FRAMEWORKS:
1 Corinthians 7
In
this ‘Framework' we use our usual text PLUS comment style to enable
you, as simply as possible, to catch the sense of his writing.
FRAMEWORKS:
1 Corinthians 7: Married Life & Singleness
v.1-6
Concerning Married Life
v.7-9
Concerning Singles etc.
v.10-16
Living with Unsaved Partners
v.17-24
Resting in your Present Circumstances
v.25-40
Mainly Concerning the Unmarried
[Chapter
Synopsis: From
confronting the subject of sexual immorality in the previous chapter,
Paul now speaks about how the right approach to the marriage can
counter those temptations. He deals first with marriages and then
advice for singles, resting in the situation you find yourself
in, and concludes with more wise counsel for singles.]
v.1-6
Concerning Married Life
v.1
(in respect
of the things you wrote and asked about, in the present world
[possibly having in mind the level of persecutions and opposition
that so often prevailed] sex should be avoided except as follows)
Now
for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to
have sexual relations with a woman.”
v.2
(to avoid temptation
to immorality sex should be a natural part of married life)
But
since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual
relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
v.3
(caring for
one another in this respect is a right starting place) The
husband should fulfil his marital duty to his wife, and likewise
the wife to her husband.
v.4
(each partner
should yield to the needs of the other [and it is a two-way street!])
The
wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to
her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority
over his own body but yields it to his wife.
v.5
(only hold back
for special times of prayer otherwise Satan may find you a prey
to his temptations in this area of life) Do
not deprive each other except perhaps 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.
v.6
(this isn't
a command but just wise counsel) I
say this as a concession, not as a command.
[Passage
Synopsis: The
talk about the potential of sexual immorality leads on to wise
counsel about how the loving, caring marriage helps counter such
temptation.]
v.7-11
Concerning Singles
v.7
(I'm on the
ministry trail on my own but I can't expect that of you)
I
wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own
gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
v.8
(if you are
single [in the present climate] it's wise to stay like that)
Now
to the unmarried [Or
widowers] and the widows I say:
It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.
v.9
(but if that
puts a physical strain on you it's better to marry) But
if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is
better to marry than to burn with passion.
[Passage
Synopsis: Remaining
single is a wise option under some circumstances but where emotions
run strong, get married.]
v.10-16
Living with Unsaved Partners
v.10
(but to the
married, as Jesus commanded, you shouldn't separate from one another
[except as a last resort when, for example, violence becomes part
of the relationship]) To
the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife
must not separate from her husband.
v.11
(if you do separate,
seek to avoid divorce and seek reconciliation where you can)
But
if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to
her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
v.12,13
(to others,
in the absence of divine instruction, if you are now a believer
married to a nonbeliever, if they are will, stay with them)
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.
v.14
(in marriage
the believer has a sanctifying effect on the non-believer and
their children [that opens the way for the Lord to move])
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.
v.15
(but if the
unbelieving partner leaves, so be it) But
if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister
is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live
in peace.
v.16
(who knows what
the Lord might be able to do through you, reaching your partner
through you) How
do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how
do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
[
Passage Synopsis: Remaining
single can be wise under some circumstances.]
v.17-24
Resting in your Present Circumstances
v.17
(rest in the
situation God has given you, is the key to happiness) Nevertheless,
each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the
Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is
the rule I lay down in all the churches.
v.18
(don't change
your status if you are a Jew) 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.
v.19
(keeping the
Lord's commands is the starting and finishing point) Circumcision
is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands
is what counts.
v.20
(stay in what
you had when called) Each
person should remain in the situation they were in when God called
them.
v.21
(for example
slaves, rest in it unless you get the opportunity for freedom)
Were
you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although
if you can gain your freedom, do so.
v.22
(bound to Christ
is the important issue) For
the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the
Lord's freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called
is Christ's slave.
v.23
(as you belong
to Christ, see yourself as that only) You
were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
v.24
(rest in where
you are) Brothers
and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain
in the situation they were in when God called them.
[Passage
Synopsis: The
main point Paul is seeking to make is to be at peace in whatever
your circumstances. Thus he has made some general points here
about it yet earlier has given counsel about marrying or separating
as is appropriate. They key is rest in your situation and let
God change it if He sees there is something better for you.]
v.25-40
Mainly Concerning the Unmarried
v.25
(young singles,
I have nothing from God as such) 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.
v.26
(because of
the present world situation [persecutions etc. as noted above]
it's a smart move to remain single) Because
of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain
as he is.
v.27
(however if
you are engaged, go with it, but otherwise rest in your singleness)
Are
you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free
from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.
v.28
(marrying is
not sin, despite what I've said so far, but in the present conditions
marriage will often have difficulties) 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.
v.29-31
(in these days,
hold marriage lightly so if, under persecution you are torn apart
you will be better able to cope with it) What
I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From
now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 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.
v.32
(I want you
to be at peace and for singles it is easier to get on with any
opportunity the Lord puts before you) 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.
v.33,34
(the married
person's concerns are divided in that we have both God and our
partner to please) 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.
v.35
(I'm not wanting
to restrict you, just help you to be available to God) 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.
v.36
(if you're engaged
and your feelings get to strong, get on and get married quickly)
If
anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward
the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong
[Or if she is getting
beyond the usual age for marriage] and
he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not
sinning. They should get married.
v.37
(but if you
determine to remain single, that's fine) 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.
v.38
(so settle in
your own mind what is best for you) So
then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not
marry her does better.
v.39
(stock with
your husband until he dies, then you are free to marry another
rif you wish) 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.
v.40
(I suspect she
may be less open to stress if she remains a widow) In
my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think
that I too have the Spirit of God.
[Passage
Synopsis: The
advice Paul gives (and it is advice and not commands) should be
seen in the light of the days in which they live – days full of
persecution and believers being opposed, which can put marriages
under strain. This is an example, therefore of inspired scripture
that applies to a specific time period rather than having general
application, although there are part of it that can have that
general application.]
Continue
to Chapter 8