Sexual

We are making our way through a letter Paul wrote to Jesus followers in Corinth. Today, Paul moves to the next section of his letter ... questions.


1 Corinthians 7
1 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life. 2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. But God gives to some the gift of marriage, and to others the gift of singleness.


Sexual. In the previous chapter, Paul was addressing a group in the church at Corinth that had adopted the slogan “I am allowed to do anything” when it came to God’s grace ... including sexual promiscuity (check out yesterday’s entry ... Body). In this part of the letter, Paul is addressing a group at the opposite end of that spectrum. They began to believe (probably in response to the first group) that sex was wrong and that it was more appropriate to be celibate ... even in marriage. Paul was trying to restore a sense of balance to this spectrum. Sex isn’t “wrong” and celibacy “right” (or vice versa) ... they are both a healthy part of life. Singleness isn’t “right” and marriage “wrong” (or vice versa) ... they are both a gift from God. All of them have equal value; as long as, they are expressed properly ... celibacy in singleness and sex in marriage.