1 Corinthians 7
Celibacy and Marriage
1 Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
In the last chapter, Paul taught against sexual sins. Now Paul is going to deal with the issue of marriage. In Acts 26:10, Paul gave his voice to the Sanhedrin. All Sanhedrin members were required to be married. In the Jewish Oral Law called the Mishnah Yebhamoth, in the commentary on Genesis 5:2 it states: “A Jew who has no wife is not a man.” Paul was most likely a widower who never remarried.
2 But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband.
The Corinthian men most likely did not like this message. The Corinthian wife was a housewife who bore children, kept the house, worked like a slave, and sometimes had sexual relations with her husband. Most of the time, the husband would go to the Temple of Aphrodite to fulfill his sexual needs. Paul was elevating the women of the Roman world to an equal partner with men.
3 A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband.
Fornication, adultery, and homosexuality were already condemned by Paul in the last chapter. Now, Paul commanded that men and women were to have equal sexual rights. This was a new-morality to the Roman world.
4 It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife.
The husband was not to run up to the Temple of Aphrodite. He was to have his sex at home with his wife only. Husband and wife were one flesh. Their bodies belong to their spouse. This again was a new-morality to the Roman world.
5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Satan will tempt couples who do not fulfill each other's needs.
6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.
This was not a command, but a guideline to follow in order to keep Satan out of the marriage bed.
7 I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.
Paul was once married when he was a member of the Sanhedrin. There are some people who are called to be single in order to perform service for the Lord. “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb; and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men; and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake …” (Matt. 19:12). The gift from God is a committed spouse.
8 To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.
If possible, unmarried men and women should stay unmarried, so that they can use their time to serve the Lord.
9 But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.
It is better to marry that to burn with passion. Only the most mature Christians can serve God in a single state. If a person burns with passion, then they do not have the gift of celibacy.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): a wife should not divorce a husband
God hates divorce. God commanded husband and wives not to divorce.
11 (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.
There was a problem in Corinth. Many of the husbands or wives had been converted, but their spouses remained loyal to paganism. What were they to do?
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Believing men were not to divorce their pagan wives, if the wife was happy to live with her believing husband.
13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him.
The same command was given to women.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.
The saved spouse that was married would bring spiritual protection, not salvation, to the unsaved spouse and children.
15 But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace.
If he unsaved spouse desired a divorce, then it should be granted. The believing spouse will not be out of fellowship with God.
16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?
One of the reasons that the believer should stay married is because of the possibility of salvation for the spouse and children. This should be the goal of the believing spouse.
The Circumstances of Your Calling
17 Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches.
After a spouse becomes a believer, then they are to remain in their same marriage condition.
18 Was anyone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.
If a circumcised Israelite was converted, then they should not attempt to become an uncircumcised Gentile. If an uncircumcised Gentile was converted, then they should not attempt to become a circumcised Jew. Circumcision was a covenant for the Jews only, because the Abrahamic Covenant was still in effect. Therefore, circumcision is still in effect today for Jews, although circumcision has nothing to do with salvation.
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
The point is that study and obedience to the Word of God are more important than circumcision.
20 Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called.
If one was married at conversion, then they should stay married. If one was unmarried at conversion, then they should stay unmarried, unless passion burns inside of them. If one was a circumcised Jew at conversion, then they should stay a circumcised Jew. If one was an uncircumcised Gentile at conversion, then they should stay an uncircumcised Gentile.
21 Were you called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity.
Fifty percent of the Roman population consisted of slaves. If one was a slave at conversion, then they should remain in that position. If freedom becomes an opportunity, then they should take advantage of it.
22 For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ’s slave.
Every believer who is a slave or free person is actually God's slave, or God's servant. The message of Romans was that Paul voluntarily made himself a bond slave of Jesus Christ. Paul encourages all believers to do the same.
23 You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.
Believers were bought out of the devil's slavery with the blood of Christ. Therefore, believers should make themselves a slave to the One who bought them. They should not remain a slave to the devil and his work.
24 In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God.
When a person is born again, they should stay in that position as long as it honors Christ. If one is into a vocation that dishonors Christ (such as a cocktail waitress, a bartender, etc.), then they should change vocations.
Remaining Unmarried
25 With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.
The Greek word for “people” is παρθένος (parthenos), meaning virgins. The Corinthians asked Paul a question about what should they do with their virgin daughters. Should they marry or stay single? Paul gave his opinion, but his opinion was inspired by the Holy Spirit, so it is divine viewpoint.
26 Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are.
Many of the Corinthians were about to become persecuted and even martyred. Paul warned that it may not be a good time to marry and have children.
27 The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage.
The Corinthians were commanded to stay in their present situation.
28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems.
Paul was not condemning marriage. Corinthians were at liberty to do what they pleased. However, Paul knew the prophetic future and knew of the persecutions to come.
29 And I say this, brothers and sisters, the time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none,
The time was short for the Corinthians. They were about to go through heavy persecution. They needed to put God above marriage.
30 those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions,
When persecutions comes, many will weep. Few will rejoice. Businesses will be ruined.
31 those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.
Believers are in the world, but not of the world. Believers are to use the world for the glory of Christ. The world is quickly passing away. Seventy years of life is just a drop in eternity. Christians need to focus on eternal matters.
32 And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.
An unmarried man does not have to concern himself with his family. He can focus on God completely, especially in the difficult times to come against the Corinthians.
33 But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife,
A married man focused on pleasing his wife. This distracts him from doing God's work.
34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband.
Married couples must divide their attention between God and their spouse. Singles can focus completely on God.
35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.
Couples are to place God over their marriage, or the marriage will not be successful.
36 If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.
In ancient culture, the father dictated to whom his daughter would marry. Paul was telling the father that he can keep his virgin daughter out of marriage if she has the gift of celibacy.
37 But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well.
If the father decided to not allow his daughter to marry, then this was good. Notice that the Father must care for his virgin daughter. Ancient Roman culture was dangerous for women. They needed male protection.
38 So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better.
If the Father allows his virgin daughter to marry, then this is good also. The main question is does the virgin daughter possess the gift of celibacy? If so, she should stay unmarried and serve God completely. If she burns with passion, then she should marry, but serve God first and husband second.
39 A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone in the Lord).
If a husband dies, then the wife was free to remarry.
40 But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is, and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!
Speaking by apostolic authority, Paul advised unmarried women and widows to stay single and serve God completely. However, the women do have freedom to marry or stay single, and either choice is a good choice. There is Christian liberty in marriage.
