[LiteKeeper]

The same St. Paul who wrote the letters to Titus and Timothy also praised celibacy

But, it was the exception, not the rule. And I reiterate, monaticism is a product of neo-platonism, not Christianity.

[annalex]

Of course monastic life is a separate, and rare, vocation, although I think that more people are called to it than the modern conflagration of heresies leads to believe.

If it were entirely a neoplatonic development, the scripture would not have praise for it and examples of celibacy.