Power over the Married Body 1 Corinthians 7:4

Paul the apostle told the married church members in Corinth to “render unto” the husband or wife “due benevolence”, and in chapter seven and verse four of First Corinthians, Paul told the husbands and wives among the church members how they do not have, “power of” their “own” bodies where we read:

The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband:

and likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife.

The verse begins, “The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband:” Paul began with the words, “The wife” or “the married woman” “has not power” which means “is not master nor has authority”“of her own body” or “the wife's physical body”, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “” “the husband” which means “the married man”. Paul declared the “married woman” does not have “authority” over her own “body” because “the husband” does.

The verse goes on to say, “and likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife.” Paul continued with the words, “and likewise also” which means “and equally in the same manner” “the husband” or “the married man”“has not power” which means “is not master nor has authority” “of his own body” or “the husband's physical body”. Paul added that the “married man” doesn't have “authority” over his own “body” because his “wife” does.

When we think through these words from Paul, we see how those who are married “give over” their “rights and authority” to their own “bodies” to their spouse. Each spouse is to understand the other spouse has “authority” or “power” over the other. This in no way calls for abuse because abuse is sin, but they should render to one another “conjugally” what is “good”. Jesus Christ “honors” his bride which is the church, and each spouse in the marriage is to “honor” the other in a righteous manner. As the scripture says, “the two shall be one”, and those who are married know this intimately.

Next time Paul tells the church members that husbands and wives, “Defraud you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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