1 Coríntios 7

1 Coríntios 7

Wuest - "Do not continue to rob each other [by withholding yourselves from one another]" Paul is saying to the Corinthian saints essentially that it is too late to choose celibacy once you are married. Stop depriving is in the present imperative with a negative indicating that they were doing this and they needed to stop doing this because they were placing themselves at "high risk" in regard to spiritual attacks (temptations) from Satan (and I would also add from our fallen flesh! see 1 Pe 2:11b+). Agreement means a joint agreement but Paul says only for a "season" (kairos) and while he does not give a length, the implication would seem to be only for a SHORT time! (See note on Jewish teachings on how long this was to last). Strain notes that Stop depriving one another is actually “Do not defraud one another.” He’s conceiving of marriage as a debt, as something that is owed to one another, as sexual intimacy in marriage rather as a debt that is owed; a sacred obligation designed by God for the good of both partners in marriage....Paul is teaching us that ordinarily sex within marriage is a Christian duty. It’s a debt that we owe. And the way that he speaks about it, there’s something profoundly Christ-like here in this pattern of mutual service and self-giving that Paul describes. Christ, you remember, gave Himself for His bride, giving Himself up for her. That is how He loves His bride, the Church. He does not stand on His rights but voluntarily surrenders them for the good of His bride....Anyone who takes Paul's teaching here in these five verses as warrant to demand what should be given as an act of loving service distorts the Scriptures in dangerous ways. There is no place for the kind of abusive demands that sometimes find their way even into Christian marriages. But then neither is there any place for manipulative withholding of sexual union for selfish or spiteful ends that also sometimes finds its place even in Christian marriages. Arnold - The word “deprive” (apostereo) actually means “to rob” or “to defraud." Christians have no right to deprive their mates of sexual fulfillment and enjoyment. If sexual rights are withheld, the Christian is actually robbing his or her mate of what is rightfully theirs. Apparently there were some at Corinth who were habitually abstaining from the sex act with their mates, thinking this was a higher state of morality and a true mark of spirituality. Although the conditions have changed drastically from the first century to our day, the fact tragically still remains with us. Today many Christians are robbing their mates of sexual enjoyment and doing it in the name of God and under the cloak of spirituality. If Paul were here today, he would say, “Stop this nonsense at once!” (Sexual Responsibilities Within Marriage) Arnold on except by agreement - A husband and wife may agree to a cessation period for the sex act or a definite spiritual purpose—that they may concentrate on prayer to God. The word “devote” means “to have leisure.” Cessation is done so a couple may give themselves leisurely to prayer without distractions. Cessation is a good thing but it must always be by mutual consent, temporary in nature and for a spiritual purpose. (Sexual Responsibilities Within Marriage) Utley on except by agreement - “except by agreement” This phrase begins with ei mēti, which means “unless perhaps” or “unless it be” (cf. Luke 9:13). It is giving one possible exception to the stated norm. This type of structure (a rule then an exception) is used throughout this chapter. Paul is walking the theological tightrope between legalism/asceticism and libertinism/antinomianism. Each faction had its own agenda and slogans! Notice Paul is expressing an egalitarian model. The husband does not have the right to choose alone! Biblical male headship is tragically misunderstood. The husband must act in self-giving ways for the maturity of the family (cf. Eph. 5:25–29), not for personal interest or in personal preference, but in spiritual stewardship.....The NT principle of voluntary fasting periodically for spiritual purposes is paralleled here with periodic sexual abstinence within marriage for spiritual purposes. As fasting focuses the mind on God’s will, so too, can limited sexual abstinence. Knofel Staton on except by agreement for a time - “When Paul says “except by mutual consent," he is making it clear that one partner in the marriage relationship does not have the right to control the sexual decisions. The practical advice of this is that a husband does not have the right to be saying every night, "Sorry, ‘Sorry, honey; I'm just too tired,’ nor does the wife have he divine freedom to say every evening, "I'm sorry, honey; but I have a headache” (1 Corinthians). Agreement (4859)(sumphonos from sun/syn = together + phone = a sound, voice) means symphonious, blending of voices or musical instruments, and so the idea is of one voice, of the same opinion, in the only NT use (1 Cor 7:7) expressing a bilateral agreement between the marriage-partners to temporarily abstain from sexual relations. Lxx use in Eccl 7:14. Here "in agreement" refers to a "break (halt) in sexual access" between marriage partners. This should only happen for a short time and must be a two-way decision (agreement). 