1 Corinthians 7 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

1 Corinthians 7

Principles for Marriage

7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.¹ 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you² to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live as You Are Called

17 Only let each person lead the life³ that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant⁴ when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers,⁵ in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

The Unmarried and the Widowed

25 Now concerning⁶ the betrothed,⁷ I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present⁸ distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman⁹ marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed,¹⁰ if his¹¹ passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

[1] 7:6 Or I say this:
[2] 7:15 Some manuscripts us
[3] 7:17 Or each person walk in the way
[4] 7:21 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verses 22 (twice), 23
[5] 7:24 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 29
[6] 7:25 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1
[7] 7:25 Greek virgins
[8] 7:26 Or impending
[9] 7:28 Greek virgin; also verse 34
[10] 7:36 Greek virgin; also verses 37, 38
[11] 7:36 Or her

Commentary

v1: "now for the matters you wrote about"; Paul answers specific issues raised by the Corinthians; purity in marriage (v1-24);

instructions to "virgins" (v25-40);

concerning things offered to idols (ch 8);

concerning spiritual gifts (ch 12-14);

concerning the collection for the saints (16.1-4).

Other issues are raised (ch 9-11. 15), which either were mentioned in the letter, or are deemed important by Paul.

Although Corinth abounded with decadence, impurity and immorality, the Christian could, and can, truly enjoy a happy and fulfilling marriage. We may say that western society is similar, and therefore look to God for strength.

v2: Marriage was created by God and it promotes and preserves purity. Celibacy is not commanded in Scripture, except in the circumstances in Matt 19.12; there celibacy was an option for an individual in his or her devotion to God.

In marriage we must be jealous and exclusive, in contrast to the rampant prostitution. In this chapter Paul addresses various real situations.

v3: Tokens of affection; these include sex, acts of kindness, thoughtful words, unselfish attitudes; to render affection is to demonstrate love for another. Here is mutual responsibility.

v4-5: Mutual respect of belonging; the NIV uses "belong", the RAV, "authority"; Gk EXOUSIAZO, to exercise power; in context this infers consent and agreement. Since sex is to be shared and enjoyed together; with consent there can be a time to refrain from embracing (Eccl 3.5).

The "lack of self control" is perhaps a reference to the normal attitude of the Corinthians, even of Christians; see also v9.

v7: Recognition of a personal calling; Paul was contented in his calling, and that is important. Discontent, and a lack of peace, can create many problems in our lives and ministry.

v10-13: Verses addressed to a Christian married to an unbeliever; do not depart and do not divorce. The underlying command is that the Christian remains faithful.

v14: Blessing upon the unbelieving partner and any children when the Christian partner remains.

v15: The unbeliever, who is not driven by a desire to obey God, may of course depart. The Christian is then free to re-marry.

v16: The testimony of a believing partner, 1 Pet 3.1-2; a faithful and godly life in the home is a powerful testimony, and has doubtless won many for the Lord.

v17: A rule "in all the churches", that each one remain in the calling the Lord has assigned. This implies a personal calling and a personal responsibility and accountability.

v18-19: Human barriers can create problems in the Church; the reference here is to Jews, the circumcised, and Gentiles, the uncircumcised. Others may have been 'initiated' into another religion. Such differences are irrelevant now they are converted. What matters now is keeping God's commandments, rather than following the rules of man, Gal 6.15.

v20: Remain in your calling; be content in the place God has put us. This is important in a society where many seek constant change, and are generally discontent in life.

v21-22: The barrier of class; slave and master. Some jobs are despised by men, and others are highly esteemed. Again such things are irrelevant. Each one can serve God wherever we are.

v23: We have been bought by the Lord (6.19-20 also), and therefore we belong to Him. If we follow the standards and thinking of men we become their slaves.

v24: As in v20, we are to remain in the calling in which we were called. We can blame our circumstances, and thus justify our disobedience, or our unwillingness to be committed; 'If only I were...then I would be more committed.' We are not free to negotiate with God in this way, for we are His slaves, bound to Him, and bound to obey Him.

We must trust God, confident that He knows best. Remain in our calling, and be fruitful.

v25-27: The application to "virgins" is consistent, that they remain in their calling, However, as in v9, it is not wrong to marry, v28.

v29-31: The things of the world are passing away; we must therefore seek to be independent of our circumstances. The godly man has learned to be free of those things around him, for his dependence is upon God.

v32-35: The recognition of the responsibility of marriage; it is only right that a husband please his wife, and the wife her husband. Marriage is for this life only. Such teaching is for our profit, nor our discouragement; the aim is that we serve God without distraction.

v36-38: Self control and personal discipline is recommended; and that must apply in relationships between men and women.

v39-40: Final comments; marriage between Christians is "in the Lord", and our lives must reflect the Lord's character.