I Corinthians 7

For this lesson, we will continue our study of the book of I Corinthians, with Chapter 7

In our study of I Corinthians 6, we concluded with these statements:

(1 Cor 6:15) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! {16} Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." {17} [Use the body for the Lord] But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

(1 Cor 6:18) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Paul was speaking by inspiration. We know that there are sexually transmitted diseases that are very serious, and in some cases fatal. These were vitally important words both physically and spiritually.

1 Cor 6:19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

(1 Cor 3:16-17 NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? {17} If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

So in chapter 6, we learned:

Don’t sue your brethren

Abstain from sexual sins!

The Relationship of men and women continues:

This time Paul discusses marriage.

Paul, a single man, discusses marriage.

(1 Cor 7 NKJV) Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch [to attach oneself to] a woman.

(1 Cor 7:1 NIV) Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.

(1 Cor 7:1 NCV) Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.

{2} Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. {3} Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. {4} The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Again, Paul addresses the issue as a practical, moral approach.

{5} Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. {6} But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.

The difference is whether it is God’s command, or Paul’s instructions. In either case, the recommendation is that both partner’s physical and emotional needs should be met in marriage.

{7} For I wish that all men were even as I myself. [that is, single.] But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

Paul considered being able to live happily unmarried to be a special gift from God.

He goes on to give his judgment.

(1 Cor 7:8) But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; [that is, single] {9} but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

More of Paul’s judgment follows. It is just that. It is Paul’s judgment, not a command of God.

Moving down in the chapter, we find similar thoughts:

(1 Cor 7:24) Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. {25} Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. {26} I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress; that it is good for a man to remain as he is: {27} Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

This is Paul’s judgment: It isn’t God’s commandment! Therefore:

(1 Cor 7:28) But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

(1 Cor 7:28 TLB) But if you men decide to go ahead anyway and get married now, it is all right; and if a girl gets married in times like these, it is no sin. However, marriage will bring extra problems that I wish you didn't have to face right now.

Apparently, Paul is talking about difficult times that they were going through,

and marriage can make things more difficult.

This was not a judgment for all time.

Now back to verse 10:

(1 Cor 7:10) Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.

(1 Cor 7:11) But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

The Case of the Unbelieving Spouse.

Paul’s Judgment:

(1 Cor 7:12) But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. {13} And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. {14} For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

Consider their circumstances: A married person becomes a Christian. What if his or her spouse does not become a Christian? What then?

Harley’s judgment: Paul is saying the marriage is considered a marriage, and the children may be saved by the influence of the one who is a Christian.

(1 Cor 7:15) But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.

What does this verse mean? “Under bondage” to what? That is the critical question. I believe it is the bond of matrimony, but some respectfully disagree. This is something each one must settle in their own mind.

(I Cor 7:16) For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

The answer to the question: You don’t know! You can hope, pray, and work in that direction, but you don’t know. This is an argument for those who want the bondage to be: You must try to stay married. That doesn’t mean you can save them.

(1 Cor 7:17) But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

(1 Cor 7:17 NIV) Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

(1 Cor 7:18) Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. {19} Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. {20} Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

(1 Cor 7:21) Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. {22} For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. {23} You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

(1 Cor 6:20 NKJV) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

1. It is God’s provision for satisfying our sexual desires according to God’s design.

3. We need to do what we can to keep a marriage together, but there is a limit, and we are not bound to keep an unwilling spouse.