Do these Biblical verses contradict one another?

Question

Genesis 2:18 It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper (companion) suitable for him.

1 Corinthians 1-9 1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

What about out time in which there are a good majority of people who don't have legitimate access to the institution of marriage for whatever reason i.e. unattractive, poor finances, etc.?

Answer 1

No, they do not contradict one another. Allow me to step you through each one and you can draw your own conclusion.

I use the NKJV Bible.

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.

When God saw His creation as very good (1:31), He viewed it as being to that point the perfect outcome to His creative plan. However, in observing man's state as not good, He was commenting on his incompleteness before the end of the sixth day because the woman, Adam's counterpart had not yet been created. The words of this verse emphasize man's need for a companion, a helper and an equal. He was incomplete without someone to complement him in filling the task of filling, multiplying and taking dominion over the earth (1:28). This points to Adam's inadequacy, not Eve's insufficiency, (I Cor. 11:9). Woman was made by God to meet man's deficiency.

I Corinthians 7:1-9 (Principles of Marriage)

vs 1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to "touch a woman."

First a little background for understanding. I Cor. 7:1-11:34 comprises Paul's answers to practical questions about which the Corinthians had written him in a letter. The first of those questions had to do with marriage, an area of trouble due to the moral corruption of the culture which tolerated fornication, adultery, homosexuality, polygamy, and concubinage.

I Cor. 7:1-7 Some had the notion that because of all the sexual sin and marital confusion, it would be better to be single, even more spiritual to be celibate. This could lead some falsely pious people to advocate divorce in order to be single. These verses elevate singleness, as long as it is celebate, but they in no way teach that marriage is either wrong or inferior.

"touch a woman" This is a Jewish euphemism for sexual intercourse (see Gen.20:6; Ruth 2:9; Prov. 6:29). Paul is saying that it is good not to have sex, that is, to be single and celibate. It is not, however, the only good or even better than marriage (Gen. 1:28; 2:18)

vs 2 Nevertheless, because of "sexual immorality", let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

There is a great danger of sexual sin when single (Matt. 19:12). Marriage is God's only provision for sexual fulfillment. Marriage should not be reduced simply to that , howevcer, Paul has a much higher view and articulates it in Eph. 5:22, 23. He is, here, stressing the issue of sexual sin for people who are single.

vs 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

"render ... affection due" Married believers are not to sexually deprive their spouses. While celibacy is right for the single it is wrong for the married. The practice of deprivation may have been most common when a believer had an unsaved spouse.

vs 4 The wife does not have "authority" over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husand does not have "authority" over his own body, but the wife does.

"authority" By the marriage covenant, each partner is given the right over the spouse's body for the satisfaction of the other.

vs 5 Do not "deprive" one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and "come together" again "so that Satan does not tempt" you because of your lack of self-control.

"deprive" It literally means ... "stop depriving each other!" This command may indicate that this kind of deprivation was going on among believers, perhaps reaching to the gross sexual sins of their past and wanting to leave all that behind. Husbands and wives may abstain temporarily from sexual activity, but only when they mutually agree to do so for intercession, as a part of their fasting.

"come together again" Sexual intercouse is to be soon renewed after the spiritual interruption.

"so that Satan does not tempt" After the agreed upon "time" of abstinence sexual desires intensify and a spouse becomes more vulnerable to sinful desire.

vs 6 But I say this as a "concession", not as a commandment.

"concession" A better translation of the Greek would be "awareness" or "to have a mutual opinion." Paul was very aware of the God ordained advantages of both singleness and marriage, and was not commanding marriage because of the temptation of singleness. Spiritualality is not connected at all to marital status, though marriage is God's good gift (see I Pet. 3:7, "the grace of life.")

vs. 7 For I 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.

"as I myself" As a single person, Paul recognized the special freedom and independence he had to serve Christ. But he did not expect all believers to be single nor all who were single to stay that way, nor all who were married to act celibate as if they were single.

"gift from God" Both singleness and marriage are God's gracious gifts.

vs 8 But I say to the "unmarried" and to the "widows": It is good for them if they remain even "as I am";

"unmarried .... widows" "Unmarried" is a term used 4 times in the NT, and only in I Corinthians (cf. vv. 11, 32-34). This verse makes it clear that the unmarried and widows are distinct. Verse 11 identifies the divorced as the "unmarried" to be distinguished from "widows" (vv. 39, 40; single by death) and virgins (vv. 25-28; never married). Each use of "unmarried" then, refers to those formerly married, presently single, but not wodowed. They are the divorced it is likely these people who were formerly married wanted to know if they , as Christians could or should remarry.

"as I am" Paul was possibly a widower, and could here affirm his former marriage by identifying with the unmarried and widows. His first suggestion is that they stay singlebecause of its freedom in serving the Lord (vv. 25-27, 32-34).

vs. 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, "let them marry." For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

"let them marry" The Greek tense indicates a command, since a person can't live a happy life and serve the Lord effectively if dominated by unfulfilled sexual passion - especially in that Corinthian society.

I hope this has clarified the matter for you.

