so it isn't a sin to fornicate under these conditions?
2007-10-24 08:14:38 · 6 answers · asked by spinozajosiah 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
For those who don't have a Bible handy, "But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry."
For better context, you should read the verses above this passage. Paul is giving his argument as to why some can and should remain unmarried, because then they can focus all of their energy upon the Lord. But, as this verse says, if you are so focused on an unmarried woman then you should just marry her, because your mind isn't on the Lord to begin with.
2007-10-24 08:26:18 · answer #1 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to look at the whole context. Paul is talking not only to couples but to families where the parent could control whether a child, still a virgin, could get married. Also, times were tough for Christians, with much persecution happening. Paul's advice, in a nutshell, is this: Parents, if your virgin child is getting too old for the marriage scene, they can go ahead and get married, its not a sin. It's just better, under the difficult circumstances, and if everyone is agreeable to it, for the child to stay unmarried. It's important to realize the Paul here is making this a judgment call based on circumstances, not a hard and fast rule that relates to greater or lesser spirituality, and that is what he wanted to get across to his audience. Married love is great, but serving the Lord with single-minded focus is even better.
2007-10-24 08:38:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is often difficult if not impossible to infer the meaning of a single verse of Scripture. You need to look at it in context with the entire chapter. In this case Paul is speaking to the Church at Corinth about Marriage in general. He is telling the Church that Men and Women can marry or not marry. Either way is fine as long as they remain without sin. Paul is talking about sex outside of the marriage bond. He is telling the faithful that if they feel that they must have sex then they need to be married. He is also telling them that there is no sin in people choosing not to marry as long as they refrain from sex. This letter was sent so people would understand that there is no sin in avoiding the long standing Jewish norm to marry.
2007-10-24 09:55:03 · answer #3 · answered by TKDMAN121 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it is saying that if a man desires a woman and she was of age, that it is ok to marry, it is not a sin...because the context of book and passage is that men and women were forbiding there daughters to marry because of the gross promiscuity that took place in the city of corinth,...to be called a corinthian at this time period was equated with being called a prostitute.
2007-10-24 08:24:07 · answer #4 · answered by Jesse D 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Read the whole section, you've taken it out of context!
36If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.
"Do as he wants" means marry her or don't marry her, not "have sex with her".
2007-10-24 08:23:59 · answer #5 · answered by bainaashanti 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, did you read the verse? It says, they ought to marry.
2007-10-24 08:19:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