1 Cor 7:5 does not suggest "forced sexual abstinence," i.e. imposed by one partner on the other. THOUGHT - God gives each marriage partner the scriptural right to the other's body (1 Cor 7:1-5). When one partner alone insists on sustained abstinence from sex, it can constitute a scriptural ground for divorce. Sexual abstinence in marriage then is not a "one-partner decision"! Depriving (translated defrauded in 1 Cor 6:7-8+) (91)(apostereo from apó = from + steréō = to deprive) means to be or become deprived of something by deceit, deception, trickery. To wrong. To defraud. (1) active, as obtaining something by deceiving another - deprive, defraud, steal (1Cor 6.8); figuratively, of marital rights withhold, deprive (1Cor 7.5); (2) passive permit oneself to be defrauded; let oneself be robbed (1Cor 6.7+). BDAG - (1) to cause another to suffer loss by taking away through illicit means, rob, steal, despoil, defraud (2) 2. to prevent someone from having the benefit of someth. (1 Cor 7:5) . Zodhiates - In the mid., aposteréomai, to suffer oneself to be defrauded, as spoken of persons (1 Cor. 6:7+); to be kept back by fraud, as spoken of a thing (James 5:4, wages held back by fraud; Sept.: Deut. 24:16; Mal. 3:5). The pass. joined with a gen., to be destitute of, devoid of (1 Ti 6:5, “defrauding themselves” [a.t.], i.e., “destitute of the truth” [cf. 1 Cor. 7:5 in respect to conjugal intercourse]). Apostereo is used 5x in NT - Mk. 10:19; 1 Co. 6:7; 1 Co. 6:8; 1 Co. 7:5; 1 Ti 6:5 Used in the Septuagint in Ex 21:10, Mal 3:5. Time (season) (2540)(kairos) means a point of time or period of time, time, period, frequently with the implication of being especially fit for something and without emphasis on precise chronology. It describes the period as especially appropriate and favorable (the right time). Stated another way kairos is distinguished from chronos (time) because kairos views TIME from the aspect of the strategic opportunity it provides, and not simply a change from the past into the present into the future, not mere duration. (Trench)Something that lasts for a season and so is transient, temporary or enduring only for a specific period of time. Kairos is a period which is especially appropriate - a favorable time (at the right time). So that (term of purpose) - The purpose is for the couple to agree on sexual abstinence. You may devote yourselves to prayer (proseuche) and come together again - So that (hina) introduces the purpose for making a mutual agreement, but only for a time. Devote is subjunctive mood, the mood of possibility. It is possible they might chose to deprive themselves but not fill the "void" (so to speak) with devotion to prayer. Come together again seems almost a euphemistic way to describe their intimate relations. There is an Old Testament precedent associating abstinence and approach to God as in Exodus 19:9-15+ The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD. 10 The LORD also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 “You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 ‘No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15 He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” (See similar idea in Joel 2:12-14, 16). Devote (4980) (scholazo from schole = leisure) is used only in Mt 12:44+ (of a building to be unoccupied, stand empty, metaphorically, of a person after demons have been caused to leave); 1Co 7:5+. It means to take a holiday, to have time, be at leisure for (by implication devote oneself wholly to) be free from labor, to give one's time to. Figuratively it is uses of a place and means to be vacant or empty. Here in 1 Cor 7:5 (with the dative), scholazo means to have leisure for something, to give oneself to something free from other cares and hindrances (1 Co 7:5). Scholazo in the Lxx = Ex 5:8, 17+; Ps 46:10+ “Cease striving (scholazo in the aorist imperative ) and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” So that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control - So that (hina) introduces the purpose for not voluntarily abstaining from sexual relations with one's spouse. They were spiritually vulnerable because of two problems (1) the intractable Adversary and (2) the absence of self-control.