YOU WROTE ABOUT. In the first six Chapter s, Paul with specific problems of sin in the group. Now he begins to answer questions which they had written to him. To understand this chapter, you must know that Jewish thought believed marriage to be an obligation, and saw celibacy as a _sin against God._... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BECAUSE. Unless you have the special _gift from God,_ celibacy exposes you to unnecessary temptation, especially if you live in Corinth. Remember: God himself is the _author_ of marriage. "And God the Eternal said: It is not good, that the man is alone; I will create to him a companion-counterpa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EACH SHOULD SATISFY THE OTHER'S NEEDS. God's original marriage-law (see note on 1 Corinthians 7:2) shows that by His decree, husband and wife are to satisfy each other's physical and emotional needs. No Jewish High Priest would ever have imagined the sexual union in marriage to be an unholy thin... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE HUSBAND IS. He is the _master_ of her body; she is the _master_ of his body! This not only forbids adultery, but removes the "need" for it.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT DENY YOURSELVES. "If you believe you should suspend normal marital relations to be able to spend more time in prayer, that is permissible. But make it a short time, and then resume normal relations. Don't expose yourself to unnecessary temptation from the Devil.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT AS AN ORDER. This may mean: (1) what he just said in 1 Corinthians 7:5_ (Johnson):_ (2) what he said in 1 Corinthians 7:2_ (Exp. Grk. Test._); (3) what he now says in 1 Corinthians 7:7_ (MacKnight)._... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTUALLY I WOULD PREFER. There is strong evidence that Paul had at one time been married. Many think he is a widower as he writes this, that he never remarried, and that he is living a celibate life. THE SPECIAL GIFT. There are many different talents and gifts in the messianic community. Paul was un... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW, I SAY THIS. He restates his answer of 1 Corinthians 7:1-2. Considering the present distress (1 Corinthians 7:26), it would be better for the unmarried and the widows to live alone. Celibacy is a moral option.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YOU CANNOT RESTRAIN. Celibacy is not an option for everyone. Compare Matthew 19:11-12 and notes. IT IS BETTER TO MARRY. The unsatisfied desire is a constant source of temptation, and by the rule of 1 Corinthians 7:35, it is better to marry than to burn with passion; however, when marriage is... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE A COMMAND. "From what I have said about preferring all to be unmarried, you must not misunderstand and think it would be best to abandon your marriage partner. The Lord commands that you not do this.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF SHE DOES. Note Paul's emphasis on the woman leaving the man. Christianity had strongly affected the feminine mind (1 Corinthians 11:5-7; 1 Corinthians 14:34-35)_. The Expositor's Greek Testament_ says: "In some cases, not so much incompatibility as ascetic aversion [pseudo-spirituality] (compare... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE OTHERS I SAY. The Lord gave no commands about mixed marriages, yet remember Paul speaks by inspiration. WHO IS AN UNBELIEVER. Often only one of a couple is converted to Christ. It may be the false teacher taught that such a mixed marriage was unholy, and that the Christian ought to escape fro... [ Continue Reading ]
IS MADE ACCEPTABLE. MacKnight says this should be understood in a Jewish sense - things clean and unclean (as Acts 10:14-15). Paul is not talking about salvation here. Remember the false teacher at Corinth was a Jew. Paul says the marriage is _clean_ and the children of such a marriage are _clean._... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWEVER. This is the "Pauline privilege." Note that it only covers the specific condition of an _unbeliever_ deserting the Christian partner. There was and is much controversy about Christianity (compare Matthew 10:34-36), and sometimes the unbelieving partner is so fanatically opposed to Christiani... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW CAN YOU BE SURE? Be kind, gentle, loving, and you may bring your unbelieving wife or husband to Christ. Compare 1 Peter 3:1-2.... [ Continue Reading ]
EACH ONE SHOULD GO ON. The false teacher at Corinth (who was probably one of the Circumcision Party) taught that when you became a Christian, all former moral and political obligations vanished. This caused some wives to abandon their marriages (1 Corinthians 7:10-11), and some men to quit their job... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A CIRCUMCISED MAN. Paul applies the principle of 1 Corinthians 7:17_ to a_ specific case. Circumcision was a _live issue_ (see Acts 15:5-21). If you are already circumcised, don't try to _undo_ it. If you are uncircumcised, stay that way. [It was surgically possible at that time to remove the con... [ Continue Reading ]
