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Revisiting the Euphemism in 1 Corinthians 7.1

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 130 Essex Street, South Hamilton, MA 01982, USA rciampa{at}gcts.edu

To date, the euphemism of `touching' in 1 Cor. 7.1 has only been examined in light of eight examples in Greek literature, and these have led most scholars to conclude that it is a general euphemism for sexual intercourse. This study examines 25 examples of the euphemism, shows how it relates to the common ancient distinction between sex for pleasure and sex for procreation, and concludes that it is only used for the former and typically has to do with a man's use of a woman (or boy) for his sexual gratification. The article concludes with a consideration of 1 Cor. 7, which argues that the context here also favors understanding the Corinthians' use of the euphemism as a critique of certain kinds of sexual relations rather than a rejection of sex in general.

Key Words: Corinthians • euphemism • Paul • sexual intercourse • touch

Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Vol. 31, No. 3, 325-338 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0142064X08101527


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