05/22/2022 – Day 084 – 1 Corinthians – 7-8 / verse 7:2 and the Shakers…
Verse 7:2; “But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.”
Note: Marriage as a vehicle to avoid the mortal sin of fornication takes precedence over procreation with children rearing within a family household of a father and a mother, for the later is not mentioned in this chapter. Recall, last week’s reading in Chapter 6 included verses 9 & 10 which among other mortal sins, noted that the sexually immoral would not inherit the kingdom of God. But more than once I have heard, “that’s out-dated”.
Here is John Gill’s commentary on this verse:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/1-corinthians-7-2.html
A trivial but interesting note to me, check out what this article which claims that the Shakers as the most successful commuatiarian society in American history. They did not marry and vowed celibacy. They immigrated to the U.S. in the late 18th century. Fascinating note: They enjoyed dancing as a communal dance with God. Paul notes to the Shakers and other unmarried and widowed in verse 9: “It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am” , with the connected condition: “they can control themselves.”
Soli Deo Gloria!