1 Corinthians 7
7
1Now about what you wrote to me: “It's good not to marry.”#7:1. It seems that some in Corinth were single and the church was writing to ask if this was permissible. 2However, because of the temptation to sexual immorality, it is better that each man have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should meet his wife's sexual needs, and the wife her husband's. 4The wife's body doesn't just belong to her, but her husband; and similarly the husband's body doesn't just belong to him but his wife. 5So don't deprive each other, except by mutual consent for a while—for example because you want to spend time in prayer. Afterwards come together again so that Satan won't tempt you to sin because of your lack of self-control. 6I'm telling you this not as a command, but as a concession. 7However, I wish that everyone was like me, but each person has their own gift from God—one has this gift, one has another. 8To those who are not yet married, or who are widowed, I would say it is better if they remain like me. 9But if they lack self-control, then they should get married—for it is better to marry than burn with desire.
10These are my instructions to those who are married—in fact not from me but the Lord: The wife should not leave her husband 11(or if she does, she should not remarry, or she should return to her husband); and the husband should not leave his wife.#7:11. One particular problem in the early church was of one spouse becoming Christian, and how then to relate to the non-Christian spouse. This seems to be what is addressed here. 12Now, to the rest of you (and this is me speaking, not the Lord), I would say, If a Christian man has a non-Christian wife and she is willing to stay with him, he should not leave her. 13And if a Christian woman has a non-Christian husband, and he is willing to stay with her, she should not leave her husband.
14For a husband who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian wife, and for a wife who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian husband.#7:14. Paul is not saying here that being married to a Christian the non-Christian spouse therefore becomes a Christian or experiences salvation. He is concerned to address the issue that by being married to a non-Christian spouse in some way “defiles” the marriage or the Christian in the relationship. That this is the real issue is made clear concerning children of such a marriage—they are also not “impure” but they are “holy,” and this is not any reference to the actual spiritual state of the children. Otherwise it would mean your children were impure, but now they are holy. 15However, if the non-Christian spouse leaves, let them leave. In such cases the Christian man or woman is not slavishly bound, for God has called us to live in peace. 16Wives, who knows? You may save your husband! Husbands, who knows? You may save your wife!
17Apart from such cases, each of you should remain in the situation that the Lord has placed you, and continue to live the life to which God has called you. That's my instruction to all the churches. 18Were you circumcised when you were converted? Don't become uncircumcised. Were you uncircumcised when you were converted? Don't become circumcised. 19Circumcision doesn't mean anything, and uncircumcision doesn't mean anything. Keeping the commandments of God is what really matters. 20Everyone should remain in the position they were in when they were called.#7:20. “Called”—in other words, conversion. 21If you were a slave when you were called, don't worry—though if you have an opportunity to become free, take it. 22If you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free, working for the Lord. In the same way if you were called when you were free, you are now Christ's slave! 23A price has been paid for you, so don't become a slave to anyone. 24Brothers and sisters, remain in the position you were in when you were called, living with God.
25Now about “people who are not married,”#7:25. Literally, “virgins.” Paul here continues discussing the issues that the Corinthian church has raised. See 7:1. I don't have a specific instruction from the Lord, so let me give you my opinion as someone who by the Lord's mercy is considered trustworthy. 26Because of the present difficult situation we are in I think it is best to just stay as you are. 27Are you already married? Don't try to get divorced. Are you unmarried? Don't look to get married. 28If you do get married, you haven't sinned. If an unmarried woman gets married, she hasn't sinned. But you will have many troubles in this current world and I would want to spare you these. 29I'm telling you, brothers and sisters, that time is short, and from now on for those who are married it may seem as if they are not married, 30and those who weep as if they did not weep, and those that celebrated as if they had not celebrated, and those that bought as if they did not own, 31and those who are engaged with the world as if it is not fulfilling—for the present world order is passing away.#7:31. In this long sentence Paul indicates that even marriage must be related to contemporary events (“time is short”). Living under persecution, expecting the end of all things, means that even marriage is viewed differently, along with everything else.
32I would prefer you to be free from such worries. A man who is not married pays attention to what is important to the Lord, and how he can please the Lord. 33But a man who is married pays attention to what is important in this world, and how he can please his wife. 34As a result his loyalties are divided. Similarly an unmarried woman or girl pays attention to what is important to the Lord, so she may live a life dedicated both in body and spirit. But a married woman pays attention to what is important in this world, and how she can please her husband. 35I'm telling you this for your benefit. I'm not trying to put a noose around your neck, but to show you the right thing to do so you can serve the Lord without being distracted.
36But if a man thinks he's behaving improperly with the woman he's engaged to, and if he thinks he will give in to his strong sexual desire, and if he thinks he ought to get married, he is not sinning by getting married. 37But if a man stays true to his principles, and there is no obligation to marry, and if he has the power to keep his feelings under control and stay engaged to her, he does well not to marry. 38So the man who marries the woman he's engaged to does well, while the one who does not get married does better.
