Gospel Narrative Framework for Sexual Intimacy in Marriage
Marriage, as a divinely instituted covenant relationship, is designed for human happiness, the increase of population, and the raising of godly offspring [1]. Sexual intimacy within this framework is understood as a mutual right and responsibility between spouses, intended to prevent fornication and foster faithfulness [1, 4]. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7:3-4, emphasizes that married Christians should be considerate of their spouse's sexual needs, and that sexual intimacy is a mutual right not to be withheld [4]. This implies a yielding of authority over one's body to one's spouse, though this authority should not be abused [4].
Augustine of Hippo discussed the "good of marriage," identifying three aspects: offspring, faithfulness, and the sacramental bond [5, 9]. While acknowledging that sexual intercourse is primarily for procreation, he also recognized that it serves to prevent fornication and that it can be a means of seeking pardon for desires that are not solely procreative, provided they do not hinder prayer or involve unnatural acts [6]. He also noted that even in marriages where there is no carnal gratification, such as in the case of Mary and Joseph, the full good of the nuptial institution—offspring, faithfulness, and the bond—can still be present [5].
The concept of marriage as a bond is further highlighted by the Apostle Paul's instruction for husbands to love their wives "even as Christ also loved the Church" [9]. This comparison elevates the marital relationship to a spiritual plane, reflecting the union between Christ and the Church [8, 9]. The sanctity of sexual intimacy within marriage is also emphasized in Jewish tradition, where Maimonides notes that while a wife is always permitted to her husband, a wise man should behave with holiness in this area, recognizing it as a powerful expression of human nature that should reflect a commitment to holiness [7].
The Bible also acknowledges the challenges within marriage, such as the sorrow and subjection of the wife to her husband mentioned in Genesis 3:16, which arose after the fall [2]. Despite these challenges, marriage is presented as honorable for all and should be undertaken "in the Lord" [1]. The sanctification of marriage and sexual intimacy is achieved "through God's Word and prayerful intercourse" [3].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
- Genesis “Genesis 3:16 (Geneva1599) — Vnto the woman he said, I will greatly increase thy sorowes, and thy conceptions. In sorowe shalt thou bring foorth children, and thy desire shalbe subiect to thine husband, and he shall rule ouer thee.”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:5 (LITV) — for through God's Word and prayerful intercourse, it is sanctified.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:3: 7:3-4 Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, married Christians must always be considerate of the sexual needs of their spouses. Sexual intimacy is a mutual right for both spouses in a marriage and must not be withheld. Marriage includes yielding the authority over one’s body to one’s spouse, though such authority is clearly not to be abused.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 13.--IN THE MARRIAGE OF MARY AND JOSEPH THERE WERE ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THE WEDDED STATE; ALL THAT IS BORN OF CONCUBINAGE IS SINFUL FLESH.: The entire good, therefore, of the nuptial institution was effected in the case of these parents of Christ: there was offspring, there was faithfulness, there was the bond.[11] As offspring, we recognise the Lord Jesus Himself; the fidelity, in that there was no adultery; the bond,[11] because there was no divorce. [XII.] Only there was no nuptial cohabitation; because He who was to be without sin, and was sen”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — ON THE GOOD OF MARRIAGE. (part 13): not alone for the begetting of children, and, at times, not at all for the begetting of children; and it is not that marriage forces this to take place, but that it procures pardon for it; provided however it be not so in excess as to hinder what ought to be set aside as seasons of prayer, nor be changed into that use which is against nature, on which the Apostle could not be silent, when speaking of the excessive corruptions of unclean and impious men. For necessary sexual intercourse for begetting is free from”
- Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Human Dispositions 5:4: Although a man's wife is permitted to him at all times, 1 i.e., outside the restrictions of the niddah it is fitting that a wise man behave with holiness. 2 Though a Jew's commitment to holiness must encompass every aspect of his behavior, the Torah and our Sages have always emphasized the importance of this quality in regard to sexuality. There is no more powerful expression of man's basic, instinctual nature than sex. Therefore, precisely in this area, a Jew must reveal that his nature is not only material, that he possesse”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 11:11: Yet neither sex is insulated and independent of the other in the Christian life [ALFORD]. The one needs the other in the sexual relation; and in respect to Christ ("in the Lord"), the man and the woman together (for neither can be dispensed with) realize the ideal of redeemed humanity represented by the bride, the Church.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 11 [X.]--THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE; MARRIAGE INDISSOLUBLE; THE WORLD'S LAW ABOUT DIVORCE DIFFERENT FROM THE GOSPEL'S. (part 1): It is certainly not fecundity only, the fruit of which consists of offspring, nor chastity only, whose bond is fidelity, but also a certain sacramental bond[2] in marriage which is recommended to believers in wedlock. Accordingly it is en-joined by the apostle: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church."[3] Of this bond the substance[4] undoubtedly is this, that the man and the woman who are joined ”