1 Cor 7:1-40

• Paul qualifies his remarks, by telling us what is his opinion versus something that comes directly from God. I don't know of any other place in scripture that we see this, except for Proverbs, which Solomon calls "wise sayings." Maybe also Ecclesiastes, which for the most part is life viewed under the sun
  

  1 Cor 7:1-7 (NIV) Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except 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. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
  

• As we start out this chapter, what has precipitated the discussion here as opposed to the previous chapters?
  
  • Previous chapters were things Paul had heard about
    
  • The rest of the book seems to deal with issues raised by letter from the Corinthians (six times -- "now concerning")
    
  • It is very likely, that rather than asking a question, they were suggesting some point -- i.e., "why can't we?"
    
• What is the real issue or the statement that Paul is replying to?
  
  • He appears to be agreeing with one part and disagreeing with another
    
  • In chapter 6, he dealt with sexual libertines, in chapter 7, he deals with sexual ascetics
    
    • Some seem to be arguing that sex is to be avoided
      
    • Maybe, some of the divisions revolve around sexual liberty versus sexual abstention
      
• So is singleness or marriage better?
  
  • He doesn't actually say, at least in terms of a comparison
    
  • He says "it is good for a man not to marry"
    
  • He says (paraphrase) "because of so much immorality, each man and woman should have a spouse"
    
• Now this whole section is caveated, what is the caveat and what is the implication?
  
  • Paul says that his rules about marriage and sexual abstention (only for a time) are by way of concession and not as command
    
  • So, we need to be careful in using this section of verses to justify marriage doctrine
    
• Also, what does Paul say that singleness and marriage have in common, at least by implication?
  
  • Both are a gift
    

  1 Cor 7:8-16 (NIV) Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
  

  10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
  

  12 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. 13 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. 14 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.
  

  15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
  

• This section also begins with the phrase "pertaining to," suggesting that this was also in the letter
  
• Paul breaks this section up into three groupings, what are the groupings?
  
  • Unmarried and widows
    
  • Married, both believers
    
  • Married, one a believer, one is not a christian
    
• Paul also differentiates the authority of his comments for each group. And let's also list the main instruction to each group
  
  • 
    

Unmarried and widows	"it is good… it is better"	Stay unmarried or marry if burning with passion
Married, both believers	"not I, but the Lord"	Do not separate. If must, remain unmarried or reconciled. No divorce
Married, one a believer, one is not a christian	"I, not the Lord"	If unbeliever willing to stay, do not divorce. If unbeliever leaves, let them. A man or woman is not bound

• Let's discuss the group "married, both believers"
  
  • What did Jesus teach?
    
    • Jesus did say that adultery is a cause for divorce. So this statement is not a complete statement, but either a subset of the total teaching or more likely, the general principle, that is God hates divorce
      
    • There is some controversy regarding our understanding of Jesus' statements in regard to divorce since the were made to a specific question that ran counter to years of Jewish practice. Jewish culture always required the man to provide for, care for, and love his wife. Failure was a grounds for divorce. And because of the fallen nature of man, sin, God (through Moses) allowed divorce in the OT law. The problem is that the Jews re-interpreted Moses statement to mean "no-fault divorce," that is, a man can divorce his wife for any and every reason. This was the accepted but controversial position of the majority of scribes at the time. So when Jesus is asked if a man can divorce his wife for any reason, Jesus is responded to a very specific question of practice, and not to the question of whether there were reasons for divorce. Jesus responds that divorce was never God's intention when he made man and woman, although at that time, there was no sin. And Jesus dismissal of "any and every reason" could also be viewed as a return to the more standard reason for divorce, there had to be a cause. This is a very difficult issue.
      
    • Some argue separation only, on the basis of this verse. One problem with that view, is that the term separation in the Greek is commonly seen as divorce. So Paul does seem to concede that divorce can happen among unbelievers
      
    • I think since it ignores adultery, it must be viewed as the basic principle
      
    • I think there are potentially some other grounds for divorce, such as physical abuse, which clearly fall under the previous Jewish interpretation
      
• Regarding marriage where one is a believer and one is not, what is the "advice?"
  
  • Don't seek divorce
    
  • Stay together, if possible
    
  • You might be able to save your unbelieving spouse
    

  1 Cor 7:17-24 (NIV) Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 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. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you — although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
  

• Interesting, Paul uses the word "called" to describe everyone
  
• What is Paul's basic or general principle
  
  • Stay in the situation you are in
    
• Now we need to understand this principle a little more clearly or I think we can misinterpret it
  
  • First of all, the context refers to what? Marriage and singleness
    
  • Second. Paul adds circumcision -- a key issue in a number of churches where Judaizers were saying that a person needed circumcision
    
  • Thirdly, Paul adds slave -- but what does he really say?
    
    • Don't let it trouble you
      
    • If you can gain your freedom -- do it (which actually violates his basic rule to all the churches, so he is not saying to stay a slave if you can get out of it)
      
    • A slave is a freeman in Christ
      
  • Lastly, he talks to the freeman
    
    • You are Christ's slave (your life has already been bought)
      
    • Don't become a slave
      
• Why might someone become a slave voluntarily?
  
  • To pay off debt
    
  • To purchase something
    
• APPLICATION: As freemen, we all need to be careful in regards to debt, because debt does make you a slave to someone else
  

  1 Cor 7:25-40 (NIV) 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. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27 Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 28 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.
  

  29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30 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; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
  

  32 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. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world — how he can please his wife— 34 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. 35 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.
  

  36 If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 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. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.
  

  39 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. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is — and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
  

• How is this last group different from the other groups?
  
  • One last group that may have been mentioned in their previous letter, and that would be virgins. So there are not just unmarried, but never-married-unmarried
    
• First of all, Paul qualifies the teaching to this group
  
  • He has no command from the Lord
    
  • He gives his judgment
    
• How is it different?
  
  • It is the same, don't change, but it is no sin to change your status
    
  • Essentially his argument is singleness has advantages in regards to serving the lord
    
• What is his reasoning?
  
  • The time is short
    
  • This life is ending -- seems much more true today than in Paul's time, but the point is valid. We should live for eternal things ant temporal things
    
• Implications?
  
  • If you buy something, use it, but don't think it is yours to keep (example of a one car family this last week -- Luke's car went to Sarah; drove 6 hours to deliver it and then 6 hours to get back; yesterday travelled 12 hours to retrieve it. The last part of this month and first part of next, some missionary friends needed to borrow our 2010 van. Result: one car for three drivers. But the cars are not ours anyway.)
    
  • It is okay to use the things of the world, just don't get engrossed in them. Today, that would probably apply to technology, television, software, etc
    
• APPLICATION: The key is that the most important thing is always our relationship to God. Some things necessarily impact that: work, marriage, children; but that does not change their importance. The key is finding the balance and not trading God for the world