dedicated to God and His standards of holiness. It encompasses purity in thought, word, and deed, and is a testament to the believer's desire to honor God in all aspects of life.1. (a.) Pure from unlawful sexual intercourse; virtuous; continent.

2. (a.) Pure in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and obscenity, or indecency in act or speech; modest; as, a chaste mind; chaste eyes.

3. (a.) Pure in design and expression; correct; free from barbarisms or vulgarisms; refined; simple; as, a chaste style in composition or art.

4. (a.) Unmarried.

CHASTE; CHASTITY

chast, chas'-ti-ti.

See CRIMES; MARRIAGE.

53. hagnos -- free from ceremonial defilement, holy, sacred
... defilement, holy, sacred. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hagnos Phonetic
Spelling: (hag-nos') Short Definition: pure, chaste Definition: (originally ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/53.htm - 7k

3933. parthenos -- a maiden, a virgin
... a ; a woman who has never had sexual relations; a female (virgin), beyond puberty
but not yet married; (figuratively) when they are pure (chaste), ie faithful ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3933.htm - 7k

4998. sophron -- of sound mind, self-controlled
... Phonetic Spelling: (so'-frone) Short Definition: self-controlled, temperate Definition:
of sound mind, self-controlled, temperate, sober-minded, modest, chaste ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4998.htm - 8k

Which is Chaste Love; and How in Some Creatures Such Sensible ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FIFTIETH CHAPTER Which is chaste love; and how in some creatures
such sensible comforts be but seldom, and in some right oft. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the fiftieth chapter.htm

The True and Chaste virgins Few; Chastity a Contest; Thekla
... Discourse XI."Arete. Chapter I."The True and Chaste Virgins Few; Chastity
a Contest; Thekla. Chief of Virgins. I do accept it ...
/.../chapter i the true and chaste.htm

I Send Thee Not, Soul that Art Religiously Chaste...
... Section 38. I send thee not, soul that art religiously chaste? 38. I send
thee not, soul that art religiously chaste, that hast ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/of holy virginity /section 38 i send thee.htm

O Thou who Art Made Priest after Thy Master, the Illustrious after ...
... O thou who art made priest after thy master, the illustrious after the excellent,
the chaste after the grave, the watchful after the abstinent, thy master from ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xviii o thou who.htm

A Difficulty as Regards the Chastity of Unbelievers. None but a ...
... Book I. Chapter 4."A Difficulty as Regards the Chastity of Unbelievers.
None But a Believer is Truly a Chaste Man. What, then, have ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 4 a difficulty as regards.htm

It is not Enough that God Know us to be Chaste: we must Seem So ...
... Book II. Chapter XIII."It is Not Enough that God Know Us to Be Chaste:
We Must Seem So Before Men. Especially in These Times of ...
/.../tertullian/on the apparel of women/chapter xiii it is not enough.htm

Of Lucretia, who Put an End to Her Life Because of the Outrage ...
... We maintain that when a woman is violated while her soul admits no consent to the
iniquity, but remains inviolably chaste, the sin is not hers, but his who ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 19 of lucretia who put.htm

Peter's Speech Continued.
... "The chaste wife doing the will of God, is a good reminiscence of His first
creation; for God, being one, created one woman for one man. ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xv peters speech continued.htm

Peter's Speech Continued.
... "The chaste woman is adorned with the Son of God as with a bridegroom. She is clothed
with holy light. ... She wears about her precious pearls, even chaste words. ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xvi peters speech continued.htm

Peter's Speech Continued.
... Chapter XVIII."Peter's Speech Continued. "Much better is it if you will take her
by the hand and come, in order that you yourself may become chaste; for you ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xviii peters speech continued.htm

Chaste (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Pure in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and obscenity, or
indecency in act or speech; modest; as, a chaste mind; chaste eyes. ...
/c/chaste.htm - 8k

Chastity
... 1. (n.) Sexual or moral purity; celibacy; the state of being chaste; purity of body;
freedom from unlawful sexual intercourse. 2. (n.) Purity. ...CHASTE; CHASTITY. ...
/c/chastity.htm - 6k

Virgin (62 Occurrences)
... 6. (a.) Being a virgin; chaste; of or pertaining to a virgin; becoming a virgin;
maidenly; modest; indicating modesty; as, a virgin blush. ...
/v/virgin.htm - 64k

Beholding (45 Occurrences)
... are so rendered in English Versions of the Bible, but epopteusantes, "your good
works, which they behold" (1 Peter 2:12); "beholding your chaste behavior" (1 ...
/b/beholding.htm - 21k

Chasten (16 Occurrences)

/c/chasten.htm - 11k

Virtuous (5 Occurrences)
... virtuous action. 5. (a.) Chaste; pure; -- applied especially to women.
Multi-Version Concordance Virtuous (5 Occurrences). Ruth 3 ...
/v/virtuous.htm - 8k

Keepers (78 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their
own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (KJV WBS YLT). ...
/k/keepers.htm - 33k

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Chaste, the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Zidonians,
and the wife of Ahab, the king of Israel (1 Kings 16:31). ...
/j/jezebel.htm - 26k

Workers (76 Occurrences)
... Titus 2:5 to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection
to their own husbands, that God's word may not be blasphemed. (WEB ASV NAS). ...
/w/workers.htm - 28k

Espoused (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused
you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. ...
/e/espoused.htm - 8k

What does the Bible say about chastity? | GotQuestions.org

How can an unmarried person relieve sexual tension in a non-sinful way? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Judah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Chaste: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus