Lawrence DeMetrius

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Letter of Apostle Paul – I Corinthians
An Intimate Review
Pt 4
By Lawrence DeMetrius

In [I Cor 6:12, 13a; 8:9; 10:23; Rm 14] Apostle Paul addresses PERSONAL LIBERTIES. He likens them to conduct that is LAWFUL and EXPEDIENT but not permitted to have POWER over him.

*lawful Gk #1832 exon (ex-on) it refers to public conduct

*expedient Gk #4851 sumphero (soom-fer-o) it is an advantage, which is…
1. success, interest or any desired end
2. benefit, gain or profit
3. ascendancy, superiority or position of superiority

*power Gk #1850 exousiazo (ex-oo-see-ad-zo) it means to control

In Early Church History, certain public conduct was challenging to judge as proper for some new converts, as many actions depicted the idol worship they practiced prior to their conversion. An example of such was eating or preparing certain foods a certain way. Although some conduct was not in itself evil, it remained a thing of concern for newly converted Christians who had yet to fully understand their new disposition in Yahweh through Christ Jesus. [II Cor 5:17] This revelation is one of many liberating truths inherited by disciples of Christ, as they continue in His teachings. [Jn 8:31, 32] Apostle Paul explains that born-again believers should be willing to limit their personal freedoms when such freedoms become stumbling blocks to Christians who are weaker and of less understanding in the Christian Faith.

The Purpose of the Mortal Body

In [I Cor 6:13b; I Cor 5] Apostle Paul teaches that the human BODY is created for THE LORD and not for FORNICATION. Although he is discussing the subject of FORNICATION, one must also recognize that their spiritual reconciliation to Yahweh through Christ, is what empowers them to realistically acknowledge and handle their MORTAL BODY effectively.
*body Gk #4983 soma (so-mah) it is the body as a sound whole [I Thes 5:23, 24; Heb 4:12]

*fornication Gk #4202 porneia (por-ni-ah) per this scripture it is harlotry, adultery, incest and is figurative of idolatry

As expressed in dialogue between the Resurrected Christ and Apostle Thomas, it is possible for the mortal BODY to be resurrected from the dead, seen, heard, touched, fed and defy the laws of nature by walking through earthly elements of wood and stone. [Jn 20:24-31; 21:12-15a, 24, 25] Apostle Paul asks,

Know ye not that your BODIES are the members of CHRIST? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a HARLOT? God forbid.
What? Know ye not that he which is JOINED to a HARLOT is one body? For two, saith HE, shall be one flesh.
But he who is JOINED to the Lord is one spirit.
[I Cor 6:15-17]

Considering the origin of FORNICATION and HARLOTRY per Enoch, taking what rightly belongs to one and giving it to another unlawfully is wrong. In [I Cor 6:14-18; Gen 2:24; Mk 10:8, 9] Apostle Paul is referring to intimate relations that should only be engaged within lawful marriage. Moreover, he is referring to intimate engagement that should not happen between certain parties. As mentioned earlier in this letter, one of the reasons for Paul’s visit to this assembly was to address an incestuous relationship between a church leader and his father’s wife.

*harlot Gk #4204 pornay (por-nay) it is a…
1. woman or man who engages in sexual acts or intercourse for money
2. a person who willingly uses their talent or ability in a base and unworthy way for money
3. figurative of an idolater

*joined Gk #2853 kollao (kol-lah-o) it means to glue, stick, cleave, join one’s self to and keep company with


*spirit Gk #4151 pneuma (pnyoo-mah) it is…
1. a current of air, breath, blast or breeze
2. the human rational soul or mental disposition
3. vital principal and computation, which is a making sense of a thing
4. superhuman i.e., an angelic being, Yahweh, Christ or the Holy Ghost

Apostle Paul writes,

FLEE FORNICATION. Every sin that a man doeth is without the BODY; but he that committeth FORNICATION sinneth against his own BODY.
What? Know ye not that your BODY is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your BODY, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
[I Cor 6:18-20]

*flee Gk# 5343 pheugo (fyoo-go) it means to run away from, shun, vanish and escape

*glorify Gk #1392 doxazo (dox-ad-zo) it means to render and esteem glorious

*bought Gk #59 agorazo (ag-or-ad-zo) it means to go to market, purchase and redeem

This is how born-again believers are to acknowledge their holistic being spirit/mind, soul/seat of sentiment and their natural body. [I Thes 5:23, 24]

Chastity

In [I Cor 7:1, 7] Apostle Paul personally favors single life over married life because it permits one to more devoted to pleasing THE LORD. He writes,

It is GOOD for a man NOT to TOUCH a woman.
[I Cor 7:1]

*good Gk #2570 kalos (kal-os) it means literally or morally good, beautiful, valuable and virtuous for use or appearance
*touch Gk #680 haptomai (hap-tom-ahee) it means to attach oneself to in many implications and implicated relations

However, in [I Cor 7:2-9] Apostle Paul does suggest MARRIAGE to avoid FORNICATION. He admonishes every man to have his own WIFE and every woman her own HUSBAND. This gives credence to the idea that a Christian MARRIAGE should consist of two people of the opposite sex.

