Paul's View on Sex and Marriage

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Paul’s Views on Sex and Marriage
In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, Paul discusses his concerns and directions pertaining to marriage, sex, widows, and virgins. Paul is concerned about sexual immortality when addressing the Corinthians; Paul believes that each man should have one wife, and each woman should have one husband with conjugal rights (1Corinthians 7:1-4). A wife’s body is only for her husband, just as a husband’s is for his wife, not even for their own authority (1 Corinthians 7:4). Paul states that one should never deprive their spouse, except for times of prayer to the Lord, or their lack of self-control may temp Satan (1 Corinthians 7:5). Similarly to slavery, Paul thinks that everyone should remain as they are; for example, the unmarred and the widows should remain unmarried (1 Corinthians 7:8). However, if the unmarried cannot abstain from sex, they should get married, because it is better to be married than to not have self-control (1 Corinthians 7:9). Paul says the Lord has commanded there to be no divorce among the married (1 Corinthians 7:10). If a believer is married to an unbeliever, they shall not separate from them for they may become holy; however, an unbeliever may separate from a believer as God’s will (1Corinthians 7:12-14). Concerning virgins, the only advice Paul has is to remain as you are: a virgin (1 Corinthians 7:25-26). The same thing goes for married couples; if you have a wife, do no seek to be free, and if you do not have a wife, do not seek one (1Corinthians 7:27). Paul wants everyone to be free from anxieties; however, everyone has anxieties… the married man, the unmarried man, the married woman, and the unmarried woman (1 Corinthians 7:32-34). Paul’s only advice is to “Promote good order and unhi...

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...he letter to Timothy do not overlap very much. Similarly, they both agree that there should be no sex before marriage. The Acts of Paul goes even deeper into this subject, regarding the bodies of virgins. As mentioned before, Chastity pleases God and allows ones body to be resurrected on judgment day, according to the Acts of Paul. On the other hand, the letter to Timothy mainly discusses the remarriage of widows and their need to focus on their religious duty and calling.
In conclusion, it is evident that Paul is concerned about marriage, virginity, divorce, widows, and remarriage in 1 Corinthians 7, the Acts of Paul, and the letter to Timothy. In all three readings, Paul conclusively states that there shall be no fornication before marriage. The ideas of divorce, remarriage, and equality among men and women differ in Corinthians, Acts of Paul, and Timothy.

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