20. NOW CONCERNING ... VIRGINITY AND MARRIAGE - 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

 

In this section of 1 Corinthians, Paul returns to issues that were raised with him by the Corinthian church. In particular, the issues raised here were virginity (and singleness) and marriage. How should a Christian view these things?

 

Read 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

 

NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION HERE: What does Paul mean when he says he has no commandment from the Lord?

 

Verse 25: It appears as though the Corinthian church had asked a series of questions in their letter to him on the subject of marriage. One of these questions appears to have been related to virginity and its place in Christianity. It is thought that some Christians in Corinth were reluctant to marry because of the local situation (7:26) and also because of the issues surrounding celibacy (7:1).

Paul’s response is to state that he has no command from the Lord on this issue - again, this doesn’t mean that he speaks in an uninspired manner. What it does mean is that he has no specific command from the ministry of the Lord to point to in this area. However, he does speak as an apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:20,21).

In this verse, Paul passes on to the Corinthian believers that which is his own personal opinion (under inspiration) regarding the question of virginity in Corinth, especially given the current crisis there (7:26).

Verse 26: Though having previously spoken of the advantages and wisdom of being or getting married (7:2,9), in this verse Paul acknowledges the wisdom of remaining unmarried due to the current situation in Corinth. What exactly the current situation was in Corinth is now a subject of speculation. But for the time of that crisis it would have been wise to remain unmarried.

QUESTION: Supposing that the crisis in Corinth was due to persecution, why would it have been wise to remain single?

 

Verse 27: In view of the crisis impacting on the church in Corinth, Paul here gives further advice and teaching. Yet it is important to note that no crisis removes already standing Biblical obligations and principles (such as marriage). It should also be noted that in Paul’s day this would also have included those engaged to be married.

QUESTION: In a time of regional crisis, should a marriage be dissolved so that each partner may be better able to cope with the situation at hand? Explain your answer.

 

What about engaged couples?

 

For those who have been Biblically released from marriage, such as previously seen in this chapter (7:15) and in earlier studies, it would be wise for them to remain unmarried.

Verse 28: That Paul has been giving advice for the present crisis in Corinth and not giving binding commands as regards remaining single is seen from this verse. If a person chooses to marry, whether one released in a Biblical way from a previous marriage or one that is a virgin (yet unmarried), they have not sinned. However, they will have opened themselves up to difficulty and hardship.

QUESTION: What does Paul reveal about himself in this verse?

 

Verse 29: In this verse Paul widens his thoughts to beyond the current crisis in Corinth to include Christians in marriage throughout the ages. In this verse Paul points to a period of time that is short - the period of time known as the last days. He has moved from the current crisis to a consideration of the short period known as the last days. Viewed from this perspective, the present crisis in Corinth is indeed very short.

What does Paul mean when he says that those with wives should be as those that were not? Is he suggesting that believers should neglect their wives and families? From other places in Scripture we know that he cannot mean that. What Paul is doing is pointing to an approach that should mark all believers throughout all ages, that they live with an eternal perspective. In other words, our temporal affairs ought not to have the prime place in our lives - therefore marriage should be viewed in this way also (Col 3:2).

QUESTION: What does this mean in practical terms? Discuss.

 

Verse 30: Paul widens the application of this principle of eternal perspective to all areas of life (2 Tim 2:3,4). As regards weeping, believers should not sorrow as those who have no eternal hope. As regards rejoicing, believers should not rejoice as those who have all things now. As regards commerce, believers should not buy things as though this world is their continuing abode. Indeed, the Christian is a pilgrim on his/her way to a better country.

Verse 31: Again, the emphasis in this verse is upon maintaining an eternal perspective and not to become engrossed in temporal affairs. The reason for this is that the things of this world will come to an end (1 Jn 2:15-17).

QUESTION: How is it possible to misuse the things of this world?

 

Verse 32: In this verse Paul highlights the reason why he says that it is better for a believer to be fully devoted to the Lord without the legitimate distractions of married life - and therefore continue unmarried.

Paul indicates to the entire congregation of Corinth (7:32,35) the reason why a believer should be fully devoted to the Lord in the sense he has been speaking of. The reason is that believers might be free of anxiety and concern regarding the things of the world (Mt 6:33).