MEANS NOTHING, Under the rule of the gospel, these human distinctions have no influence on our salvation. See Galatians 3:28. GOD'S COMMANDMENTS. Not The Law of Moses, but the _law of Christ_! Compare Romans 8:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21; Matthew 7:21-23; and notes on "law" at the end of Romans 3:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY MAN SHOULD REMAIN. "Since the gospel makes no change in your political and social status and obligation, you should remain as you were when you accepted God's call.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE YOU A SLAVE? Perhaps _half_ the people of the first century were slaves, and the economy of the Roman world was based on slave labor. The changed attitudes of Christians removed the "sting" of slavery (and in time set all the slaves free). WELL, NEVER MIND. Paul could not emphasize more strongl... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A SLAVE. "If you must remain a slave, don't be sad about it, because you are really free in Christ!" IN THE SAME WAY. "If you are a free man, don't _look down on_ the brother who is a slave, because you are Christ's slave!... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD BOUGHT YOU FOR A PRICE. Compare Acts 20:28; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. God buys us from our old owner, _sin,_ through the DEATH of his Son! SO DO NOT BECOME MEN'S SLAVES. "Do not let human influence turn you away from service to God, or infringe on the devotion which you owe to your... [ Continue Reading ]
BROTHERS, EACH ONE SHOULD REMAIN. This is the third time he says this (also 1 Corinthians 7:17; 1 Corinthians 7:20). It may be that Christian slaves at Corinth believed they had no responsibility to their Christian owners (as the false teacher probably taught). Read the Letter to Philemon.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW, THE MATTER ABOUT THE UNMARRIED. _Virgin_ is a technical term which can mean _either_ a man or a woman (compare Revelation 14:4 PARTHENOI). 1 Corinthians 7:27 makes this plain. In 1 Corinthians 7:25-35 Paul uses a new point of view to reinforce his instructions of 1 Corinthians 7:8-16. BUT I GIV... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSIDERING THE PRESENT DISTRESS. "It will be much easier to meet the persecutions and miseries of the present distress if we have no wives and children to worry about.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YOU HAVE A WIFE? If you are married, the Lord decrees that you must not abandon her (see notes on 1 Corinthians 7:10-11). ARE YOU UNMARRIED? Either a bachelor or a widower. THEN DON'T LOOK FOR A WIFE. "Considering the present distress." Note 1 Corinthians 7:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YOU DO MARRY. Even though it might be best not to marry at all, under the circumstances, yet it was no sin if you did! BUT I WOULD RATHER SPARE YOU. "I would like to see you avoid the everyday troubles which marriage and family will certainly bring you, during this time of persecution.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME LEFT. Paul may mean: (1) the persecutions which Nero would bring against Christians (in less than ten years); (2) the Jewish Wars (in which armed terrorists would rise against Roman rule) which would end in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.; (3) the shortness of life in... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE FREE FROM WORRY. See 1 Corinthians 7:26. AN UNMARRIED MAN. The unmarried man is responsible only for himself, and can _give himself_ to the Lord's work.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT A MARRIED MAN. This man also is concerned about the Lord's work, but he must take into account his family - how he can please his wife and protect her. [But do not carry this too far. See 1 Corinthians 9:5.]... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO HE IS PULLED. See note on 1 Corinthians 7:26. AN UNMARRIED WOMAN. Either a widow or one who has been abandoned (1 Corinthians 7:15). A VIRGIN. One who has never been married. CONCERNS HERSELF. She is responsible only for herself, and can _give herself_ to the Lord's work. BUT A MARRIED WOMAN.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP YOU. "I am not trying to put restrictions on your right to marry (all the apostles but me are married). But considering the present distress, I am trying to give you the best advice I can." _MacKnight_ says: "... the apostle recommended to both a single state, if they could th... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE CASE OF AN ENGAGED COUPLE. In these next verses, Paul discusses the right to marry. He has strongly defended and recommended celibacy _because of the present distress._ But he does not _forbid_ marriage! He finds no SIN in marriage, and leaves the final decision in each case to the responsibl... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT BEING FORCED TO DO SO. Times would come when some would force celibacy on Christians (see 1 Timothy 4:1-3). HAS FIRMLY MADE UP HIS MIND. He is doing this because he believes it is the best thing for him to do. HIS WILL UNDER COMPLETE CONTROL. See note on 1 Corinthians 7:9. THEN HE DOES WELL... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL DO EVEN BETTER. Both are right and proper: to marry, or not to marry. But _not to marry_ is better _considering the present distress_ (1 Corinthians 7:26).... [ Continue Reading ]
A MARRIED WOMAN. The letter from Corinth must have asked about widows. While her husband lives, she is not free. But, if he dies (or is divorced scripturally, Matthew 19:1-9; or abandons her, 1 Corinthians 7:15), she is free to marry again. BUT IT MUST BE A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE. Not only would the Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE WILL BE HAPPIER. See note on 1 Corinthians 7:26. His answer is based on pragmatic considerations. Under different conditions, he recommends marriage (see 1 Timothy 5:14). I THINK THAT I TOO HAVE GOD'S SPIRIT. He says this in _irony_ to the false teacher who questions his inspiration and apostles... [ Continue Reading ]