Quote:
Originally Posted by mfblume
That is a classic case of arguing from silence, though.
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I can see the point, and I don't necessarily disagree.
But
I Cor. 7:1 does lead us the fact that he is responding to a letter from the church.
So it would not be surprising to see him quote their points. (So it's not completely silent).
Secondly, there are several other places that Paul seems to be quoting the counter point that is more widely accepted ("So that grace may now abound?," "Everything is permissible to me." "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food.")
WHile it is not explicit in the text that he is quoting the Corinthians, I lean to this verdict by probabilty. What makes more sense? Paul says one thing and immediately contradicts it within the next sentence (and thus we have a postmodern Paul!), or that he is quoting a counter argument (or a perceived rebuttal) and then rebuts the point.
While it may be from silent, how else are we to explain these verses as well as many more?
*i realize you may have been saying that this is a classic argument from silence with no negative implications, and if this is so, disregard everything I wrote.