This week's epistle reading is a portion from Paul's discussion with Corinthian Christians about marriage. Throughout this section Paul carefully responds to the Corinthians' querulous questions about issues of marriage and sexuality.

The Corinthians, as their statement in 7:11 suggests, held celibacy and asceticism to be the preferred state for Christians ("It is well for a man not to touch a woman."). While Paul himself had chosen a celibate life, he refused to equate that lifestyle with any notion of spiritual elitism or savantism. Instead, the apostle counsels that both a married and a celibate life may be godly, but he emphasizes that each person should "lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you" (7:17).

Some Corinthians felt that in confessing Christ they had s…