![]() "-us-to become likewise His "likeness " 4 that we may be "holy" just as Himself is "holy." 5 That 2 The will of God is our sanctification, 3 for He wishes His "image No one deserves (favour) by availing himself of the indulgence, but by rendering a prompt obedience to the will, (of his master). which necessity, indeed, may very easily be circumscribed, if the will rather than the indulgence of God be considered. Although, in cases of this kind, each individual ought to hold colloquy with his own faith, and consult its strength still, inasmuch as, in this (particular) species trial), the necessity of the flesh (which generally is faith's antagonist at the bar of the same inner consciousness, to which I have alluded) sets cogitation astir, faith has need of counsel from without, as an advocate, as it were, to oppose the necessities of the flesh: I Doubt not, brother, that after the premission in peace of your wife, you, being wholly bent upon the composing of your mind (to a fight frame), are seriously thinking about the end of your lone life, and of course are standing in need of counsel. Virginity Classified Under Three Several Species. ![]() Their Futility, Especially in the Case of Christians, Pointed Out.Ĭhapter XIII.-Examples from Among the Heathen, as Well as from the Church, to Enforce the Foregoing Exhortation.Ĭhapter I. -Introduction. Advantages of Widowhood.Ĭhapter XI.-The More the Wives, the Greater the Distraction of the Spirit.Ĭhapter XII.-Excuses Commonly Urged in Defence of Second Marriage. But in This as in Other Respects, the New Has Brought in a Higher Perfection.Ĭhapter VIII.-If It Be Granted that Second Marriage is Lawful, Yet All Things Lawful are Not Expedient.Ĭhapter IX.-Second Marriage a Species of Adultery, Marriage Itself Impugned, as Akin to Adultery.Ĭhapter X-Application of the Subject. 16Ĭhapter IV.-Further Remarks Upon the Apostle's Language.Ĭhapter V.-Unity of Marriage Taught by Its First Institution, and by the Apostle's Application of that Primal Type to Christ and the Church.Ĭhapter VI.-The Objection from the Polygamy of the Patriarchs Answered.Ĭhapter VII.-Even the Old Discipline Was Not Without Precedents to Enforce Monogamy. The One Power Which Rests with Man is the Power of Volition.Ĭhapter III.-Of Indulgence and Pure Volition. Virginity Classified Under Three Several Species.Ĭhapter II.-The Blame of Our Misdeeds Not to Be Cast Upon God. IV : On Exhortation to Chastity.Ĭhapter I.-Introduction. Help me to create the disciplines in my life that allow me to do that in the midst of all the distractions of living fully in the world.Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. Prayer: Lord, I want to live fully devoted to You, attentive and responsive. In fact, I’m taking lessons to get better.įor me, the key to living with undistracted devotion is creating the rhythms that keep me centered and attentive. But honestly, I enjoy some other “distractions.” I love riding my motorcycle or playing golf. For example, last year I discovered how much time I was spending (wasting) on an app on my phone. I can say no some unhealthy distractions. I can create healthy rhythms in my life that remind me to “attend to” Jesus. I can’t eliminate “distractions” but I can minimize or manage them while I live a full life in the world. I am not called to leave the world and join a hermitage. And that line of thinking led to the creation of monasteries and the monastic life as one of “undistracted devotion.” That lifestyle is not wrong, but it’s certainly not what most of us are called to do. This is why Paul encouraged people to put off marriage and stay single-it was less distraction. How can I live in the world, be engaged with every day life, and still offer “undistracted devotion” to Jesus? Paul sought undistracted devotion to Jesus-in this case, undistracted by the cares and concerns of marriage, but in a larger sense, undistracted by anything in this world (see v. The word “devotion” translates a Greek word that meant “to continually attend to or serve someone.” I like that image of attending to Jesus-being attentive, responsive and always ready to serve. 28) and secure “undistracted devotion to the Lord.” Whatever the crisis, it prompted Paul to encourage (not command) people to put off marriage if they could. Or perhaps Christians in Corinth were facing severe opposition. Perhaps he thought the Lord was returning very soon. We don’t know what that crisis was, but it certainly colored Paul’s advice on marriage. Paul writes this chapter on marriage in the midst of “this present crisis” (v. 1 Corinthians 7:35 “This I say for your own benefit not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.”
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