twhite982 said:
You're making the assumption that the antecedant of "this" in verse 6 only has reference to being married and not remaining unmarried.
Interesting! You kinda sound like my attorney when he wants to get me out of some pretty straightforward contract language!!
Seriously though, I don't think I was trying to assume anything but simply relying on the first 5 verses which explain that Paul was talking about the union (marriage) between man & woman and why. I also can't ignore the contrast and comparisons between those who are married and those who are not that Paul provides when he says: "
But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that."
Here is an intersting quote from Stephen Robinson that I added for your consideration.
...But those who do not believe that Paul had ever married point to 1 Cor. 7:7
1 Cor. 7:81 Cor. 7:7-8, where the Apostle says this:</B>
130For I would that all men were even as I myself....I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.
131However, the Greek word translated "unmarried" here is
agamos, which has reference to a person in a state of wedlock, whether he or she has formerly been married or not. The word "unmarried" in the context above most certainly has reference to widowers, because it is masculine plural and also because Paul deals with virgins, male and female, in vss. 25, 26, 28. That is to say, the Apostle deals with widowers and widows in vss. 8, 9 and with those who have never been married in vss. 25, 26, 28. Paul's counsel in the passage quoted above simply means that widows and widowers should remain unmarried as he (a widower) had done.
and Richard Loyd Anderson:
Paul's credentials illuminate the debated question of his marriage. He is mislabeled a bachelor or chauvinist, for careful study of 1 Corinthians strongly suggests his marriage. There are three elements of this problem in Paul's early life: the Jewish ideal of marriage as a religious duty; Paul's obedience to every possible Jewish duty; Paul's acceptance into high Jewish councils. The last point is often stated as though Paul was a member of the highest Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, whose members supposedly were married. Yet the evidence for marriage of Sanhedrin members is the same as for any other successful Israelitereligious and cultural conformity. Wisdom and trustworthiness came only through marriage; in the time of the Mishnah "an unmarried man may not be a teacher of children." The Mishnah includes marriage in the life pattern of the male, who was fit "at eighteen for the bride chamber." No one could fault Paul for disobedience to any commandment, he insisted, "touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" ("Philip. 3:6
Philip. 3:6). In Paul's view, no one exceeded him in keeping every requirement, none of his "peers" or "equals of age," the key term in his autobiographical survey"I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers" (Gal. 1:14, RSV). Since he had done everything right in his religion up to that point, he must have been married.
Interesting reading but I must admit this seems, to me anyway, like a long way to go around the obvious intent of the scripture to reach a different conclusion. With all due respect, the reason I say this is because to reach your conclusion with respect to verse 6 here, you would have to conclude that one would really "ask permission" to be a widower?! It just wouldn't make sense in that context.
By the way, after doing a google search, do I conclude correctly that Robinson and Lloyd are mormon apologetics? I think that would have a big impact on their writings, don't you?
My feeling is similiar in that at one time Paul was married, but now (1Cor 7) is a widow and is devoting all his energies to missionary work.
Fair enough. I guess my conclusion, although different from yours, is based less on feelings and more on what the scripture directly states.
Again I think the requirement is in Gen 1:28. Also when I say requirement I don't mean that you'll go to hell if you're not married because I know we all have different circumstances and opportunities.
I agree that God shows us the way to replenish through a union of man and woman in that verse. However, for me anyway, it's important to keep in mind that this is the first chapter of the first book of Genisis. Much more will be told by Christ. The remaining scriptures in both the OT and NT explain much about what He wants of us. Hence, when we do see what Christ says about marriage we learn far more about its role. Furthermore, I think we can both agree that God's command to replenish has been more than met without everyone being married throughout history. Some might even say that we've done "too much replenishing"!
In HEAVEN they will not marry or be given in marriage. The LDS believe this is true and the ordinance of marriage is done on this earth only.
But what about all those who have died single for one reason or another or who have never heard of your concept requiring marriage? It seems to me that Christ further explains, and very clearly, how all will be in the afterlife, how they will be worthy and what their relationship with Him will be in Luke 20:
34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
So here we see a clear distinction of who will be accounted as worthy. We also see that all will be Children of God.
Even moreso, what do we learn when the question of the neccessity of marriage is directly asked of Christ. Christ answers this in Matt. 19:
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
Again, no requirement, but consistent with what Paul tells us - for some it is good for others it is not. But no requirement or distinction for God's greatest level of glory.
My thoughts anyway.