College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
1 Corinthians 7 - Introduction
Butler's Comments
Chapter Seven
THE PROBLEMS OF SEXUALITY AND MARRIAGE
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
1.
Why should we accept the advice of a bachelor (Paul) on the subject of marriage?
2.
Are the unmarried of 1 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 1 Corinthians 7:32; 1 Corinthians 7:34, those who have never been married?
3.
What does the word separate mean in 1 Corinthians 7:10; 1 Corinthians 7:15?
4.
Since Paul had no command from the Lord concerning the unmarried, are we still bound to obey his opinion? 1 Corinthians 7:25
5.
Since God saw that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18) and created a woman to be his wife, why does Paul say he who refrains from marriage will do better? 1 Corinthians 7:38
APPLICATIONS:
1.
Biblical principles enunciated on the subject of marriage have the authority of God whether spoken by the married or the unmarried counselor.
2.
Marriage is the only God-ordained relationship in which human sexual drives are to find expression and satisfaction.
3.
If you want a happy marriage; do not neglect to afford your spouse all the physical satisfaction desired, along with love and the spiritual aspects of marriage.
4.
The Holy Spirit of God not only approves of, but insists on, proper and regular sexual expression in marriage.
5.
God's word warns that the human sexual drive is exceedingly strong.
6.
God's word warns against remaining unmarried too long.
7.
Anyone married to an unbeliever should go to great extremes to preserve the marriage.
8.
Christians married to non-Christians will at least afford the unbelievers in that household more godliness than they would get where there are no Christians in the family at all.
9.
If divorce comes in the marriages of believers or unbelievers, Christians must be involved in finding and guiding the fallen to the highest possible good for the persons and the society. This will most likely involve remarriage of divorced individuals, both believers and unbelievers.
10.
In imminently distressful times the advice of the Holy Spirit of God, through the wisdom of the apostle Paul, is, do not marry.
11.
Christians may, and must, serve God in whatever circumstances they may find themselves.
12.
Christians are not to insist on changed circumstances in order to serve the Lord.
APPREHENSIONS:
1.
What provoked Paul to write this dissertation on Christian marriage?
2.
Was Paul saying in 1 Corinthians 7:1 that men should never touch women?
3.
Is relaxation from the temptation to illicit sexual expression the only reason men and women should marry?
4.
What spiritual symbolism is to be found in human marriage?
5.
Does the Holy Spirit, through Paul, command sexual regularity within marriage? Why?
6.
Is celibacy a miraculous gift from God? What kind of gift is it? How does one know if he has this gift or not?
7.
Could the unmarried of 1 Corinthians 7:8 be applied to those who had been previously married and then divorced?
8.
Paul emphasizes that the human sexual drive is very strong-how strong?
9.
What should Christians do who are married to unbelievers? What if the unbeliever divorces the believer? May a believer ever divorce a spouse? When? Why?
10.
May a believer, having divorced, or having been divorced, remarry? Under what conditions?
11.
Would a minister of the gospel sin if he solemnized the marriage where one spouse has been previously divorced? Both spouses divorced? One prospective spouse is an unbeliever? Both are unbelievers?
12.
Is divorce an unforgivable sin?
13.
Would enforced celibacy produce the highest spiritual good in lives of individuals or society as a whole?
14.
Should Christians really not try to change their circumstances in order to serve the Lord? What about Christian slaves?
15.
Is the unmarried life preferable for anyone who wants to devote full attention to serving the Lord? For whom is it preferable?
16.
Who should marry in the Lord?
Applebury's Comments
CHAPTER SEVEN
Analysis
A.
Paul now turns his attention to a matter about which the church had written (1 Corinthians 7:1-9).
1.
Their first question was about the advisability of remaining unmarried. It may have been framed like this: Is it better to remain unmarried than to assume the responsibilities of marriage?
2.
The apostle answers the question, recognizing that there are two sides to the problem (1 Corinthians 7:1-6).
a)
He says, It is good for a man not to touch a woman, that is, the unmarried state is commendable (1 Corinthians 7:1). This is not to say that it is superior or to imply that marriage is in any way wrong.
b)
Low moral standards with which they were perfectly familiar and about which he had written in Chapter s five and six form a basis for considering the advisability of marriage (1 Corinthians 7:2-6).
