Our culture celebrates singleness for its independence, yet dreads celibacy as a state of loneliness, lacking sex and romance. The Biblical view of singleness is radically different. Paul gives great value to both singleness and marriage, referring to both as a gift from God. However rather than singleness being a state to focus on yourself and suffer loneliness, Paul says his singleness is a state of undivided focus on Jesus and allows us to invest deeply in friendships with his body.