Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T15:07:02.016Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Is Paul's Attitude toward Sexual Relations Contained in 1 Cor. 7. 1?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2009

Extract

Interpreters of Paul have expressed no doubt until the present era that Paul's viewpoint on sexual intercourse is articulated in 1 Cor. 7.lb: καλòνανθρωπωγυναικòς μń âπт*σθαι This association of the most outstanding Christian theologian with sexual asceticism has caused significant repercussions in Western culture. But now there is much uncertainty as to whether the apostle was: (a) asserting his position in his own words; (b) quoting a slogan of some Corinthians that he accepted; or (c) quoting a Corinthian slogan that he rejected. In this essay a sampling will be given of these major interpretive positions and an argument in favour of the third will be presented.

Type
Short Studies
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

NOTES

[1] Tertullian, , On Monogamy 3.Google Scholar

[2] Jerome, , Against Jovinian 1. 7.Google Scholar

[3] Augustine, , Confessions 2.3; On Marriage and Concupiscence 1. 16.Google Scholar

[4] John, Calvin, The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1960), pp. 134–5.Google Scholar

[5] Johannes, Weiss, Earliest Christianity (New York: Harper & Row, 1937), 2, p. 582.Google Scholar

[6] Clarence, Craig, ‘First Corinthians’, IB (New York: Abingdon, 1953), 10. 76.Google Scholar

[7] Joseph, Klausner, From Jesus to Paul (New York: Macmillan, 1943), p. 570;Google ScholarRudolf, Bultmann, Theology of the NT (New York: Scribner's, 1951), 1, p. 202.Google Scholar

[8] Gunther, Bornkamm, Paul (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1971), p. 207;Google ScholarHans, Conzelmann, I Corinthians (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1975), p. 115;Google ScholarGlen, J. Stanley, Pastoral Problems of First Corinthians (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1964), p. 99.Google Scholar

[9] Marshall, L. H., The Challenge of NT Ethics (New York: Macmillan, 1947), p. 336;Google ScholarDavid, Dungan, The Sayings of Jesus in the Churches of Paul (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1971), p. 84.Google Scholar

[10] Arnold, E. V., Roman Stoicism (Cambridge: University Press, 1911), p. 426.Google Scholar

[11] David, Wiesen, St Jerome as a Satirist (Ithaca: Cornell, 1964), pp. 115–16.Google Scholar

[12] Ben, Goldberg, Sex in Religion (New York: Liveright, 1930), p. 237.Google Scholar

[13] Marr, G. Simpson, Sex in Religion (London: Allen & Unwin, 1936), p. 77.Google Scholar

[14] John, Noonan, Contraception (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard, 1965), p. 39;Google ScholarSamuel, Glasner, ‘Judaism and Sex’, in Albert, Ellis, ed. Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior (New York: Hawthorn, 1961), 2, p. 576.Google Scholar

[15] Richard, Lewinsohn, A History of Sexual Customs (New York: Longmans, Green, 1958), p. 96.Google Scholar

[16] Jenkins, C., ed. ‘Origen on 1 Corintians’, JTS 9 (1908), 500–1;CrossRefGoogle ScholarFarrar, F. W., The Life and Work of St Paul (New York: Dutton, 1893), p. 390;Google ScholarArchibald, Robertson and Alfred, Plummer, The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians (ICC) (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1914), p. xxv, 130;Google ScholarFernand, Prat, The Theology of Saint Paul (Westminster, Md.: Newman, 1946), 1, p. 107;Google ScholarRichard, Longenecker, Paul: Apostle of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964), p. 236;Google ScholarJohn, Hurd, The Origin of I Corinthians (London: S.P.C.K., 1965), p. 275;Google ScholarBarrett, C. K., A Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians (New York: Harper & Row, 1968), p. 153;Google ScholarJames, Price, ‘I Corinthians’, Laymon, Charles, ed. Interpreter's One-volume Commentary on the Bible (New York: Abingdon, 1971), p. 801;Google ScholarBruce, F. F., 1 and 2 Corinthians (London: Oliphants, 1971), pp. 66–7.Google Scholar

[17] James, Moffatt, The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (New York: Harper & Row, 1938), p. 75.Google Scholar

[18] ICor., 7. 1, 25; 8. 1; 12. 1; 16. 1, 12.Google Scholar

[19] I Cor., 6. 1213; 10. 23.Google Scholar

[20] See, e.g., the RSV, NEB, and TEV. In a marginal reading the NEB places it in quotes.

[21] David, Smith, The Life and Letters of St Paul (New York: Harper & Row, 1920), p. 262.Google Scholar

[22] Hunt, E. W., Portrait of Paul (London: Mowbray, 1968), pp. 207–9;Google ScholarCharles, Giblin, ‘l Corinthians 7–A Negative Theology of Marriage and Celibacy?’, TBT 41 (1969), 2842;Google ScholarJohn, Ruef, Paul's First Letter to Corinth (Baltimore: Penguin, 1971), p. 53;Google ScholarRobin, Scroggs, ‘Paul and the Eschatological Woman’, JAAR 40 (1972), 296;Google ScholarWilliam, Barclay, The Letters to the Corinthians (Philadelphia: Westminster 2nd ed., 1975), p. 58;Google ScholarDavid, Cartlidge, ‘l Cor 7 as a Foundation for a Christian Sex Ethic’, JR 55 (1975), 223–4;Google ScholarPatrick, Ford, ‘Paul the Apostle: Male Chauvinist?’, BTB 5(1975), 308.Google Scholar

[23] William, Orr and James, Walther, l Corinthians (New York: Doubleday, 1976), p. 205.Google Scholar

[24] Arens, Cf. Eduardo, ‘Was St Paul Married?’, TBT 66 (1973), 1188–91.Google Scholar

[25] Cf., William E. Phipps, The Sexuality of Jesus: Theological and Literary Perspectives (New York: Harper & Row, 1973), pp. 7984.Google Scholar

[26] Ambrose, , Duties of the Clergy 1, pp. 184 and 258.Google Scholar

[27] Bertrand, Russell, Marriage and Morals (New York: Liveright, 1929), p. 48.Google Scholar

[28] Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.28.1.

[29] Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 3.12.8 1.

[30] Cf., William E. Phipps, Was Jesus Married? The Distortion of Sexuality in the Christian Tradition (New York: Harper & Row, 1970), pp. 3946, 98–101,166–7.Google Scholar