(1)
Because of fornication which reflects the generally low state of morals in Corinth, a man is to have his own wife, and a woman is to have her own husband. This in no way overlooks the very high regard with which he viewed marriage, but it does consider the problem as Christians faced it at Corinth.
(2)
Each man is to have his wife, and each woman her own husband. Thus marriage, in accord with the original plan for the home, was a safeguard against the temptations involved in their society.
(3)
Husband and wife have mutual obligations.
(a)
The husband is to give the wife what is due her.
(b)
The wife is to give the husband what is due him.
(4)
This involves the principle of the right over the body:
(a)
The wife does not have the right over her own body; that belongs to the husband.
(b)
The husband does not have the right over his own body; that belongs to his wife.
(5)
A possible exception to this principle:
(a)
The general practice: Do not defraud one another.
(b)
Exception: By mutual consent for a limited time for a holy purpose such as a season of prayer, they may separate and then be together again.
(c)
The reason for this restriction: That Satan not tempt them because of incontinency.
(d)
This temporary separation is a matter of permission, not commandment.
3.
Returning to the main problem about marriage, the apostle expresses his personal preference, yet recognizes that all are not alike in this matter (1 Corinthians 7:6-7).
a)
I wish that all were as myselfunmarried. This must be understood in the light of the peculiar problem at Corinth and his own self-control which he recognizes is a gift from God, but all do not possess it.
b)
Each one has his own gift from God; Paul's enabled him to withstand temptation in the midst of low moral conditions; another's enabled him to assume the responsibilities of family life in times of distress.
4.
He sums up what he has said in answer to their question; Addressing both those who have never married and widows who may be eligible to remarry he says,
a)
It is good for them to abide unmarried just as he is.
b)
If they lack continency, it is better for them to marry than to suffer uncontrollable desires.
B.
He now turns his attention to those who are already married (1 Corinthians 7:10-24).
1.
The married state is not to be set aside (1 Corinthians 7:10-16).
a)
He gives an order that is in accord with what the Lord had already said (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).
(1)
The wife is not to depart from her husband.
(2)
What to do if she should depart: Remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husbandno suggestion here that God sanctions her being joined to another.
(3)
The same rule is for the husband: He is not to leave his wife.
b)
As an inspired apostle, he gives additional instruction to those who are married (1 Corinthians 7:12-16).
(1)
He considers what must have been a very real problem to thema Christian married to an unbeliever.
(a)
If a brother has an unbeliever for a wifethis is assumed as a real possibilityand she is wiling to live with him, he is not to leave her.
(b)
If a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believerthis also is assumed as a real possibilityshe is not to leave him.
(c)
The reason for this instruction is seen in the fact that the sacredness of the marriage relation is guaranteed in the one who is a believer; otherwise, the children would also be unclean.
(2)
What if the unbeliever should depart? That is also considered as a real possibility. The answer: Let him depart.
(a)
The brother or sister is not under obligation to maintain a home under such conditions.
(b)
God intended that there should be peace in the home.
(3)
After discussing these real possibilities, he returns to his original instruction not to set aside the marriage relationship and presents a great challenge to the believer (1 Corinthians 7:16).
(a)
How do you know whether or not you may save your husband?
(b)
How do you know whether or not you may save your wife?
2.
He sets forth the rule that he follows in all the churches (1 Corinthians 7:17-24).
a)
Whatever one's state may be, as the Lord distributed His gifts and God has extended His call, live in it.
b)
Its application to circumcision.
(1)
Status as to circumcision or uncircumcision is not to be changed.
(2)
The thing that matters is keeping the commandments of God.
c)
Its application to slavery.
(1)
Status as to slavery or freedom not to be changed unless freedom should be possible.
(2)
The principle involved: the slave becomes the Lord's freedman.
(3)
Don-'t become slaves of men.
d)
Let each man abide with God in the state in which he was called.
C.
Paul's judgment as an inspired apostle concerning the unmarried (1 Corinthians 7:25-40).
1.
It is goodhe doesn-'t say that this is the only thing or that it is required or that it is the superior wayfor a man to be as he is (1 Corinthians 7:25-28).
a)
This is not a commandment; it is the advice of one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord to be an apostle and who is trustworthy.
b)
This does not set aside the marriage relationship except in the situation which they were facingthe distress that is upon us.
c)
He advises the married to remain married and the unmarried not to seek a wife.
d)
Marriage, however, is not a sin, but it will be accompanied with distress.
