Read 1 Corinthians 7
Concerning Married Life
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 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. 5 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.6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 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.
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 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 it be so. The brother or the sister 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?
Concerning Change of Status
17 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. 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 person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
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 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. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
Concerning the Unmarried
25 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 a man to remain as he is. 27 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. 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 and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 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 is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong 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 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.
Go Deeper
This chapter builds off of the previous one on the topic of sexual immorality. In this passage, we see Paul putting on his “relationship counselor hat” as he continues to address questions the Corinthians evidently asked him about sex, marriage, divorce, and singleness. While we don’t know exactly what questions the Corinthians submitted to Paul, we know he thought they needed an answer. As we have seen thus far, Paul wants the Corinthians to look through each one of the topics addressed in this chapter through the lens of the gospel. If they’re to be living as spiritually mature followers of Christ, how should their worldview be different than everyone around them?
One major theme Paul drives home in this chapter is the idea of contentment where you are, even though it’s not always easy. First, Paul addresses married couples. The Corinthian church was overrun with all kinds of infidelity and adultery. Paul reminds them of the importance of finding satisfaction in your spouse (and only your spouse) and fleeing temptation that can come in from outside the covenant of marriage. He reminds believers married to nonbelievers that they have a unique opportunity to show Christ to their spouses. Single believers have a unique opportunity to devote themselves fully to the work of the Lord, and to the best of their ability, they should embrace the freedom to serve in that way.
Paul’s acknowledgement here is helpful: sometimes life is complicated, messy, and doesn’t go how you necessarily would have drawn it up. The message to the Corinthians is equally applicable to us today. Wherever you fall on the spectrum that Paul addresses, the goal for us is summed up in verse 19: “Keeping God’s commands is what counts.” Whatever stage of life God has called you to, you’re there for a reason (unless God calls you elsewhere).
Flee temptation, resist sin, extend grace, pursue Jesus, and represent Him in all that you say and do. Live your life marked by the Good News of Jesus because that’s what the world needs from you.
Questions
What sticks out to you about Paul’s own personal experience in this passage?
Which part of this passage felt the most applicable to you? Why?
Where do you sense discontentment in your own life? What can you do today to start finding contentment in each part of your life?
Did You Know?
From this passage we learn that Paul is single, which he considers a gift. Different scholars have different opinions about whether or not he was married previously and widowed or left by his wife after his conversion, so there is no definitive answer on his relational history prior to this season of his life. Either way, Paul sees his singleness as a blessing because he believes it enables him to serve the Lord more effectively.
3 thoughts on “1 Corinthians 7”
Here are some nuggets of truth tucked inside Paul’s response regardless of marital status:
•God calls us to live in peace. v15
•Keeping God’s commands is what counts. v19
•We are responsible to God for our actions. v24
•Marriage is hard and sanctifying. v28
•Time is short & things of this world are temporary. v31
Our culture is not so different from Corinth as immorality is far too common and even infiltrates the church. What we need to remember is that we were bought with a great price, the blood of Jesus, to release us from sin. We now belong to him and whether married or single, we are to devote ourselves to following Christ, where we will find our deepest contentment.
This chapter started off a bit rough for me because I am not married but Paul made sure he spoke about single Christians as well, which stuck with me. It’s a reminder to be content in our singleness for Christ’s kingdom. I believe there are unique opportunities in that space where we can share the gospel and impact the world around us. Just as singleness was a gift to Paul, I want to view it that way in my life.
In verses 32 & 34, Paul mentions that the unmarried are more focused on pleasing God than the world. I pray that is true for me and the single Christians here in Waco.
Taking scripture and learning what is in it for your walk. What can I do for You God today? Maybe someone in your life is struggling with their marriage and here are words of encouragement vs 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. Vs 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.. God has a plan, it is very difficult to “be still and know that He is God” Psalm 46:10. Listen, hear, obey, not my light but Yours God so shine.
God I am thankful for my marriage and the growth we have been in together. God thank You for continuing to do a work in both of us to Your glory. Thank You for listening ears to hear You and then obedience to go and do what You have called me to do in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!