Paul

1
Pauls Teaching on Marriageat Corinth

• A Study of 1 Corinthians 7

2
Background

• Paul is answering certain reports / questions
  from the Corinthians (111 51 71,25 81
  121 161)
• Pauls main point on the marriage question is
  that celibacy (like Paul) is preferable in light
  of the distress that is upon us (71, 7-8,
  26-27, 38, 40)
• Paul will make other points on marriage while
  emphasizing his main point on celibacy

3
Backgroundthe distress that is upon us 1
Corinthians 726

• It is good for a man not to touch a woman (v.1)
• Yet I would that all men were even as myself
  (v. 7)
• It is good for them if they abide even as I (v.
  8)
• it is good for a man to be as he is (v. 26)
• Seek not a wife (v. 27)
• giveth her not in marriage shall do better (v.
  38)
• But she is happier if she abide as she is (v.
  40)

4
1 Corinthians 7 Outlined

• Now Concerning Marriage
• 1. Instructions concerning the celibate (vv. 1-9)
• 2. Instructions concerning the married (vv.
  10-24)
• 3. Instructions concerning the virgins (vv.
  25-38)
• 4. Instructions concerning the widows (vv. 39-40)

5
Instructions Concerning the Celibate1
Corinthians 71-9

• 1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote It
  is good for a man not to touch a woman.
•  2 But, because of fornications, let each man
  have his own wife, and let each woman have her
  own husband.
•  3 Let the husband render unto the wife her due
  and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
•  4 The wife hath not power over her own body, but
  the husband and likewise also the husband hath
  not power over his own body, but the wife.
•  5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by
  consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves
  unto prayer, and may be together again, that
  Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.
  
•  6 But this I say by way of concession, not of
  commandment.
•  7 Yet I would that all men were even as I
  myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from
  God, one after this manner, and another after
  that.
•  8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It
  is good for them if they abide even as I.
•  9 But if they have not continency, let them
  marry for it is better to marry than to burn.

6
1 Corinthians 71-9

• Celibacy is encouraged during the present
  distress, but marriage may be necessary (vv. 1-2)
• For those who choose marriage there are sexual
  duties / rights / responsibilities to fulfill
  (vv. 3-5)
• Celibacy during the present distress is
  permitted, but not commanded (v.6)
• Celibacy is encouraged, but both celibacy and
  marriage are a gift from God (v. 7)

7
1 Corinthians 71-9

• Celibacy is encouraged, but marriage may be
  necessary if one lacks self-control and burns
  with sexual desire (vv. 8-9 note that marriage
  is good and God-ordained, Gen. 218-24)

8
Instructions Concerning the Married1 Corinthians
710-16

• 10 But unto the married I give charge, yea not I,
  but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her
  husband
•  11 (but should she depart, let her remain
  unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband)
  and that the husband leave not his wife.
• 12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord If any
  brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is
  content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.
  
•  13 And the woman that hath an unbelieving
  husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let
  her not leave her husband.
•  14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in
  the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified
  in the brother else were your children unclean
  but now are they holy.
•  15 Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him
  depart the brother or the sister is not under
  bondage in such cases but God hath called us in
  peace.
•  16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou
  shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O
  husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

9
1 Corinthians 710-16

• Pauls authority on this subject is the same as
  the Lords (v. 10 note Mt. 532 199 Mk.
  1011-12 Lk. 1618)
• Married couples are to stay together and not
  depart or leave one another (vv. 10-11)
• What to do if Pauls words are not obeyed (v. 11)

10
1 Corinthians 710-16

• Pauls authority on the subject is new revelation
  not given by Jesus (v. 12)
• Married couples where one is an unbeliever must
  stay together (vv. 12-14)
• What to do if Pauls words are not obeyed (v. 15)
• A Christian does not know if the unbelieving
  spouse will become a Christian by staying
  together (v. 16)

11
Gods Calling Encouraged and Illustrated1
Corinthians 717-24

• 17 Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each
  man, as God hath called each, so let him walk.
  And so ordain I in all the churches.
• 18 Was any man called being circumcised? Let him
  not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in
  uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
• 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is
  nothing but the keeping of the commandments of
  God.
• 20 Let each man abide in that calling wherein he
  was called.
• 21 Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not
  for it nay, even if thou canst become free, use
  it rather.
• 22 For he that was called in the Lord being a
  bondservant, is the Lord's freedman likewise he
  that was called being free, is Christ's
  bondservant.
• 23 Ye were bought with a price become not
  bondservants of men.
• 24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called,
  therein abide with God.

12
1 Corinthians 717-24

• Paul illustrates two walks of life (callings)
  wherein a person finds himself when he becomes a
  Christian (vv. 17-23 note called in v. 15 sets
  forth the point)
• Called in circumcision or uncircumcision
  (vv. 18-20 note Gal. 56 615)
• Called in slavery or freedom (vv. 21-23)
• Paul encourages everyone to remain as he is and
  not change his calling (v. 24)

13
Instructions Concerning the Virgins1 Corinthians
725-38

• 25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment
  of the Lord but I give my judgment, as one that
  hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be
  trustworthy.
• 26 I think therefore that this is good by reason
  of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it
  is good for a man to be as he is.
• 27 Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be
  loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a
  wife.
• 28 But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not
  sinned and if a virgin marry, she hath not
  sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the
  flesh and I would spare you.