2.
He would have them free from cares involved in marriage (1 Corinthians 7:29-35).
a)
The fashion of the world is changingmarriage according to the divine plan is limited to this life (1 Corinthians 7:28-31).
b)
He would have them free from domestic cares that they might be free to attend to the things of the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:32-34).
c)
He is not forbidding marriage lest by so doing he might cause them to sin (1 Corinthians 7:35).
3.
His advice to fathers concerning their daughters of marriageable age (1 Corinthians 7:36-38).
a)
Marriage is not a sin; if he so determines, let them marry.
b)
It may be better, if he does not give her in marriage.
4.
His advice as one who has the Spirit of God to direct him as to the remarriage of a widow (39-40).
a)
The wife is bound to the husband as long as he lives.
b)
If he is dead, she is free to marry, only in the Lord.
c)
In his opinion, she is happier if she abides as she is.
d)
This he says as one who has the Spirit of Godit is the inspired directive on the subject of marriage.
Text
1 Corinthians 7:1-9. Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. 6 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. 7 Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Questions
1.
How did Paul happen to write on the subject of marriage?
2.
What expression does Paul repeatedly use to show possible connection between topics in this part of the letter?
3.
What are the topics which he discusses?
4.
What may have been the question of the Corinthians that called forth Paul's answer?
5.
What was Paul's answer to their question?
6.
Simply stated, what is meant by the answers?
7.
Is there anything in his answer that could possibly be construed to say that the unmarried state is superior to the married?
8.
What is the background against which Paul advised them to marry?
9.
What can be said of Paul's high regard for marriage?
10.
What are the obligations of each partner in marriage?
11.
What principle given by Paul in the Philippian letter is there that would save many marriages?
12.
To whom does the right over the body of wife or husband belong?
13.
What guiding principle must be observed here?
14.
On what condition and for what purpose does Paul say that there may be separation of husband and wife?
15.
How does the example of Jesus show that there may be times when one needs to be entirely alone with God?
16.
What danger do some people face from Satan?
17.
Why does Paul say, by concession, not commandment?
18.
Why did Paul wish all men were as himself ?
19.
What can we safely conclude about Paul's marital status?
20.
What about his love for the family? How does he show it?
21.
Under what circumstances is it better to marry?
22.
What is the relation of Paul's instruction to what had been said by the Lord?
23.
What did Jesus teach about marriage?
24.
How long is the marriage contract in force?
25.
Why did Moses permit the Jews to divorce their wives?
26.
What can be said about the innocent party in divorce cases?
27.
What principle of interpretation is violated in going to Matthew nineteen rather than First Corinthians seven for instruction about marriage for Christians?
28.
What should Christian people do who find themselves divorced and remarried without knowing what the Word of God said about it?
29.
Should such couples separate?
30.
How does the divorce rate in this country affect the problem of juvenile delinquency?
31.
What rule is given for the one who is married to an unbeliever?
32.
How are we to understand Paul's statement, to the rest say I, not the Lord?
33.
How are we to understand the remark, the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife?
34.
Does this have anything to do with the personal salvation of the unbelieving husband?
35.
What should be the hope of the believer who is married to an unbeliever?
36.
What is meant by not under bondage in such cases?
37.
What rule did Paul give for all the churches to follow?
38.
What bearing does the fact that God called us in peace have on our obligation to preserve the marriage?
39.
What was the Christian slave to do about his situation?
40.
Why did Paul remind them that they had been bought with a price?
41.
Why did Paul say he had no command of the Lord about virgins?
42.
How are we to regard his opinion?
43.
To what distress did Paul refer when he advised the Corinthians to put off getting married?
44.
What had the disciples thought about the kingdom before Pentecost?
45.
What about the view of some that the apostles expected the return of Christ in their lifetime?
46.
What distress did the Corinthians face?
47.
Is it wrong for young people to marry during times of war or depression?
48.
How does Paul's teaching help those who remain unmarried?
49. What did he mean by fashion of this world?
50.
What was the duty of fathers toward unmarried daughters?
51.
For how long is a wife bound to her husband?
52.
Under what conditions did the inspired apostle indicate that she was free to remarry?
For Discussion
1.
How can prayer and Bible study be used to keep the home together?
2.
How can the Christian ideal for the home be best presented to the young people of the church?