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 is dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so remain, after my judgment; and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Now concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid lewdness, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife to the husband. read more.
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan may not tempt you for your incontinence. But I speak this by permission, and not as a commandment. For I would that all men were as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan may not tempt you for your incontinence. But I speak this by permission, and not as a commandment. For I would that all men were as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment as one that hath obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
But I would have you without anxious care. He that is unmarried, is anxious for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married, is anxious for the things that are of the world, how he may 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 warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that I do not; but what I hate, that I do. If then I do that which I would not, I consent to the law that it is good. read more.
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not. For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if 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 would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man: But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not. For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if 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 would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man: But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the body must be kept under subjection
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away.