Let the husband
render to his wife the affection to her,
and likewise also the
wife to her husband.
The wife does not
have authority over her own body,
but the husband
does. And likewise the husband does not
have
authority over his
own body, but the wife does.
1 Corinthians 7: 3 --
4
If there is
any Scripture that has been used both in the good way and also in the bad way
are these two Scriptures. Therefore I'm
going to take a moment to examine the Greek language, and the Greek words, so
that we can come to a correct understanding as to what the Greeks understood
when they read or heard these words.
The New King James Version states, the husband should render to his wife
affection. In some sense that
translation rightly understood is a good translation but does not necessarily
tell us what the Greeks understood. The
Authorized King James Version of 1611, renders the Greek word as benevolence,
therefore we must investigate so that we truly understand what Paul was telling
the Corinthians and telling us: the Greek word in verse three is:
"εύνοιαν," and according to wrongs Greek dictionary #2133 defines the
word thusly, kindness and as a euphem, conjugal duty, benevolence, goodwill,
heartiness. This word is right but also from: "εύνοέω" Is translated for one to have kind thoughts,
be well affected, or kindly, dispose towards.
Paul is very clear in regards to the duty that must be rendered by the
husband to the wife and then adds that let the wife is to return the same and
the Greek word is very clear for it is an imperative and is:
"άποδιδότω" And has a meaning
for one to give an answer to a claim or an expectation, to render aid to, to
recompense, to discharge an obligation, to pay a debt, to render back, we
quite, to give back, to restore, to refund.
The New King James renders this word as render. The English dictionary is clear as to what
this word also means, which is to cause or to become, to furnish to provide to
render aid to pay a debt, to give back to restore, to cover, it is clear that
there is a direct command. The husband
is to render goodwill, kindness, and even conjugal duty and to do less than
this is to abdicate your duty, and responsibility to the command of God. Both the husband and wife do not have
absolute authority over their bodies.
Both are to work goodwill, benevolence, affection, towards one
another. There will be times when there
will be differences of opinion. This is not the time in which one pulls the
authority card, and hold their authority over the head of the other in some
sort of power-play. Rather it is a
time to listen carefully to one
another and arrive at a solution.
Bickering, anger, shouting, is not following the command of God to love
one another and yet this is what is done so often because one wants it in their
way and gives no room for another way.
Sometimes this happens: "Do
not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give your
self to fasting and prayer; and come together and can sell that Satan does not attempt you because of your lack of
self-control" (1 Corinthians 7:5). It may be humorous to say,
"go sleep on the couch tonight" and it may be necessary in the head
that does happen, but this should be the exception not the rule. I'm laughing at myself as I write this
because we are human and there are times when we do need to separate for a
moment. Although the separation that
may come really should be devoted to a time of fasting and prayer, and not
simply to goal of mad and angry and in some sort of huff. Turn to scripture, turn to prayer, turn to
God for the answer for he is ready and able beyond measure to help you. That is true only if you come to him and
asked him to help you: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6: 33 -- 34).
Paul now
adds this to what he had said in verse one of Chapter 7: "but I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. For I do wish that all men were even as I
myself. But each one has his own gift
from God, one in this manner and another in that" (1 Corinthians 7:6 --
7). Paul now furthers explains
verse six: "But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for
them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let
them marry. For it is better to marry
than to burn with passion" (1 Corinthians 7 -- 9).
Paul clearly understands the nature of man and the gift that God has
given both men and women can come together and conjugal intimacy but does warn
that we are not to allow the fire of passion to over come sold out in morality
is committed. There is never a need to
rush off to find some one just because you are burning with passion and Paul is
not suggesting this for what he is actually suggesting is that if this is true
then it is necessary that they do marry but as God commands that we marry
another person who is also a Christian.
I will cover this more in the next blogs. Until then read this chapter carefully and apply what Paul is
writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide our allies. Who then has a priority of our life? Is it ourselves or is it the Lord Jesus
Christ?
The LORD of host is with us;
the God of
Jacob is our refuge.
Psalm
46:7
God has blessed you forever
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