1 Corinthians, Chapter 7
© Copyright 2002 Darroll Evans, all rights
reserved
Paul is responding to a letter from the Corinthians.
His advice was celibacy. Again, Paul was giving advice.
Avoid fornication (Gr. porneias/porneiV)!
The Greek translated fornication is the
source of the English word pornography. It indicates harlotry, fornication,
adultery, and incest. Humans were
created to be sexual. However, sexual intercourse was intended for a man with
his wife. Sexual intercourse was meant
to be an outgrowth of love. But for
many, sexual intercourse has become an exercise in lust.
The social basis for this entire chapter is
mutual respect for those we truly love.
Husbands should fulfill their duties to wives.
That includes sexual, social, economic, and family duties, and covering them
with prayer. Prayer for wives is the
main duty of husbands.
Wives are also to fulfill their duties to
their husbands. Sexually, a wife does
should not deny her husband, unless there are extenuating circumstances. The
husband has the same responsibility!
However, there are some circumstances that
call for sexual denial.
In certain circumstances sexual relations may/must be
halted. Barring those reasons they are to be short periods.
Here, Paul admits that he is giving personal advice
and not God-breathed scriptural commands.
Paul preferred that Christians remain single as he
was. However, he also knew that it would not be the way of most.
To the married, Paul issues a personal message. Again,
it is good advice for a married woman not to leave her husband. There are rules
under which a woman may leave her husband, but they are very limited.
However, if a woman does leave her husband she should
not remarry. Likewise, husbands should not divorce their wives.
Paul restates that his advice is not a
commandment. Paul was wise enough to
know when it was his advice and when it was God’s command.
If a Christian man has non-Christian wife,
and she wants to continue in the marriage, he is not to divorce her.
If a Christian woman has a non-Christian
husband, and he wants to continue in the marriage, she is not to divorce him.
The non-Christian husband or wife is
sanctified through the believing spouse, and their children are made clean in
the eyes of God through the believing spouse.
If the non-believer wants to leave the marriage, the
Christian is under no obligation to remain unevenly yoked with the unbeliever.
Paul says that a Christian is not to leave a
non-Christian marriage partner too soon. Such should be undertaken with prayer.
Any decision must be made in the light of
God’s call on the Christian’s life.
Paul was plagued by supposed Christian teachers that
stressed the Levitical law.
Concerning grace, those "teachers"
did not have a clue. And, I must admit that for some time, I was one of those
clueless people.
Ephesians
2:14-16
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle
wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making
peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having
slain the enmity thereby:
The Ten are still the best guidelines we
have, but they are now powerless over Christians.
In this age, we have not been called to keep
the Ten Commandments.
We have been called to follow Christ!
Some drag out the law when it is convenient.
If a man comes to Christ as uncircumcised, he
should remain that way.
Circumcision is a response to the Old
Covenant, and aside from that has no spiritual meaning.
Paul says that all that matters is the
keeping of God’s commandments.
But does he mean the Ten?
Romans
8:14 For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The sons of God are led by the Spirit of God!
Romans
3:31 Do we then make void the law through
faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
We are not under the Law, instead we
establish the law by our faith in Christ Jesus.
As unbelievers, the law was our schoolmaster
pointing to Christ.
Galatians
3:24 Wherefore the law was our
schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The Ten are used to point out our sins.
I John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law.
This section is controversial. If a man comes to
Christ as a servant (Gr. doulos-douloV), a
slave---he is to remain a slave.
It is Christ, not our social position that
makes us truly free.
That does not mean that if we come to Christ
destitute we are to remain destitute.
Promotion is not the goal. Living in Christ
is the goal.
If you are a Christian---you have been bought with a
price. You are Christ’s purchased possession (Ephesians 1:14).
Since we are His, we are not to become
servants (slaves) to men.
Psalm 75:6-7
6 For promotion [raising up] cometh neither from the east, nor from the
west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. (KJV)
A hundred years ago, who would have thought
that the most important political advisor to the President would be an
African-American woman? And yet, God raised Candeliza Rice to that position.
Again, Paul gives his advice. "Now
concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord."
Considering the social and religious turmoil
of his day, he advises against changing marital status.
Paul says, if you are married---stay that way, and if
you are single---stay that way!
Being single was preferable to Paul, but marriage was
not all that bad.
The Greek word translated "trouble"
and the phrase "trouble in the flesh" indicate that the problems will
come from outside sources and not from within the marriage.
"The time is short." may also be translated,
"the time has been compressed."
"As though they had none" is not
license for married persons to take their marriage lightly. It is a realization
that all relations we have during this life are transient.
Such limited relationships will not be
"normal" in the life to come.
Friendship does not describe what we will
experience in the world to come.
Paul wanted his readers to be free from negative
concerns so they could concentrate of Christ. Married folks are concerned
with the welfare of their mates.
In Verses 33-34, we find another clue to
Paul’s advice. If a Pastor’s wife is not fully sold out to Christ, it will
cause problems within the congregation.
We must never let "the things of the
world" hamper our service to God.
35 And this I speak for your own profit;
not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye
may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin,
if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he
will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
Paul’s advice was given for the benefit of
his readers.
His advice was not meant to restrain on them,
but to promote service to Christ.
"Uncomely" means improperly. Some
fathers act improperly toward their daughters. Remember, this letter was
written to call attention to illicit sex, including incest.
Those that are firmly committed to Christ have power
over their own will.
Fathers are called upon to be fathers.
Although Paul preferred celibacy, his
attitude was that they should follow their hearts in this matter. That is good
advice.
The law, and marriage covenant, binds a wife as long
as her husband lives. But, a Christian
woman must remember that if she marries a non-believer---she is marrying a man
that is already dead in trespasses and sins.
It is Paul’s opinion that if a Christian woman’s
husband dies (believer or non-believer), she is better off remaining
"single again."