• 1 Co.7 introduces the second main division of the Epistle – Paul is not writing a tract on marriage – He is answering questions

• 1 Co.6 refutes a position based on unbridled lust (alwaysalways wrong)

• 1 Co.7 corrects tendencies toward self-denial (generallygenerally lawful)

1 Co. 7:1

• 1, good not to touch a woman does not require celibacy

– Fasting is good – RYR received good instructions

• Neither is required of us

– Paul does not require celibacy, or say it is better than marriage

1 Co. 7:2-5• 2: Marriage w/o fornication always

surpasses celibacy with fornication! Celibacy is not for everyone

• 3-5, paradoxes: – In normalnormal sense, our body is our own– In spiritualspiritual sense, God’s, 6:19-20 – In maritalmarital sense, marriage partner’s, 7:3-5

• One exception(5): with consent… for limited time… for spiritual purpose

1 Co. 7:6-7

• 6, verse 5 is not a command to deprive a mate for a time, even for prayer

– By way of By way of concessionconcession, Paul tells them , Paul tells them they they maymay marry, or they marry, or they maymay “deprive” “deprive” one another w/in limits (v.5), but he does one another w/in limits (v.5), but he does not command itnot command it

• 7, celibacy is for the celibate – Lord’s words in Mt.19:12 may have led

some to favor celibacy

1 Co. 7:8-9, the unmarried

• It is good if they can remain as Paul (unmarried)

– 8 seems to contradict 1 Tim.5:14

• 1 Co.7:26 makes the difference

• 9, better to marrybetter to marry than to burn w. than to burn w. passionpassion (cf. v.5)

– This passage makes no sense if this This passage makes no sense if this marriage is adultery!marriage is adultery!

1 Co.7:10-11, the married• Military term: charge, commandcharge, command (not

advice)– 10, “it is not really my charge, but

Christ’s” (Mt.19:4-6) • Not based on Paul’sPaul’s authority (which

Judaizers might reject) but on Christ’sChrist’s– 10, marriage is permanent! – 11, if she does departif she does depart… does notnot give

permission to divorce • 1 Jn.2:1

• Divorce is serious

1 Co.7:12-15, mixed marriages

• Must a believer stay married to an unbeliever?

• 12-13, Jesus did not address this issue• 13, marriage law not limited to saintsmarriage law not limited to saints• 14, the believerbeliever is not defiled; the

unbelieverunbeliever is sanctified (not saved, v. 16) – The marriage provides an opportunity to

be saved (9:22; 1 Pt.3:1-2) – If the believer leaves . . .

1 Co.7:15• The unbeliever may not agree to live

with a Christian • BondageBondage:: m make a slave of, reduce to ake a slave of, reduce to

bondagebondage– Never used of marriage bond – Verses 27 and 39 areare the marriage

bond

1 Co.7:15 (part 2) • 1 Co.9:19, Paul accommodated himself to

social and personal circumstances of people he tried to teach; but there was a limit: Ac. 13:…44-46

• Tense: never were a slave (in the past) and not in that condition now (present)

• In such casesIn such cases = because of the believer’s = because of the believer’s faith (12-13) faith (12-13)

• IfIf an unbeliever’s desertion diddid give the right to remarry, it would be better to marry an unbeliever than a believer! – (No passage allows remarriage if a believer

deserts)

1 Co.7:16

• 16, one reason for maintaining the marriage is the hope of saving the unbelieving spouse (14)

1 Co.7:17-24• 17, you can serve God where you are

now (even if married to a heathen)

1 Co.7:18-24• 18-20, illustration: circumcisionillustration: circumcision (Ga.5:6;

6:15) • 21-22, illustration: slaveryillustration: slavery. Ep.6:5-8, a

slave can be a Christian; a Christian cannot be a slave (except to the Lord)

