1 Corinthians 7
Marriage
1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.[a] 2But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. 20Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 21Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.[b]
39A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Footnotes:
[a] 1 Corinthians 7:1 Or "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."
[b] 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years, and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried-this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does even better.
4 comments:
I Cor 7
Well,
I think this pretty much sums it up;
35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
Paul is pretty clear here on his opinion about marriage and how it might impact ones full devotion of time and thought to God. However, I am pretty sure that most need that intimacy and companionship. I know that I could not be left to my own devices b/c trouble would be around the corner for sure
In Christ,
cas
I certainly understand most of the comments posted today, and agree that Paul's comments shake me up vs. marriage is good(paraphrasing) -1 Cor 13.
Anyway, I think more than anything else, Paul is unintentionally underscoring the utter need for a marriage where all four eyes are focused on God. Having a wife (and kids) can be a distraction from God...or they can be blinders, where if they are also focused on the Lord, they are support, encouragement and ways to help us men focus on the Lord in this crazy world. I'll be the first to admit that I don't live in that dream scenario, and I think that is what Paul is really getting at. Again, he admits that he and we are human, and to live to an ideal is, well, ideal, and not often achievable. So he wants to help make it as easy as possible to focus on God, i.e. minimize distractions.
So: 26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.
If I knew how to use bold or italics I would point them towards the word "present", and echo the refrain that the situation then was different than it is now (by how much, I don't really know-they seem close-especially for my generation) and that his negativity may reflect his need to resolve the immorality.
In Christ,
crb
Interesting how black and white this seems to Paul.
Well, too late for me. I am gladly dividing my time between not only a wife and God, but through in a few kids, a dog, a house, and oh yeah, a job.
I hope that in my dividing, I can give a bigger piece to God.
jb
Obviously, Paul enters into a series of remarks in 1 Corinthians dealing with topics/questions/situations raised by the church itself.
I think that the beginning of vs. 1 is key in keeping this chapter from meaning too much and too little.
1Now for the matters you wrote about:
It would be great to have the letter(s) Paul is replying to, but God has chosen to leave us with His word through Paul's pen. I will trust God on this one;-)
So marriage seems to be an accomadation here to a problem they are dealing with in Corinth. Sort of a concession, rather than a first choice for the first century missionaries. Personally, I know that marriage and now parenting has become my mission more and more. I do not have the freedom to pick up and go, even when I feel that God may be leading in a direction. We,as a family, seek and pray for guidance. Yes, I could dictate, but in the end I believe that would do more harm than good. So I pray and serve and enjoy where we are today.
I truly love Paul's emphasis on contentment in vs. 17-24. It is such a stark contrast to the insatiable quest for more and more...the elevation of self over others, scaling the ladder higher, viewing success in purely worldly terms. The song of the siren of success is so seductive to me. I need to be reminded to glorify God where I AM, not where I want to be tomorrow.
Vs. 25 is a great reminder that not even Paul heard from God on every topic he sought to hear about. Paul admits he "[has] no command from the Lord..." It seems some pastors HAVE to have the right answer or reply. Paul admits he has a "judgement" that is "trustworthy" but it is not the oracle of God. Notice Paul's motivation here too. Vs. 28 shows Paul's heart "I want to spare you [the many troubles in this life caused by sin]" Why? Paul says that in vs. 31 "For this world in its present form is passing away." Sounds like Peter's remarks as well.
How often do I let LOVE drive me to ministry. I know that I often speak out against social ills, not to spare believers from heartache, but to be "right" or in "control." A great reminder, especially as we drive through this letter and near 1 Corinthians 13. Paul was driven by a Holy Love, even in his rebukes.
Vs. 32-35, I believe answers why Paul considered singleness superior for ministry than marriage. Notice he does NOT condemn marriage, but calls it "right." He simply states that from a purely kingdom missions perspective it is NOT BEST. Singleness is. I can't argue with him on this one at all based on my own life.
Overall, a chapter that needs to be delved in to much more often in our current culture of disposable marriage and fellings-dominated "love" marketed by the media and bought in our homes. The fall-out is killing the Church and our families. We are all scarred by it.
Father God, we praise you today that you are faithful and true to us. God we praise you that you are the God who does not abandon us and divorce us in our infidelity. Father, teach us to love and serve as you do. Driven not by fear, not by anger, but by Grace, Truth, and Love. Your Love...not Hollywood's...shown to us in 1 Cor. 13.
In Christ's name,
a-men
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