1 Corinthians Commentary. Chapter 7 Part 1 - PRINCIPLES OF A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE

[Dr. Henry, President of the AOCI]

CHAPTER 7 PART 1 – PRINCIPLES OF A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE

INTRODUCTION: The original city of Corinth was destroyed by the Romans in approximately 146 B.C. and rebuilt in 44 B.C. Julius Caesar rebuilt Corinth as a Roman colony for freed slaves (mostly Syrians, Egyptians and Jewish). Though Latin was the official language, Greek was the language & culture of the people. Corinth was the capital of Achaia with possibly 250,000 citizens plus another 400,000 slaves. It was the host city for sailors & travelers coming for business and pleasure. Corinth was a thriving city much like any modern city in the U.S. They were proud of their culture & intellectually arrogant. The isthmian games were a game of public speaking (also called rhetoric). This was one of the most important games in Corinth beside the annual Olympic games held at nearby Athens. The ability to speak intellectually, persuasively, and dramatically was highly valued in Roman society. Paul spoke in the simplicity of the Cross and in the demonstration of the Spirit. This section covers questions the Corinthians wrote to Paul about regarding marriage and liberty. The Corinthians needed help in the area of marriage due to the moral corruption of the culture which tolerated fornication, adultery, homosexuality, polygamy, and concubines. This chapter demonstrates that Paul had a high view of marriage. Some had the notion that because of all the sexual sin and marital confusion, it would be better to be single and you could be more spiritual by being celibate but we will see that Paul in no way teaches that marriage is wrong or inferior. Paul supports the biblical view of marriage with other passages in scripture: Heb. 13:4 says marriage should be honored by all. 1 Tim. 4:2-3 says that among things taught by demons is forbidding to marry. Paul also compares the relationship of Christ and the church to the marriage relationship in Eph. 5:22-33. The Corinthians were influenced by Greek ideas about the body being something unworthy. They took a negative view of the body, considering the body a prison for the soul so they thought that anything done in the body did not effect their soul. Some of them were teaching that married couples should not have intercourse which made them more spiritual.

Vs 1 Paul is not saying that it is good for a Christian not to be married he is simply saying that it is good to be single (not married and sexually pure). Paul understood that our natural sexual inclination can be aroused even with a simple touch. The Apostle here is giving instruction on maintaining sexual purity in a perverse society. In addition since they were living in difficult times Paul is anticipating persecution made more difficult because of marriage (see verse 26).
Vs 2 Paul gives an alternative to sexual immorality and knows that sex is something to be enjoyed within the confines of marriage ONLY. Notice that Paul says one marriage partner is the only number of permissible people within the Christian marriage. Paul is not reducing marriage to simply sexual intercourse but is merely addressing the pressing questions from the Corinthians. This verse also is an argument against asceticism (an approach to living which renounces the comforts of the material world) and marital celibacy
Vs. 3 Married couples are NOT to sexually deprive one another. The husband has the primary responsibility to seek to satisfy his wife sexually. The wife also should respond to her husband since she is obligated and so both should have a mutual agreement. Wives are not to withhold relations based on the husbands behavior. Each person within the marriage should be concerned about satisfying each other with this God given gift of intimacy.
Vs. 4 This scripture points to the oneness within the marriage. The two shall be one flesh. This means that when the husband wants his wife to fulfill his desire, she should consent, likewise also for the wife. Since both couples do not own their own bodies, then they should be willing to give of themselves freely to the other mate. When the wife asks for time, then the husband must give of himself also. Likewise, when the wife wants to spend some time with her husband, the husband should give priority to his wife. This is one of the ways the husband gives of himself to his wife.
Vs. 5-6 Sexual abstinence in marriage should not be the norm. The only exception is when both partners agree. Paul is saying that sexual abstinence during prayer is permissible but not obligatory. Sexual abstinence is a decision that BOTH PARTNERS MAKE IN AGREEMENT. Sexual abstinence is not necessary for a time of prayer but merely a suggestion by Paul.
VS. 7-9 Because Paul cast his vote for the martyrdom of Stephen and others (Acts 26:10) which required its members in the Sanhedrin to be married many believe that Paul was once married and his wife died. Others believe that Paul was not a member of the Sanhedrin but only voted in the local synagogue law courts. Paul suggested that he wished everyone was like him single but realized that not everybody could live this type of lifestyle. Paul had the gift of celibacy. Paul does not say that a person should marry for sex alone as this would be contrary to the scriptures. It is better to marry than to burn with lust in order to avoid sexual sin.
Vs. 10 Paul recognizes wives were divorcing their husbands for any reason so he puts a restriction on them. Paul is speaking to marriages here and is supporting what Jesus commands (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:2-8). Remember that the Jewish husband was the only one who could initiate a divorce but it was not so for the Greeks and the Romans. This is the reason Jesus made the comments about a woman who divorces for any reason and so Christ wanted to make it harder to divorce so as to prevents people from divorcing for any petty reason.
Vs. 11 God intended marriage to be forever and so Paul puts two restrictions on the woman who divorces her husband for minor reasons: 1) Remain Unmarried 2) Be reconciled to their husband. Many Christians make this a hard rule but it was intended for those Christians who just wanted to divorce without a JUST CAUSE. Remember, that in verse 6 Paul says that this is NOT A COMMANDMENT BUT A STRONG SUGGESTION.
Vs. 12-13 When Paul says that “I, not the Lord” it DOES NOT mean that Paul is just giving us his opinion but that Jesus did not teach about this situation in the Gospels since their was no sayings by Christ to refer to. The word Paul has for Christians is no less inspired by the Holy Spirit as are the Gospels. Paul goes on to instruct married couples not to divorce. In fact, if a Christian husband is married to a non-Christian Wife and she wants to continue in the relationship, the Christian man should allow the marriage to continue and not file for divorce. Paul gives the same word to the believing wife married to an unbelieving husband.
Vs. 14 The Christian mate married to a non Christian mate should have sanctifying influence over the relationship. Meaning that it is the Christian mate who must spiritually lead and be an example to the family. Paul dismantles the thought that this type of relationship would be sinful to the extent that the children would be pronounced ceremonially unclean. This sanctifying power does not refer to salvation but to influence and blessing upon the unbelieving spouse and family. The presence of one Christian parent will bring protection to children and many other blessings which include spiritual and physical harm and salvation.
Vs. 15-16 The only way this type of relationship could be broken (dissolve) between a Christian and non Christian couple is for the non Christian spouse to choose to divorce the believing spouse.
Vs. 17-24 Paul concludes with a series of verses that encourages Christians to remain in the state of their marriage even after conversion in terms of marriage vows. He was not saying that spouses in these relationships should not pray and believe only to have faith in God, lead the family by example and to wait on God for any change to occur within that relationship. Jewish believers wanted to change their relationship to the Abrahamic covenant by getting rid of the sign that identified them as Jews. Though the Bible does not support the idea of slavery, Paul wanted the Christians who were slaves to accept their circumstances and realize that the Lord had set them free from sin and thus they are free to serve Christ. This did not mean that they should refuse freedom if it became available only to trust God and to quit trying to change their circumstances by the flesh. All believers should remember the high price paid by Christ so CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT SEEK TO CHANGE THEIR MARITAL OR SOCIAL STATUS BUT RATHER TO SEEK TO DO GOD’S WILL IN WHATEVER SITUATION