[b-greek] Re: 1 Cor. 7: 10-11

From: Ben Crick (ben.crick@argonet.co.uk)
Date: Mon Apr 23 2001 - 10:00:12 EDT


On Sun 22 Apr 2001 (17:24:17), hholmyard@ont.com wrote:
> I always appreciate your wise words, Ben, but I think a simpler
> interpretation is better here.

 ... and I yours, Harold. Occam's Razor operates here as elsewhere. 8-)
 ISTM that a *Christian* couple (mixed marriages are dealt with in the
 following verses) should not separate merely because Paul advises them
 that it is better to be AGAMOI. AGAMOI includes widows, widowers and divorced
 people who just happen currently to be "not married", as well as spinsters
 and bachelors.

 Luke's rigorist divorce quotation from our Lord does not include the
 Matthaean Exception; but that does not mean that Matthew or an editor added
 it later to soften things down. It was just that Jesus did not wish to be a
 referee between the Hillel and Shammai camps, who were asking him for a
 ruling. It was their hardness of heart that was the root problem.

 As Paul does not specify *which* Dominical Saying he is alluding to, we
 can only infer which is the more likely.

 My point was that if there is no *cause* for a divorce, then pious couples
 who wish to take a vow of celibacy for religious reasons, should *not*
 get a divorce. No adultery, no divorce. Remarriage is not in view here.

 Paul's advice was only for the present emergency DIA THN ENESTWSAN ANAGKHN
 (verse 26). Otherwise, he was countermanding the Creation and post-Flood
 ordinance to be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth (Genesis
 1:28, 9:1). That also was a Word from the LORD.

 ERRWSQE
 Ben

-- 
 Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
 <ben.crick@argonet.co.uk>
 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
 http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm

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