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.
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