– FreedmanFreedman at time of calling • 23, dodo notnot becomebecome slavesslaves ofof menmen (a generalgeneral

prohibition; v.15, a particularparticular example)– The Christian forsook slavery; he must

not sacrifice this relationship for anyone • 24, summary: do not dissolve a perfectly

good marriage to serve God

1 Co.7:25-40, reasons to stay single

• 25, inspired judgment; based on present circumstances

• 26-28, present distresspresent distress – 28, Bound (tense = past act, present

results; marriage bond)• Lord had prohibited divorce

– 28, Loosed = bachelors and widowers – 28, affliction in the flesh

1 Co.7:29-31

• Paraphrase:

– ““Though I do not counsel you to Though I do not counsel you to change your state, I do counsel you change your state, I do counsel you to change your attitude toward all to change your attitude toward all earthly thingsearthly things” ”

• If conditions make it wise to act as if unmarried, the same conditions make it unwise to marry!

1 Co.7:32-38• 32-35, marriage does not prevent

devotion to the Lord, and singleness does not guarantee it

– But: “A man who is a hero in himself “A man who is a hero in himself becomes a coward when he thinks of his becomes a coward when he thinks of his widowed wife and his orphaned children”widowed wife and his orphaned children”

• 36-38 – Fathers arranged marriages for their

children (1 Co.4:15; 2 Co.11:2)

1 Co.7:39-40

• 39-40, permanency of marriage

– Ro.7:1-3 (written soon after 1 Co.)

• Bound by law as long as her Bound by law as long as her husband lives…husband lives…

– To marry a heathen would make loyalty to Christ very difficult

A passage out of context becomes a pretext

1.1. 15, Luther argued that a Christian, 15, Luther argued that a Christian, now divorced by a heathen partner, now divorced by a heathen partner, may remarrymay remarry

– What passage says so?

– Luther believed in the right to do whatever the Scriptures do not expressly forbid

– Some brethren apparently agree!

2. 1 Co.7:17, 20, 24– L. Williams applies this section to L. Williams applies this section to

adulterous relationships of alien adulterous relationships of alien sinners who may become Christians sinners who may become Christians and and staystay asas theythey areare

• Some equate the homosexual’s sinful choices with race that no one can choose

• Wms. and others equate adulterous marriages w. circumcision and slavery!

Dan Billingsley on 1 Co.7• ““No, No, No, 1 Corinthians offers no No, No, No, 1 Corinthians offers no

prohibition for divorce among Christians. prohibition for divorce among Christians. This passage teaches that when a Christian This passage teaches that when a Christian couple is separated and their marriage is in couple is separated and their marriage is in danger of being severed, while they are danger of being severed, while they are attempting ‘reconciliation’ they are not to attempting ‘reconciliation’ they are not to marry others while still married to each marry others while still married to each other… “Paul does not teach one doctrine other… “Paul does not teach one doctrine on marriage, divorce and marriage in 1 on marriage, divorce and marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 and another doctrine in Corinthians 7:10-11 and another doctrine in verses 27-28”verses 27-28”

– 1 Co.7:10-11, 39-40 (Ro.7); Mt.19:4-6

1 Co.7:27-28• Some claim the “bond” prohibits the

married adulterer from leaving his sin

• Olan Hicks: Why destroy a home just Olan Hicks: Why destroy a home just because somebody made a mistake because somebody made a mistake back yonder somewhere?”back yonder somewhere?”

– His solution: Just repent of breaking the covenant and continue in the relationship

Will this work as well for:

• IdolatersIdolaters? – Manufacturers of idols who became

Christians claimed this principle to justify their continuing to earn a living in this way. “Can’t you starve?” (Tertullian)

• Married homosexualsMarried homosexuals?

– 1 Co. 6:9-11

Will it work as well for:

• PolygamistsPolygamists?

– Dan Bell (an elder in Kenya) took this slant on v.24 (let him remain…)

• He kept He kept bothboth wiveswives! !

– Some American brethren who established the church there knew of his polygamy, but let it continue! • Why break up a happy home??Why break up a happy home??

1 Co.7:24 assumes an honorable course

• Otherwise, do as the Ephesians – Ac.19:18-19

• 1 Co.6:9-11