Beautiful Symmetry

Don Johnson of InContextBibleStudies has graciously allowed me to publish his material on several passages relating to marriage. I found his observations of the structure and symmetry most enlightening and beautiful. (Please note that this study continues on two sub-pages.)

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1 Corinthians 7

Observe how Paul is almost sing-song in his repetition, he alternates mentioning the woman first and the man first sometimes. By this STRUCTURE, Paul is making a point, regardless of what the words mean.

1 Corinthians 7 Symmetry (using NIV) It is important to see the symmetry, even without knowing the specific meaning in the First Century. Paul is making a point.

Man/Husband	Woman/Wife
2b each man should have his own wife	2c and each woman her own husband
3a The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,	3b and likewise the wife to her husband
4b In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife	4a The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband.
11b And a husband must not divorce his wife	10b A wife must not separate from her husband.
12b If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.	13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him
14a For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife,	14b and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.
16b how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?	16a How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband?
33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world–how he can please his wife–	34c But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world–how she can please her husband.

This page has the following sub pages.

• Ephesians 5
• 1 Peter 2-3