*wife Gk #1135 gune (goo-nay) it is a woman, namely one who is married

*husband Gk #435 aner (an-ayr) it is a man as an individual male, fellow and husband, which is a man who is married

Apostle Paul encourages Christians to maintain a specific partner with which to express their sexual temperaments to safeguard from SINS against the BODY. Even within these parameters they are to exercise control of their sexual interaction, so they may have quality time for prayer and fasting. Apostle Paul did not demonize sexual engagement. He is simply admonishing Christians to honor their BODIES by taking necessary precautions to avoid SINNING against it. Per [I Cor 7:1, 7] he referred to one’s sexual temperament as a divine and PROPER GIFT that is of a specific MANNER. He suggested that it is unique to each individual and is fitting to their innate nature and creation. According to Jesus Christ, some sexual temperaments can only be embraced by those who innately have them. [Mt 19:12; Isa 56:3b-5]

* proper Gk #2398 idios (id-ee-os) it means pertaining to self, one’s own, private or separate

*gift Gk #5486 charisma (khar-is-mah) per sexual temperament, it is something given without claim or demand

*manner Gk #3779 houto (hoo-to) it means ‘in this way’ referring to what precedes or follows

In [I Cor 7:8] Apostle Paul admonishes single people to ABIDE as he did, which was as a single person. Whether or not he was ever MARRIED is unclear.
However, the passage suggests that he was content as a single people and encouraged those who could remain single to do so, as it allows them to be fully available to pleasing Yahweh. Apostle Paul was one who made himself a eunuch for the work of ministry as mentioned by Christ. [Mt 19:12] He suggested MARRIAGE for those whose GIFT of TEMPERAMENT required it. In his perspective, it is better for these individuals to MARRY then to BURN in their natural desire for sexual gratification. He was fully aware that some are not able to CONTAIN themselves therefrom due to their innate TEMPERAMENT.

*abide Gk #3306 meno (men-o) it means to stay in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy

*contain Gk #1467 egkrateuomai (eng-krat-yoo-om-ahee) it means to remain unmarried and to exercise self-restraint in diet or chastity, which is…
• refraining from sexual intercourse that is regarded as contrary to morality or religion
• virtuous, virgin, celibate and not engaging in sex
• decent, free from obscenity, undefiled or stainless
• pure in style, simple and not excessive

*marry Gk #1060 gameo (gam-eh-o) it means to wed

*burn Gk #4448 puroo (poo-ro) it means to kindle, be ignited, refined or inflamed with anger, grief or sexual desire

Apostle Paul writes,

And unto the MARRIED I COMMAND, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the WIFE DEPART from her HUSBAND:
But and if she departs, let her remain UNMARRIED, or be reconciled to her HUSBAND: and let not the HUSBAND PUT AWAY his WIFE.
[I Cor 7:10, 11]

*command Gk #3853 paraggello (par-ang-gel-lo) it means to transmit a message or enjoin, which is to…
• prescribe a course of action with authority or emphasis
• direct or order to do something
This is a COMMAND that Yahweh put in place for MARRIAGES HE ordains and which Christ did reiterate. [Gen 2:18, 24; Duet 24:1-4; Eccl 1:15; 7:13; Mt 19:3-10] Thus, there is divine grace and mercy for those annulling MARRIAGES that were not divinely ordained. [Mk 10:7-12] In ancient times, DIVORCE was more in favor of men should his WIFE be found guilty of sexual infidelity. It was also acceptable for men to have more than one wife. In dealing realistically with the subject of sexual TEMPERAMENTS, gray areas can be made clear with effective scriptural study under guidance of the Holy Ghost. [St Jn 4:23, 24; Pro 16:4; Rm 9:15, 16; Ps 139:4; Rev 4:11; Isa 56:3a-5; 54:13, 17]

*depart Gk #5562 choreo (kho-reh-o) it means to be in or give space, pass or enter, hold or admit

*put away Gk #863 aphiemi (af-ee-ay-mee) it means to send forth away [Deut 24:1-4]

In [I Cor 7:12-16] Apostle Paul advises Christians to remain with their unregenerate spouses if they want to keep the MARRIAGE. It is the born-again believer who sanctifies their unsaved spouse and children. However, should the unsaved spouse choose to end the MARRIAGE, there is no wrong in Christians RE-MARRYING another born-again believer. In [I Cor 7:39] Apostle Paul addresses the authority of fathers to give their virgin daughters in MARRIAGE. Cultural-Milieu Analysis will provide more insight regarding this practice in ancient times. Virgins may find it easier to maintain a life of celibacy. Therefore, encouraging Christian virgins to maintain their virginity is noble as it will permit them to be more devoted pleasing THE LORD. [I Cor 7:25-40]

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