Beyond the pagans and the prudes

[7:1] Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” [2] But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. [3] The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. [4] For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. [5] Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:1-5 ESV)

Paul was writing to a church plant in Corinth. And in this church, there were a lot of questions about a proper view of sex (much like today). One view of sex that some in Corinth were influenced by came from devotees of "mystery religions." The other dominant view came from those influenced by Platonism.

Those who followed the mystery religions had an earthy view of sex - you have an appetite, you should do what you need to in order to satisfy it. Tim Keller described the pagan notion like this: "If you're hungry you eat. If you're tired, you sleep. If you're sexy, you sex."

On the other hand, the Platonists had a very low view of the body. The soul was good, but the body was bad. Desires and urges have to do with the body, and therefore physical desires and sensuality should be resisted. This is dirty and would pull you away from the spiritual life.

If the followers of the mystery religions were the pagans, then the Platonists were the prudes. And we still have these people in our churches, maybe we even swing between these notions in ourselves. But Paul tells us that the Biblical view of sex is different. Sex is created by God, and therefore good. And it's meant to be enjoyed between a man and a woman in the context of a covenant relationship (marriage). Sex is not bad, but it also is not without limits.

Paul is especially concerned that married people do not adopt a platonic view of sex and abstain from physical intimacy with their spouse. Sex is not only appropriate, but important in marriage. It's a way of communicating love and affection. It's a way of saying with our bodies what we should also be saying with our mouths: "We are one flesh. I am for you, and no other."