Answer 2

I do not think they contradict each other. Verse 2 from Corinthians is the key. We are to avoid fornication. Some people have the gift of celibacy. But it is a GIFT, and others do not and should not have it forced upon them. I think Paul is saying it is good if one can be dedicated to serving the Lord and have that as their exclusive aim, but that marriage is a blessing too. Many married ministers and their families serve their congregation very well. Married Christians certainly can serve the Lord in many ways. 1 Cor. 7 explains this better, and shows where Paul was coming from. In 1 Timothy 4:3, St. Paul talks about some of the problems that will occur in the "last days". Among them are hypocritical liars that will forbid marriage. So it seems marriage is a good thing, but that Paul feels they will have less hassles if not married.

Answer 3

no, its important to understand....one is from the old testament, and the other from the new testament. the old testament scripture is merely pointing out that its not good from someone to be alone, after all everyone needs love and attention and companionship, God knew this, and saw it in Adam. however in the new testament what he is basically saying is if man does not touch woman, and likewise, there whole thought can be on Jesus and not themselves, but to avoid fornication, let them marry, because sex outside of marriage was wrong. verses 3 and 4 are basically saying, let each partner submit to each other, however still respect space and boundaries. 5 is basically saying do not deny one another, show love and emotion so that spouses do not feel neglected (you know the woman who claims 5 nights in a row that she has a headache? probably making her husband feel pretty awful and unwanted) but yet, take time to pray and fast so that you do not move away from God.

verse 6. he is basically saying, this rule is not a commandment from God, but a knowledge that its okay to love one another and show love for one another in a carnal sense (if you are married) but thats its okay to give each other space and boundaries, that just because you and your spouse aren't doing it everynight doesn't mean you don't love each other.

verse 7, if you have no wife, no family, and your focus is not sex, and sexual gratification, then you can completely follow christ without worrying about obligations, you can be relieved in your mind that if you died tomorrow for Jesus (which is what they were doing back then) there was nothing else to leave behind, but not all men and women are created that way, not all can go through life without having someone, meaning "every man has his proper gift from God" or every man was made by God in a certain way that suits him, and so...if need be Marry, but don't forget Jesus.

Answer 4

I see this as a big problem with translating and interpretation religious texts no matter which religion they represent.If you want to see a contradiction then you will see one, often because most people tend to take it literally and out of context.Secondly,language it self becomes a barrier to understanding a religious text. because languages are either extinct or very hard to translate.So based on a particular translation one can use their own judgement and interpretation.In the Biblical verses you present I personally see dont any contradiction.I think it is prohibiting sex outside the boundaries of marriage and I think it is giving marriage divine sanction.It also talks about the moral and social responsibility of a husband and wife to each other.

Answer 5

If you see a contradition, I'd suggest that it stems from your perception that some people don't have "legitimate" access to marriage. This is the basic flaw in your argument.

How attractive someone is has nothing to do with whether they are "marriagable". Try to imagine the most unattractive man on earth...now picture the most unattractive woman on earth...what exactly is the "legitimate" reason why these two people couldn't marry? Furthermore, if someone really is so unattractive that no one on the planet would consider marrying that person...who exactly is going to be pursuing that person for sex? Supposing such as person exists (and I don't believe that), if they have enough to offer to be considered someone's "companion", then they have enough to offer for marriage.

Poverty is hardly a legitimate deterrent to marriage...if someone chooses to believe that they need money to marry, that is their choice, but I can point to billions of people throughout history that built marriages in the face of poverty far worse than anything I've ever seen! I know people that are raising six or even ten kids on a salary that some people (including myself) would suggest couldn't even support a single person!

I can think of NOTHING...at least nothing that isn't based in individual choice...that legitimately prevents any person from getting married in the sight of God!

There is no inconsistency in God saying that we (humans) need to interact with other people..."companion" doesn't require sexual activity...that came later when Adam and Eve left the garden. ...and Paul is merely suggesting that those who choose to marry are obligated to become "one flesh" with their spouse (something God mentioned back in Genesis). He clearly believes that we can serve God more completely if we choose to remain single, but that we are all free to choose marriage over fornication if we can't control our desire for sex!

Answer 6

I think u have to study the Bible and ask pastor about every thing u don't understans.

The first verse u mentioned means that a man who can't control himself has to get married. If he is able to control himself he may live alone. By this way he would b able to serve God and have plenty of time to pray and read the Bible.

Those who r married , God tells them those verses u mentioned after the first two.

Iam single and love my life by this way. I , too , don't have problem with lust. I may get married in the future, but no kids .

Good Luck!!

Answer 7

Verse 6 says that Paul is saying this out of his own thoughts, not the thoughts of God - by permission not by commandment. He is saying that man would be better off if he were not to be involved in the day to day worries of marriage and parenthood but that each man can choose for himself whether or not to marry.

Answer 8

It is not good for a man to live alone. God give Adam a woman. To give him a family to reproduce. God asked Adam to name the animals and trees and every insect. Yet he had know one like him.

Answer 9

I think that you quoted the wrong verse for 1 Corinthians 1-9.
This book was written by Paul to the church of Corinth.

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Answer 10

No, they do not, in any way contradict themselves. They say basically the same thing. All it is saying is that it is good for a man to marry, and once you are married, you should not withhold yourself from your spouse sexually.

Where or how do you see a contradiction?