Greetings!
Here’s a summary of the Bible study on March 2.
Married or Unmarried? (Part 1) (1 Corinthians 7:1-24)
When I became a follower of Jesus around age 30, I was still single. As time went on, I began to wonder if God wanted me to stay single, so I could serve him with undivided devotion. During that time, I often read and reflected on 1 Corinthians 7. It encouraged me, because the apostle Paul was a single man, and he said it is good to be single. Paul preferred it (7:7-8).
Paul also said it is good to be married, which I later experienced at age 32, when Michele and I were married. It’s clear that Paul had a high view of marriage (e.g. Ephesians 5:22-33), which was instituted by the Creator God as part of his purpose for humankind. While Paul expressed his preference for singleness in this particular letter, he promoted both marriage and singleness.
Background of Passage
When attempting to understand a letter (like 1 Corinthians), it’s important to remember that it usually addresses a particular situation. Paul had received information concerning the Corinthian church from several sources (1:11; 16:17), including a letter from them (7:1).
Apparently, some of the church members were saying Christians should be celibate (that is, they should abstain from sexual relations), even if they were married. In response, Paul explained his teaching concerning celibacy and marriage, with application to their situation.
To the Married (7:1-7)
Paul makes it clear that celibacy within marriage is impracticable and inappropriate (7:2-5). Sexual relations within marriage is proper and expected, and neither husband nor wife should deprive the other. And while Paul prefers the single and celibate life, he certainly does not expect every faithful follower of Christ to be celibate.
To the Unmarried and Widows (7:7-9)
Paul says to the unmarried, “It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do” (7:8). Some Christians (like Paul) choose to be single and celibate, and they are content. Such people have the "gift of celibacy" or “gift of singleness” (7:7). However, most of us don’t have this particular gift. You may be single but you greatly desire to be married. We’ll talk more about this in the next lesson.
To the Married, Concerning Divorce (7:10-11)
To both husbands and wives, Paul basically says, "Do not divorce your spouse." This is a command by the Lord (7:10). Jesus had much to say on the subject of marriage, divorce and remarriage. For example, see the lesson “Divorce, Oaths & Retaliation” under 2024 Studies, Following the King, on the ICF website.
To Those Married to Unbelievers (7:12-16)
Believers should always marry other believers (7:39). However, sometimes either the husband or wife becomes a believer after they are married, or perhaps a Christian marries an unbeliever despite the biblical guidance against it. So many marriage relationships are mixed – that is, one spouse is a believer while the other is an unbeliever.
So what are Paul's instructions to Christians who are married to unbelievers? They are the same as his instructions to Christian couples: “Do not divorce your spouse” (7:12-13).
It can be difficult, but Christians should love (that is, stay committed to) their spouses regardless. In Christ, there is both hope and the spiritual resources to do this. See the book Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage (in the ICF library), which may be helpful to Christians in such situations.
Of course, the unbelieving spouse might abandon the believing spouse. This is very sad, but it can happen. In such cases, the abandoned Christian is not bound (7:15). However, Christians should not be the ones who cause or initiate a divorce, and Christians should not easily give up on the marriage!
Must You Change Your Situation? (7:17-24)
As Paul continues, he states the basic principle that underlies all of chapter 7: In general, remain in the situation you were in when God called you (7:17, 20, 24).
Paul illustrates the principle using circumcision (related to ethnic or religious status) and slavery (related to social status). He says circumcision/uncircumcision is “nothing” (7:19). And he says the slave is “the Lord’s freed person,” and the “free person” is “Christ’s slave” (if they are Christians) (7:22).
Paul is not saying a person can’t change their situation, but they shouldn’t feel change is required to become “more spiritual.” If they are married, they should stay married. If they are married, they should not become celibate. If they are unmarried, they should stay unmarried. (We’ll come back to this in the next lesson.)
As Paul says, there may be good reasons to change one’s situation (7:9, 21), but it does not increase our standing before God. Our standing before God is based on our union with Christ received through faith in him. Whatever our situation, we are called to be faithful to God.
Application to Us Today
Maybe you already see ways this lesson applies to you today. But questions may remain. What else does Paul say about marriage and singleness? Come back for Part 2 and we will find more application for both the married and unmarried.
Your Servant,
Jay