1 Corinthians 7:4 – “The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.”
Paul’s teaching on marriage runs counter to both the culture of Paul’s day and to our own. This is uniquely a Christian doctrine. In many cultures then and now, a wife’s body was thought to be the explicit property of her husband, but categorically not the other way around. Most cultures essentially considered “male adultery” non-existent, requiring fidelity only of the woman.
Also in these modern times and places, culture often recoils at the suggestion that a person does not have absolute, unrestricted autonomy over his or her own body. Christian teaching, though, is clear about this idea. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that, as Christians, we do not own our bodies, because God purchased us from sin and death with the blood of Jesus.
These two primary expressions are in avoidance of sin and in the mutual expression of sexuality in marriage. Marriage is meant to be a picture of the relationship between Christ and those who have been redeemed – “The Church”. In that picture, both the redeemed husband and redeemed wife surrender their right to exercise authority over their own bodies; which is what is rendered in Christian marriage as becoming one flesh.
It’s a brand new day! Keep enjoying Kharis!
Pastor Josh Laryea