14
1 Corinthians 725-28

• Paul gives his judgment, not a commandment,
  because celibacy is a matter of personal liberty
  (v. 25 note v. 6)
• Virgins are encouraged to remain single during
  the present distress (v. 26 distress
  persecution?)
• Those who are bound (married) should remain
  that way those who are loosed (unmarried)
  should remain that way (v. 27 note that marriage
  is good, Prov. 1822)

15
1 Corinthians 725-28

• Should an unmarried person or virgin marry, no
  sin is committed (v. 28 note that Paul is not
  forbidding marriage, 1 Tim. 43)
• Marriage will bring tribulation during the
  present distress (v. 28)

16
Instructions Concerning Virgins1 Corinthians
725-38

• 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is
  shortened, that henceforth both those that have
  wives may be as though they had none
•  30 and those that weep, as though they wept not
  and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced
  not and those that buy, as though they possessed
  not
•  31 and those that use the world, as not using it
  to the full for the fashion of this world
  passeth away.
•  32 But I would have you to be free from cares.
  He that is unmarried is careful for the things of
  the Lord, how he may please the Lord
•  33 but he that is married is careful for the
  things of the world, how he may please his wife,
•  34 and is divided. So also the woman that is
  unmarried and the virgin is careful for the
  things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in
  body and in spirit but she that is married is
  careful for the things of the world, how she may
  please her husband.

17
1 Corinthians 729-34

• The present time of distress and tribulation is
  short, but it will affect Christians and they
  should not become attached to a world that is
  passing away (vv. 29-32)
• Celibacy for virgins allows one to be free from
  (marital) cares to focus on serving the Lord
  without division and distraction (vv. 32-35)

18
Instructions Concerning Virgins1 Corinthians
725-38

• 35 And this I say for your own profit not that I
  may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is
  seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord
  without distraction.
• 36 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth
  himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if
  she be past the flower of her age, and if need so
  requireth, let him do what he will he sinneth
  not let them marry.
• 37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart,
  having no necessity, but hath power as touching
  in his own heart, to keep his own virgin
  daughter, shall do well.
• 38 So then both he that giveth his own virgin
  daughter in marriage doeth well and he that
  giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

19
1 Corinthians 735-38

• Celibacy or marriage for virgins may be practiced
  depending upon the needs and commitments of each
  person (vv. 36-37)
• Marriage for virgins is well, but celibacy is
  better during this present distress (v. 38)

20
Instructions Concerning the Widows1 Corinthians
739-40

• 39 A wife is bound for so long time as her
  husband liveth but if the husband be dead, she
  is free to be married to whom she will only in
  the Lord.
•  40 But she is happier if she abide as she is,
  after my judgment and I think that I also have
  the Spirit of God.

21
1 Corinthians 739-40

• A wife is bound by God to her husband in
  marriage for life (v. 39 note that Paul taught
  the same thing in Romans 72-3 and Jesus in
  Matthew 196)
• A widow is free to remarry after her husband is
  dead, but only in the Lord (v. 39 note these
  words modify married, not whom a widow must
  marry in the Lord an in-the-Lord-marriage a
  widow is not required to marry a Christian) see
  Eph. 61

22
1 Corinthians 739-40

• A widow is encouraged to remain celibate at the
  time of this present distress (v. 40 note that
  elsewhere Paul encourages widows to marry, 1 Tim.
  511-14)

23
M-D-R Errors Answered

• Error 1 Corinthians 72 and 79 allows any
  divorced person to be in a marriage.
• Answer 1) Paul is speaking of the man or the
  woman who has a God-given right to marry. 2)
  Pauls statement here must not contradict
  teaching on M-D-R elsewhere in scripture. 3) If
  all divorced persons can be married, who then
  must remain unmarried (v. 11)?

24
M-D-R Errors Answered

• Error 1 Corinthians 710-11 says that it is
  scriptural to get a divorce (but should she
  depart) as long as you dont get remarried.
• Answer 1) Paul said not to depart. 2) Paul was
  giving further instruction if one were to disobey
  the command. 3) Further instruction does not
  cancel the command (Rom. 1118 Gal. 514-15
  Jas. 313-16 1 Jn. 21). 4) Divorce without
  remarriage still violates Matthew 532 and
  Matthew 196.

25
M-D-R Errors Answered

• Error 1 Corinthians 712 says that Paul spoke
  about marriage to unbelievers, not Jesus
  therefore, unbelievers are not under Christs law
  of marriage (Mt. 532 193-9 Mk. 102-12 Lk.
  1618)
• Answer 1) Paul is addressing a topic that Jesus
  did not specifically address. 2) All are under
  Christs law of marriage everyone and
  whosoever (Mt. 532 199 Mk. 1011
  Lk. 1618)

26
M-D-R Errors Answered

• Error 1 Corinthians 715 says that a Christian
  may remarry after being divorced by an
  unbelieving spouse (the so-called Pauline
  privilege)
• Answer 1) Under bondage does not refer to the
  marriage bond (Gr. deo, vv.27,39), but to the
  bond (Gr. douloo) of forced servitude and
  slavery. 2) Nothing is mentioned in the text
  about remarriage.

27
M-D-R Errors Answered

• Error 1 Corinthians 720,24 says that all
  divorced people who have remarried can stay in
  their marriage at the time of their conversion
• Answer 1) The calling that Paul speaks of are
  walks of life that are morally pure in the sight
  of God. 2) Paul is not talking about sinful
  relationships.

28
M-D-R Errors Answered

• Error 1 Corinthians 728 teaches that all
  divorced persons have a right to remarriage.
• Answer 1) Loosed in this verse refers to
  virgins or unmarried (v. 25), not all divorced
  persons. 2). If all divorced persons can remarry,
  it would contradict what Paul wrote in 711 and
  what Jesus said in Mt. 532 199 Mk. 1011-12
  and Lk. 1618