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1 Corinthians
7:32-35
 | Reading the Text:
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| Historical References, Commentary and Comparative
Texts:
 | "Asceticism
and Monasticism," Comparative World Scriptures from United
Communities of Spirit. |
|
Chapter VII,
Historia Calamitatusm: The Story of My
Misfortunes,
Pierre Abélard
/ Peter Abelard, c. 1140. |
| From the Geneva Notes.
 | "He means that he will
force no man either to marry or not to marry, but to show them plainly
what type of life is most advantageous." |
|
| From
Matthew Henry's
Commentary.
| "Let us reflect on the
advantages and snares of our own condition in life; that we may improve
the one, and escape as far as possible all injury from the other. And
whatever cares press upon the mind, let time still be kept for the
things of the Lord." |
|
| From
Wesley's
Notes.
| "That ye may
resolutely and perseveringly wait upon the Lord - The word
translated wait signifies sitting close by a person, in a good posture
to hear. So Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, Luke 10:39. Without
distraction - Without having the mind drawn any way from its centre;
from its close attention to God; by any person, or thing, or care, or
incumbrance whatsoever." |
|
| From the Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "...not
. . . cast a snare upon you--image from throwing a
noose over an animal in hunting. Not that by hard injunctions I may
entangle you with the fear of committing sin where there is no sin."
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|
| From The
People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "Not to interfere with
your freedom to marry. A snare thrown over the head made the victim
helpless. Paul merely advises what, under the circumstances of that
period, seemed most prudent." |
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| Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
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"Undivided
devotion to the Lord," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed
textual notes. |
|
"Single Vs.
Married Life?" Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com:
A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel.
| "How does your life status help you to
focus on the Lord? How does it hinder you? How can you use this hindrance
as a means to holiness?" |
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| A discussion of "agamos" in 1 Corinthians 7 from the
B-Greek Archives. Follow "next in thread." |
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| Articles & Background:
| "Celibate
Pneumatics and Social Power: On the Motivations for Sexual Asceticism in Corinth,"
by Judith M. Gundry-Volf, Fuller Theological Seminary.
| "The Corinthians were
pneumatics. They viewed themselves as pneumatikoiv (14:37; cf. also
2:13, 15). They were interested in pneumatikav (12:1; 14:1), especially
gifts of inspiration (chapters 12-14, esp. 13:1-2; 14:1-33, 39). Their
self-understanding is reflected in Paul's use of this terminology
throughout the epistle (cf. also 3:1; 9:11; 10:3, 4; 15:44, 46).
Precisely because it is so prominent, the Corinthians' pneumatism is
likely to have motivated their celibacy in some way. 1 Corinthians 7
suggests that this is the case." |
|
|
"Who Should Be Called Father? Paul of Tarsus between the Jesus Tradition and
Patria Potestas," S. Scott Bartchy, Biblical Theology Bulletin,
2003. |
| "The
Ascetic Impulse in Ancient Christianity,"
Vincent L. Wimbush, Union Theological Seminary. Theology Today,
October, 1993.
| "In the end, the matter is
about perspective: whether Christianity's ancient legacy should be
read as an admittedly complicated development toward the embracing
of the world or as a struggle to sustain resistance." |
|
|
"The
Changing Role of Women in the Early Christian World,"
Howard Clark Kee, University of Pennsylvania. Theology Today,
1992.
| "If the church in our time
were to take with full seriousness the radical openness toward women
and their participation in the life of God's people that
characterized the movement at the outset, it could result in a
significant contribution toward renewal of both the church and the
human race." |
|
"Blurring
the Boundaries: A Response to Howard C. Kee,"
Virginia Burrus, The Theological School at Drew University. Theology
Today, 1992.
| "...a blurring of
religious or cultural boundaries in our historical
reconstructions may cut against the smugness that frequently
creeps into Christian discussions of Judaism and other religious
traditions. The roots of a distinctive Christian feminism would
appear to be entangled in Jewish and pagan traditions, rather
than emerging in pure and radical opposition to those
traditions. Second, a blurring of chronological boundaries in
our historical reconstructions may cut against the tendency to
locate orthodox or authentic Christianity almost purely in a
statically defined "golden age" of the distant past.
After all, how liberating is it for Christian women to be
invited to focus exclusively on "the insights of Jesus and
Paul"?" |
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| Reviews:
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Review: David Instone-Brewer, Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible:
The Social and Literary Context. Eerdmans, 2002. Review by William A
Heth in Journal of the
Evangelical Theological Society. |
|
Review:
Will Deming, Paul on Marriage & Celibacy: The Hellenistic Background of 1
Corinthians 7. Eerdmans, 2004. Review by Brent Smith
in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature. |
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Book of 1 Corinthians |
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