Benevolence
Benevolence in 1 Corinthians 7
The word "benevolence" appears in the King James Version of 1 Corinthians 7:3, where Paul instructs married couples: "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband." This translation reflects the reading of the Textus Receptus, the Greek text underlying the KJV. Modern critical editions of the Greek New Testament, followed by most contemporary translations, read simply "the husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband."
The Greek Text and Translation
The difference between the KJV's "due benevolence" and modern renderings hinges on a textual variant. The Textus Receptus includes the word eunoia ("goodwill" or "benevolence"), while the critical Greek text of Westcott and Hort reads opheilē ("what is owed" or "duty"). Most modern scholars favor the shorter reading as original. Either way, the meaning is essentially the same: Paul is speaking about the mutual physical obligations that belong to the marriage relationship.
Paul's Teaching on Marriage
Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 is remarkably balanced for the ancient world. He teaches that neither the husband nor the wife has sole authority over their own body; rather, each belongs to the other (1 Corinthians 7:4). This mutual submission within marriage was countercultural in a society where wives were often considered property. Paul elevates the wife's claim on her husband to the same level as the husband's claim on his wife.
The apostle further instructs that couples should not deprive one another of physical intimacy except by mutual consent for a limited time devoted to prayer, and then they should come together again (1 Corinthians 7:5). This teaching reflects a practical concern that prolonged separation could lead to temptation.
The Old Testament Background
Paul's teaching builds on Old Testament principles about marital obligation. Exodus 21:10 stipulates that if a man takes a second wife, he must not diminish the first wife's food, clothing, or marital rights. This ancient legal provision recognized that marriage involved concrete, enforceable obligations, not merely emotional attachment. Paul extends this principle into the new covenant context, framing it in terms of mutual responsibility rather than one-sided duty.
Benevolence as a Broader Christian Virtue
While the specific use of "benevolence" in 1 Corinthians 7:3 refers to marital duty, the broader concept of benevolence, goodwill, kindness, and generous concern for others, runs throughout Scripture. Ephesians 4:32 calls believers to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another." The marital benevolence Paul describes is one expression of the self-giving love that should characterize all Christian relationships.
Marriage as Mutual Service
Paul's teaching on marital benevolence challenges both ancient and modern assumptions about marriage. Rather than viewing marriage primarily in terms of rights and authority, Paul frames it as mutual service. Each partner gives to the other not reluctantly but as a willing expression of love and covenant commitment. This vision of marriage as reciprocal self-giving anticipates Paul's later teaching in Ephesians 5:21-33, where mutual submission under Christ becomes the foundation of the marriage relationship.
Biblical Context
Benevolence appears in 1 Corinthians 7:3 (KJV) within Paul's extended discussion of marriage, singleness, and sexuality in 1 Corinthians 7. The immediate context (7:1-7) addresses the mutual physical obligations of married couples. The broader passage responds to questions the Corinthian church had raised about marriage and celibacy.
Theological Significance
Paul's teaching on marital benevolence establishes the principle of mutual obligation and submission within marriage. Neither spouse has unilateral authority; both belong to each other. This reciprocal model reflects the broader Christian ethic of self-giving love and anticipates the Ephesians 5 vision of marriage as an image of Christ's relationship with the church.
Historical Background
In the Greco-Roman world, marriage was primarily a social and economic arrangement. Wives had limited legal rights, and husbands exercised considerable authority. Paul's insistence on mutual obligation was progressive for his cultural context. The Corinthian church, situated in a city known for its moral permissiveness, needed clear guidance on sexual ethics within marriage. Some in the community may have been advocating for celibacy even within marriage, which Paul addresses directly.