Marriage

[Robert]

1 Corinthians 7:25 Now concerning the unmarried, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress it is well for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. 28 But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a girl marries she does not sin. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. [The Revised Standard Version]

[Robert]

1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control. 6 I say this by way of concession, not of command. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion. [RSV]

[Gail]

Quote:

Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.

Sounds like someone who knows...

[Gail]

Robert, I'm interested in seeing where you are going with this!

[Robert]

I don't think Paul was ever married, but maybe I am wrong. Some of the other translations read:

"those who marry will face many troubles in this life" [NIV]

"nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh" [KJV]

The NASB literal translation says, "Yet such will have tribulation in the flesh". So I looked up the Greek for "flesh" for this verse and here's what I found: "...such will have troubles in the sarx...."

Looking up the primary meaning of this word I got this:

• "The flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God" [Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon]

So what is Paul telling us? I believe it is this: When a man and woman come together the Bible says they become one, i.e., they bond. But in reality the male and the female are very different and, at the same time, they have natures that they struggle with.

So, to me Paul is saying, "those who marry will face many troubles due to their natures." That makes sense to me.

Rob

[Robert]

Face it marriage is hard. You can’t live off of passion forever. Eventually reality sets in and differences arise that sets both the husband's and wife's natures at odd with one another.

[Gail]

Face it marriage is hard. You can’t live off of passion forever. Eventually reality sets in and differences arise that sets both the husband's and wife's natures at odd with one another.

True, but as in the church, the Holy Spirit unifies, does it not?

Personally I believe that Paul could have been married at one time

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Rob,

I have heard that in order to be a Pharisee, a man had to be married. Also, in order to make a comment that marriage will bring problems he would have to have been married. Most people who are not married don't see marriage that way. They tend to dream of being married and look at only the positives.

Quote:

Face it marriage is hard. You can’t live off of passion forever. Eventually reality sets in and differences arise that sets both the husband's and wife's natures at odd with one another.

If Gods people chose a life partner to futher the Gospel and not to satisfy their eyes, things might be different. When we see all the divorces, arranged marriages start looking good.

Norman

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

I found this,

Quote:

Paul expressly states (Acts 22:3; Phil 3:4-6; and especially Gal 1:13-14) that he followed the traditions of his people. When he says, "Iwas advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors", he is telling us, amongst other things, his situation as far as marriage is concerned: for what he says of his zeal for the traditions of his ancestors would not be true if he had failed to conform to the very significant Jewish tradition about marrying.

There is evidence that to be a married man was a requirement for

membership of the Sanhedrin. It would appear from the evidence that Paul (Saul) was a member of the Sanhedrin.

See for the full article

http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/1998-August/001320.html

Norman

[Robert]

True, but as in the church, the Holy Spirit unifies, does it not?

Yes, as individuals [both male and female] endeavor to "obey the gospel" there can be unity. The problem is our natures are not dead. And BTW, Paul didn't say you might have problems if you marry, but you will have problems in the flesh if you marry. Been there, done that...and doing that!

[Robert]

Too many marriages are initiated by sexual attraction and security instead of being based in unconditional love. Of course to have the latter you must have Christ in the heart.

I would say there would be fewer problems if the marriage is based on Christ if the married couple are on the same page. That's difficult because no two people see things the same.

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

When the wife is in subjection to the husband all will go well.

Norman

[Amelia]

Quote:

When we see all the divorces, arranged marriages start looking good.

Norm, I contact you if I decide to ever marry again. You can arrange it for me.

[Gail]

When the wife is in subjection to the husband all will go well.

Norman's looking to get into the hot seat today, I can tell! LOL

[Gail]

It would be interesting to ask a couple in a great marriage just how they do it, whether they have the differences Rob is talking about

[Naomi]

Obviously I can not personally comment on what it takes to have a good, long-term marriage. However, I believe I can speak for a couple who are very close to me. They have been married for over 40 years and are still very much in love (their individual words) This is based upon my observation, and their comments.

1.Put God first

2.Love & respect each other

3.Understand that when you “draw a line in the sand” that is to be mutually respected

4.Communicate; tactfully, openly and honestly

5.Privately and public ally speak only the good, true and respectfully things concerning your partner.

6.Pay attention to your partner’s unspoken words

7.Understand what it takes to make your partner feel loved. Everyone has little things that make them feel loved … they may not always make sense because they are usually emotionally attached to the past.

8.And, last but not least; have Fun Together!

[D. Allan]

Quote:

It would be interesting to ask a couple in a great marriage just how they do it, whether they have the differences Rob is talking about

We've been married 41 years. We are quite compatible. We always try to do what the other wants to do, instead of pleasing ourselves. We don't make demands of each other.

The Art of Loving , by Erich Fromm is a good book for couples to read. It is an art! So requires, thought, effort, courage, practice. The focus is on loving rather than on being loved. As Jesus said, there is more joy in giving than in recieving.

btw it sounds to me like Paul may have been divorced. Sour grapes!

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Amelia,

Quote:

Norm, I contact you if I decide to ever marry again. You can arrange it for me.

I can do that and I don't even charge!

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Gail,

Quote:

Norman's looking to get into the hot seat today, I can tell! LOL

You know I was grinning like crazy when I posted that. I got off pretty easy this time.

Norman

[Yong T Tay]

Quote Norman:

"When the wife is in subjection to the husband all will go well."

I know a christian couple, the husband insists his wife must always obey him, because he believes man is the head of the household as stated in the Bible. He tells his wife the door is always opened and she can go at any time. She is afraid to express her opinions or even dare to ask him questions. They have 3 children and the kids are not at ease when their father is at home. Do you think that all will go well in that family?

yongttay

[Gail]

That doesn't sound like the Biblical idea of subjection to me! That sounds like tyranny!

[Gail]

The sad thing about that, Yongtay, is that the children will probably grow up with the idea that God is like their father

[gina i]

Tyranny, indeed.

Man & Woman = equals. They must obey each other. The bible says so.

[Naomi]

Adam's rib was removed from his side symbolizing walking together, side by side.

{she says as she runs for cover}

[Robert]

Adam's rib was removed from his side symbolizing walking together, side by side.

{she says as she runs for cover}

Actually Eve was taken from "Adam's side". She came, as do we all, from Adam.