Friday, June 1, 2018

1Corinthians 7:25-40 comments: Paul's opinion or the Lord's command?


7:25 ¶  Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 26  I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. 27  Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28  But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 29  But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30  And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 32  But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35  And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Again, Paul emphasizes his own opinion in this matter and reinforces that it is good not to get married if one can deal with that situation. He lays out his argument for his opinion but again makes it clear that in whatever state you find yourself in when you become a believer stay that way when it comes to marriage. This principle that Paul lays down is not a commandment like don’t leave your spouse because you became a believer and your spouse did not. This praise of celibacy is his opinion, his judgment. For those who think that taking the Bible literally means following every line as if it was issued from Mount Sinai, written in stone, this presents a problem.

Paul’s expectation and hope, as ours should be, was that Christ would return in his lifetime.

Titus 2:11 ¶  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
   
There was no need to make any changes to your life like leave your family or quit your job (unless, of course, you are a Blackjack dealer in a casino or a prostitute.) But, we know from a distance certain facts about history and reality in general.

Psalm 90:4  For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

2Peter 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

We must go about the business of living, marrying, having children, growing old, if we are blessed to do so, and dying all the while expectantly hoping for Christ’s return in our lifetimes.

God gave us the marital bond and has blessed it throughout the Bible.

Genesis 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Matthew 19:5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Mandatory celibacy, requiring that people not marry, is not looked upon favorably, with Paul even calling it a doctrine of devils.

1Timothy 4:1 ¶  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to
abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Taking one passage and making a doctrine of it and not considering all of the Scripture regarding a thing is a dangerous thing to do and the foundation of many cults.  

    7:36 ¶  But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 38  So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that
giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

In this culture a young woman, always assumed to be a virgin, is under the authority of her father until such time as she is married and then she is under the authority of her husband. Paul admits it is not wrong to give one’s daughter in marriage but in his opinion it is better not to do that. The time may be short is the obvious reason.

    7:39 ¶  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 40  But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Finally, Paul acknowledges that a widow is free to marry, in the Lord, an important point.

To do something in the Lord is to do it according to God’s requirements. For instance, in the following verses;

Colossians 3:18  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

…it is right to submit and obey but it would not be right to sin against God by commandment from a husband or a parent. No wife would be expected to permit her husband to beat her to a bloody pulp and no child would be expected to obey a criminal father or mother and rob a bank.

In verse 39 a woman would not be advised to marry someone who was not a believer. Paul will deal with this principle more in 2Corinthians.

2Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

These things are common sense, or so one would think, but I have heard Baptists recommend that a wife tolerate infidelity and physical abuse to avoid sinning by leaving her husband. I have even heard a Baptist woman declare that another Baptist woman whose husband was raping their daughters would be wrong in leaving him. This is a wicked interpretation of the Bible and not in keeping with the character of our Lord and Saviour.

Paul has laid out some basic principles in this chapter. The most important thing to consider here is that leaving your spouse because you became a Christian and they did not is not what God wants from you. In that event, the Lord would have you remain unmarried or be reconciled to your spouse. If, however, your spouse abandons you then you are not under any restriction for remarriage but to a believer. It would be better though if you remained unmarried.

No comments: