Homework Assignment 4
1 Corinthians 7
While Genesis 1-2 portrays the institution of marriage, 1 Corinthians 7 provides specific instructions for marriage. Paul's letter was written to believers in a center of commerce that was noted for moral corruption and sexual promiscuity.
Verses 1-7 defends the legitimacy of marriage but also acknowledges the place of the celibate life. Paul relates celibacy to the gift of self-control (vss. 7,9) and states that there are certain advantages to remaining single if one has this gift. Two of these advantages are that the single person is more free to minister (especially in troubled times), and has fewer distractions to a life of devotion to God (vss. 29-35). It would be wrong to pressure a person with the gift of celibacy to get married; marriage is a may, but not a must.
Paul portrays marriage as a reciprocal relationship in which "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does" (vs. 4). Each is enjoined to regularly satisfy the sexual needs of the other ("Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband;" vs. 3). In the marital relationship, it is proper for the husband to concern himself with pleasing and serving his wife, and for the wife to desire to please and serve her husband (vss. 33-34).
List two reasons why Paul advocates the celibate lifestyle.
Study Philippians 2:3-11. How does the example of Christ in this passage have a direct bearing on the marriage relationship?
1 Corinthians 7
While Genesis 1-2 portrays the institution of marriage, 1 Corinthians 7 provides specific instructions for marriage. Paul's letter was written to believers in a center of commerce that was noted for moral corruption and sexual promiscuity.
Verses 1-7 defends the legitimacy of marriage but also acknowledges the place of the celibate life. Paul relates celibacy to the gift of self-control (vss. 7,9) and states that there are certain advantages to remaining single if one has this gift. Two of these advantages are that the single person is more free to minister (especially in troubled times), and has fewer distractions to a life of devotion to God (vss. 29-35). It would be wrong to pressure a person with the gift of celibacy to get married; marriage is a may, but not a must.
Paul portrays marriage as a reciprocal relationship in which "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does" (vs. 4). Each is enjoined to regularly satisfy the sexual needs of the other ("Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband;" vs. 3). In the marital relationship, it is proper for the husband to concern himself with pleasing and serving his wife, and for the wife to desire to please and serve her husband (vss. 33-34).
List two reasons why Paul advocates the celibate lifestyle.
Study Philippians 2:3-11. How does the example of Christ in this passage have a direct bearing on the marriage relationship?
