- From 1 Cor 7, Paul responds to what they're asked him by stating "Now about…" (1 Cor 7:1, 25; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1, 12).
- 1 Cor 7 has been widely misunderstood as Paul despising women and regarding sex as dirty or defiling.
- 1 Cor 7:1 comes not from Paul but from the Corinthians.
1. Why might they think that it's good for the husband to not "touch" [have sex with] a woman/his wife (1 Cor 7:1, 34; Lk 20:34-35, 36)? Does Paul agree (1 Cor 7:2b-3)? What could happen if couples avoid sex in marriage (1 Cor 7:2a; 6:15)? What does Paul understand about the power of the human sex drive? [Is marital intercourse only for procreation?]
2. What does Paul tell married couples to continue doing? Why (1 Cor 7:4, 2a; 6:15)? What does this teach about the marriage relationship (Eph 5:21)? How does this challenge traditional views of hierarchy (Gal 3:28)?
3. What is Paul’s one concession, and for what reason (1 Cor 7:5-6, 2a)? Is Paul grudgingly and reluctantly permitting and conceding to marriage to curb lust and illicit sexual desire?
4. What is Paul’s wish
and his own gift [charisma], that is different from that of others (1 Cor 7:7)?
[Is singleness and celibacy a gift? Is marriage a gift? Is marriage less holy
or less spiritual than being single and celibate?]
No comments:
Post a Comment