Sue

NN You wrote regarding 1 Cor. 7, ,

“But certainly the passage does seem to indicate equality in this claim between each spouse to the other’s body. It simply must be noted that this one aspect of relational reciprocity does not negate the possibility of hierarchy in the relationship overall.”

You seem to imply that in 1 Cor. 7 the relationship is reciprocal and it does refer to the body. Perhaps I am unable to understand your use of the word “eros.”

I think that if you use this word, you will need to elaborate. You say that it is different from agape, and that it is different from the physical relationship as outlined in 1 Cor. 7. I am at loss as to how you derive any doctrine at all about eros in marriage from the scripture. Perhaps you are thinking of poor Michal, the only woman in the Bible who is said to have “loved” her husband – not that it was of any use to her.