1 Corinthians 7:1-4, On Marriage
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The 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.
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The 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.
From the NIV footnotes: Apparently the sentence in verse 1 is literally, "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman" but in the context is clearly dealing with a man's decision to marry.
The emphasis here, from the unmarried Paul, is on mutual commitment, on "being one". This includes sexual commitment and support.
1 Corinthians 1:5-9
Do 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. I say this as a concession, not as a command.
I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Do 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. I say this as a concession, not as a command.
I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Paul is happily single and does not see a need to be married. But he recognizes the sexual desire of couples and the strength of sexual desire.
Christians should support and encourage men and women who are single, not making them feel left out and ignored. Long ago, Jan and I helped start a singles ministry in a church in Colorado and were impressed how rapidly it grew. Some of those participating in the ministry simply said they came because the ministry "admits we exist." It quickly spun off a support group for those who had gone through divorce. The needs are even greater today.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
Marriage is sacred and is intended to be permanent.
1 Corinthians 7:12-16
To 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. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
For 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.
But 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.
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
To 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. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
For 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.
But 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.
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
One of the questions posed to Paul probably asked about couples where one person had become a believer in the Messiah while the other resisted. What was the believer to do then?
1 Corinthians 1:4-9, Greeting
Nevertheless, 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.
Was 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. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.
Paul does not seek an external, political revolution. Let people's hearts be changed.
Nevertheless, 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.
Was 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. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.
Paul does not seek an external, political revolution. Let people's hearts be changed.
1 Corinthians 17:21-24, On slavery
Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For 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. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
Again, Paul is not trying to start a revolution. But he agrees that if a slave can gain freedom, that is a good thing.
Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For 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. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
Again, Paul is not trying to start a revolution. But he agrees that if a slave can gain freedom, that is a good thing.
This passage does not support slavery. But it certainly seems to downplay any political activism. Paul has a more important message....
1 Corinthians 7: 25-28
Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But 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.
Paul, single, sees issues and conflicts caused by marriage. But he admits explicitly, that he has "no command from the Lord" on this. Much of his thoughts throughout this passage are driven by "the present crisis", which is unclear.
Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But 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.
Paul, single, sees issues and conflicts caused by marriage. But he admits explicitly, that he has "no command from the Lord" on this. Much of his thoughts throughout this passage are driven by "the present crisis", which is unclear.
1 Corinthians 7: 29-31, Time is short
What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those 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; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
Paul has a sense of urgency about the gospel message and wants believers to focus on that message, especially in view of his belief that "time is short."
What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those 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; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
Paul has a sense of urgency about the gospel message and wants believers to focus on that message, especially in view of his belief that "time is short."
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife--and 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.
I 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.
Paul's focus is on the Jewish Messiah and the gospel message and sees no reason to have family members distract him. He encourages others to think this way. (Personally, I have marriage much more comforting, but we are all different.)
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife--and 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.
I 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.
Paul's focus is on the Jewish Messiah and the gospel message and sees no reason to have family members distract him. He encourages others to think this way. (Personally, I have marriage much more comforting, but we are all different.)
1 Corinthians 7: 36-38, Engagement vs. Marriage
If 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. 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 not to marry the virgin--this man also does the right thing. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.
The NIV footnotes offer an alternative translation of this passage, depending on the intended meaning of the Greek word here translated "virgin". This gives a good example of the cultural difficulties offered by the passage. The footnotes give: "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. 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. So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does even better."
If 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. 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 not to marry the virgin--this man also does the right thing. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.
The NIV footnotes offer an alternative translation of this passage, depending on the intended meaning of the Greek word here translated "virgin". This gives a good example of the cultural difficulties offered by the passage. The footnotes give: "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. 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. So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does even better."
Just as the word translated "man" or "woman" sometimes means "husband" or "wife", the word translated "virgin" might mean a young woman or daughter. So the NIV translators offer an alternative. I think the first translation makes more sense.
1 Corinthians 7: 39-40
A 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. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Yes, Paul is happy that he is not married, and he clearly thinks others should be too! This is especially true in "the present crisis" to which he alluded earlier.
A 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. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Yes, Paul is happy that he is not married, and he clearly thinks others should be too! This is especially true in "the present crisis" to which he alluded earlier.
In the next chapter Paul takes on another question posed by the Corinthians, on eating meat sacrificed to pagan gods.
I think suffering and prosecution are the backdrop here. A lot easier to risk your own life for Jesus than to risk your whole family's. There are hear trending stories of early Christianartyrs who had to witness their children's slaughter before losing their own loves to the lions. And I think sometimes of the father and sons who a free hears ago were burned alive in ther car by radical Hindus in northern India.
ReplyDeleteYes, good comments.
DeleteSome time back, I think it was you who got me to watch The Mission. Although not directly related, I recall the intensity of the attacks on the native tribes, running with family, from the Portuguese.... In I Cor 7, Paul warns that in "these days of crisis", family ties are dangerous. Getting married and having a family was NOT wrong -- just dangerous -- and so it required thought and wisdom.
Heart. Grrr.
ReplyDelete