39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies,#7:39. The word used here means “to fall asleep,” the usual New Testament expression for death. she is free to marry anyone she wants in the Lord.#7:39. Meaning it must be a marriage between two Christians. 40But in my opinion she would be happier if she didn't remarry—and I think I too have the Spirit of God when I say this.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
1 Corinthians 7
7
Teaching on Marriage
1Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage]. 2But because of [the temptation to participate in] sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3The husband must fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife [with good will and kindness], and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have [exclusive] authority over her own body, but the husband shares with her; and likewise the husband does not have [exclusive] authority over his body, but the wife shares with him. 5Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control. 6But I am saying this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all the people were as I am; but each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that.
8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, [that as a practical matter] it is good if they remain [single and entirely devoted to the Lord] #Some scholars believe Paul may have been a widower.as I am. 9But if they do not have [sufficient] self-control, they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10But to the #Couples who are both believers.married [believers] I give instructions—not I, but the Lord—that the wife is not to separate from her husband, 11(but even if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be #In reference to married Christians, Paul teaches that reconciliation is always preferable to separation or divorce and should be actively sought.reconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not leave his wife.
12To the #Christians married to non-believers. It is evident that some of the married couples in Corinth had wed before either of them had become Christians, and subsequently the believing spouses probably wondered whether their marriage was legitimate in the eyes of God.rest I declare—I, not the Lord [since Jesus did not discuss this]—that if any [believing] brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ], and she consents to live with him, he must not leave her. 13And if any [believing] woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not leave him. 14For the unbelieving husband is #The unbeliever is not saved by marriage to a Christian. Each person, whether spouse or child, must make a personal decision to accept and follow Christ to receive salvation and God’s promises.sanctified [that is, he receives the blessings granted] through his [Christian] wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be [ceremonially] #The word used here seems to be borrowed from the language of OT ritual. There were many things that could render a person ceremonially unclean. All these things would disqualify a person from participating in worship, and required cleansing rituals to correct.unclean, but as it is they are holy. 15But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him leave. In such cases the [remaining] brother or sister is not [spiritually or morally] bound. But God has called us to #Probably peace between the spouses, hopefully leading to restoration and salvation (v 16).peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband [by leading him to Christ]? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife [by leading her to Christ]?
17Only, let each one live the life which the Lord has assigned him, and to which God has called him [for each person is unique and is accountable for his choices and conduct, let him walk in this way]. This is the rule I make in all the churches. 18Was anyone at the time of his calling [from God already] circumcised? He is not to #Paul may be speaking figuratively of abandoning all of one’s Jewish heritage and culture; however, there was a procedure in ancient medicine for reversing circumcision.become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called while uncircumcised? #A faction of Jewish Christians (often called “Judaizers”) hounded Paul and insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised.He is not to be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping the commandments of God. 20Each one should remain in the condition in which he was [when he was] called.
21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not worry about that [since your status as a believer is #In practice, even if both a slave and his master became Christians, the slave would remain so unless he were freed (cf Onesimus and Philemon); he could not claim that his freedom in Christ applied to his civil status as a slave. But it would have been wrong for others to treat a slave differently from anyone else in church services.equal to that of a freeborn believer]; but if you are able to gain your freedom, #This essentially is an exception to the rule of v 20.do that. 22For he who was a slave when he was called in the Lord is a freedman of the Lord, likewise he who was free when he was called is a slave of Christ. 23You were bought with a price [a precious price paid by Christ]; do not become slaves to men [but to Christ]. 24Brothers, let each one remain with God in that condition in which he was [when he was] called.
25Now concerning the virgins [of marriageable age] I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26I think then that because of the impending distress [that is, the pressure of the current trouble], it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you #Lit released from a wife.unmarried? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned [in doing so]; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned [in doing so]. Yet those [who marry] will have troubles (special challenges) in this life, and I am trying to spare you that. 29But I say this, believers: the #Paul may be referring to the appointed time of the return of Christ, or he may have been focusing on the briefness of human life, or both of these.time has been shortened, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they did not; 30and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess [anything]; 31and those who use the world [taking advantage of its opportunities], as though they did not make full use of it. For the outward form of this world [its present social and material nature] is passing away.
32But I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33but the married man is concerned about worldly things, how he may please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or the virgin is concerned about the matters of the Lord, how to be holy and set apart both in body and in spirit; but a married woman is concerned about worldly things, how she may please her husband. 35Now I say this for your own benefit; not to restrict you, but to promote what is appropriate and secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.
36But if any man thinks that he is not acting properly and honorably toward his virgin daughter, [#In ancient times marriages were usually arranged by a girl’s father or the head of the family.by not permitting her to marry], if she is #I.e. has reached her child-bearing years.past her youth, and it must be so, let him do as he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry. 37But the man who stands firmly committed in his heart, having no compulsion [to yield to his daughter’s request], and has authority over his own will, and has decided in his own heart to keep his own virgin [daughter from being married], he will do well. 38So then both the father who gives his virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.
39A wife is bound [to her husband by law] as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only [provided that he too is] in the Lord. 40But in my opinion a widow is happier if she stays as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God [in this matter].
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