Now seems a good time to criticize one of Smith's corrections that is not mentioned in RFM's 17 point list and at the same time take a swipe at Clarke.
Are you listening, RFM? Are you there?
Turn to me, if you would, by opening your Bible to:
1 Cor 7:5 KJV wrote:Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
The use of the word
"defraud" is rather peculiar in this context seeing we are talking about sexual relations. Defraud means to illegally obtain money from someone by means of deception. Sex between married people isn't so much a form of payment as it is an expression of love and goodwill between two people (or three if you're into threesomes :biggrin: )
Adam Clarke seems to follow suit in his commentary:
Adam Clarke Commentary wrote:Defraud ye not one the other - What ye owe thus to each other never refuse paying, unless by mutual consent; and let that be only for a certain time, when prudence dictates the temporary separation, or when some extraordinary spiritual occasion may render it mutually agreeable, in order that ye may fast and pray, and derive the greatest possible benefit from these duties by being enabled to wait on the Lord without distraction.
Who said anything about owing money for sex, or
"paying"? Well, I'll at least credit Joseph Smith for venturing away from Clarke and coming up with his own word, although it doesn't really explain that St Paul is talking about sex. Smith seems to think it's about not departing from one another as if they are traveling or taking a vacation.
1 Cor 7:5 JST wrote:Depart ye not one from the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
I think today's bibles do a better job than Clarke or a hack like Smith!
New Living Translation wrote:Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Contemporary English Version wrote:So don't refuse sex to each other, unless you agree not to have sex for a little while, in order to spend time in prayer. Then Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Holman Christian Standard Bible wrote:Do not deprive one another sexually--except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control.