The unmarried person is able to more fully devote himself (in a sense) to the Lord than the married person. The single person does not have the legitimate distractions of married life to contend with and is therefore free to give more of his energies to Christ’s service.

Verse 33: The one who is married has a double concern - the Lord and his marriage partner (1 Tim 5:8). Because the married believer has a wife (and maybe a family), he is unable to be as fully devoted (in a sense) to Christ’s service as he might otherwise be.

QUESTIONS: Discuss the issue of a more ‘full devotion to Christ’s service’ by the single believer. Is this a legitimate was to speak? Explain.

 

Verse 34: In this verse Paul deals with the female believer, whereas previously he had dealt with the male believer (7:32,33). He is saying essentially the same thing however. In the same way that a single man is more able to fully devote himself to the Lord, a single woman is more able to fully devote herself to the Lord.

Also, as the married man is legitimately concerned with temporal affairs, so the married woman is also concerned with temporal affairs, for she must care for her family.

QUESTIONS: How does Paul describe devotion to the Lord? What is the nature of this devotion?

 

Verse 35: The reason that Paul was advocating the unmarried state was to present to the Corinthians the advantage of the single state. He wasn’t attempting to restrain their liberty to marry, only to present to them an alternative state that presented many advantages to the believer. The main advantage would be a more full devotion to the Lord, being free from the cares of married life.

Verse 36: This verse includes the difficulty of determining just who ‘if any man’ is. Is it the father of a virgin, or is it the man engaged to a virgin? Perhaps the last phrase of the verse implies the latter? Yet verse 37 perhaps implies the former?

In light of the situation prevalent in Corinth as regards sexual immorality, Paul is concerned at how a man may be behaving toward his girlfriend. If his behaviour is improper as regards sexual purity, the two should marry (7:9).

Verse 37: In this verse Paul reverses the coin and deals with the one who is able to control his sexual desires toward his girlfriend. Given the situation in Corinth (7:26), it is better for this one not to marry.

Verse 38: Apparently there are two ways to translate this passage. It can be done in such a way that it reads as the father giving in marriage (as in the NKJV), or as ‘he who marries.’ Given the context of the passage, the latter translation would seem to be right. With this translation, the verse reads as a reinforcement of Paul’s thoughts given in 7:1,7,8, etc. The verse is basically a summary of what he has said about marriage in the Corinthian situation. Far from being a sin to marry, it is a good thing to do so. Yet in view of the current crisis (7:26) in Corinth, it would be better not to do so.

QUESTION: How should Christians counsel a couple who intend to marry in a time of regional crisis for Christians?

 

Verse 39: In this verse Paul states the general principle regarding the validity of the marriage vows and how long they are binding. Though referring to the wife in this passage, the principle is the same for the husband. As long as the partner lives, the marriage bond remains (Mt 19:6; 1 Cor 7:10; Rom 7:1-3). However, this verse is subject to the principles already outlined in the previous verses (eg mixed marriages, etc.).

In the case of those who’s partner dies, there is freedom to remarry (1 Tim 5:14). However they must only marry believers.

Verse 40: Though the Scriptures allow remarriage, Paul continues to maintain the advantages of remaining unmarried (7:25).

Again it must be said that Paul speaks as one under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What he has written in this passage must be seen in this light. Even here, where Paul is giving his opinion, it must be seen in this light.

 

Individual Discovery

Does Paul maintain a position that can be described as ‘anti-knowledge?’ Explain why you have answered the way you have.

All Bible Studies by the webmaster may be freely copied, printed and distributed. We ask only that the site name and homepage URL be included in all copies distributed. This Bible Study is by Kevin Matthews. Thankyou.

To assist in the study of 1 Corinthians Aussie Outpost is developing The Outpost Study Bible and other Bible Study Aids. Links to these further resources are listed below:

 

Outpost Homepage
CORINTHIANS BIBLE STUDIES
BIBLE STUDIES PAGE
NEXT STUDY IN SERIES
TOP

17/10/2006

AN OUTPOST PRODUCTION