Thematic Bible: Paul teaches
Thematic Bible
Stoicism » Paul teaches » Celibacy
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is free to be married to whomsoever she will, but only in the Lord. But she is more blessed if she abide as she is, in my opinion: and I think I have the spirit of God.
NOW with regard to those things concerning which ye have written unto me, it were good for a man not to touch a woman. But because of the whoredoms, let every man have his own wife, and every wife her own husband. Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence, and in like manner also the wife to the husband. read more.
The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not power over his own body, but the wife. Defraud not one another, except it may be by consent occasionally, that ye may have more leisure for fasting and prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence. But in this I speak my opinion only, not authoritatively. For I would that all men were even as myself: but every man hath his peculiar gift from God, one of this sort, and another of that. I say then to the unmarried and the widows, that it is becoming them if they abide as I am. But if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not power over his own body, but the wife. Defraud not one another, except it may be by consent occasionally, that ye may have more leisure for fasting and prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence. But in this I speak my opinion only, not authoritatively. For I would that all men were even as myself: but every man hath his peculiar gift from God, one of this sort, and another of that. I say then to the unmarried and the widows, that it is becoming them if they abide as I am. But if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I offer my opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful. I think then that this is becoming, considering our present straits, that it is proper for a man to be thus.
But I would have you to be free from anxiety. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord: but he who is married is anxious about the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"
but I see another law in my members, militating against the law in my mind, and making me captive to the law of sin which is in my members.
For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am fleshly, sold under sin. For that which I am doing I approve not: for not the thing which I wish, that do I practise; but the very thing I hate, that I do. But if what I would not, that I do, I concur with the law that it is excellent. read more.
Now then no more I do this, but sin dwelling in me. For I know that there dwelleth not in me (that is, in my flesh) any good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For I do not the good which I wish: but the evil which I would not, that I do. If then I do that which I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I wish to do good, evil is presented to me. For I am delighted with the law of God, as respecting the inward man: but I see another law in my members, militating against the law in my mind, and making me captive to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man, I! who shall pluck me from the body of this death?
Now then no more I do this, but sin dwelling in me. For I know that there dwelleth not in me (that is, in my flesh) any good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For I do not the good which I wish: but the evil which I would not, that I do. If then I do that which I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I wish to do good, evil is presented to me. For I am delighted with the law of God, as respecting the inward man: but I see another law in my members, militating against the law in my mind, and making me captive to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man, I! who shall pluck me from the body of this death?
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the body must be kept under subjection
but I beat down my body, and bring it into subjection, that I may not by any means, after having preached to others, myself become reprobate.