In the past, some have misinterpreted Paul regarding marriage. Some taught that the highest spirituality could only be obtained if you remained celibate or unmarried. But Paul never taught this. It is just the opposite. This chapter is a good example. In this chapter, he is responding to questions that were sent to him about marriage and sex. He says his answers are his own, not commandments. What he teaches this in this chapter I think can summed up as follows:
1. Marriage is good. Sex is not just for procreation, but for the blessing and bonding of husbands and wives.
2. The husband and the wife are equal and should each be sensitive to and respond to the needs of the other.
3. If one spouse joins the church and the other doesn't, the member spouse can still be a blessing to the other. If the non-member spouse leaves trying to force the member spouse to choose between them and the church, the member spouse is left with no choice but to choose the church.
4. It is better to be single and be a missionary than to be married and be one because your because all of your attention will be on the work. If you're married and become a missionary, it will be like you are not married as you will have to leave everything behind. Paul was either a widower or possibly his wife left him when he converted to Christianity.
5. When Paul talks about virgins and says things like there is a difference between a wife and virgin, a better translation for virgin is fiancee.
In every instruction in the scriptures, I think the teachings will always agree with common sense. We will not be asked to believe or practice something that is extreme or strange. It will always be normal, practical, and motivating towards higher and deeper belief.
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