I Corinthians
Chapter
7
1-2~~
Now concerning the things whereof you wrote unto me,
it
is good for a man not kindle a fire in a woman . . . 2~~
because
of fornication.
Let
every man have his own woman
and
let every woman have her own man.
3~~
Let the man render unto the woman due benevolence,
and
likewise also the woman unto the man.
4~~
The woman has not power of her own body,
but
the man {has power over her body}.
And,
likewise also the man has not power of his own body,
but
the woman.
{Note:
This is an expression of love in sex - both need each other for
maximum sexual satisfaction.}
5~~
Do not deprive
from
the ultimate source of yourself {of mental attitude love}
one
to the other
except
it be by mutual agreement for a time
so
that you may give yourselves to prayer.
And
come together again {sexual relations},
that
Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
{Note: The couple must form an agreement . . . don't deprive your significant other of their desire to go to Church, to Bible study, or to pray, etc. Marriage becomes more wonderful in advancing years. And spiritual growth becomes more important as you get older BUT the marriage must not interfere with spiritual growth.}
6-7~~
But I speak this by way of concession
-
I wish you all would do this but you all won't -
and
not by commandment {but it is not a command to do so} - 7~~ for I
desire from my emotions
that
all men were even as I myself
{blessed singleness and more time for the spiritual life} -
but
every man has his specific gift from God
one
after this manner {some to be single}
and
another after that {others to be blessed in marriage}.
8~~
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows
it
is good for them if they abide even as I {stay single}.
9~~
But if they cannot control their libido, let them marry.
For
it is better to marry than to burn {with sexual desire}.
{In
context that follows in 10-11, this is marriage between two believers}
10~~
And unto the married
-
in the past with the result that they remain married -
I
command you {under Paul's authority as an Apostle}
not
I, but the Lord {commands you}
let
not the wife separate from her husband.
11~~
But if she depart, let her remain unmarried
or
be reconciled to her husband.
And,
let not the husband divorce his wife.
{Note: There are only a few reasons why a woman should separate from her husband, but 'separate' here is in the passive voice - which means it is the actions of the husband that cause her to separate i.e. brutality, personal safety, etc.}
{Verses
12-16 concerns 'mixed marriages'}
12~~
But to the rest speak I
NOT
the Lord
{still Paul's commands, Jesus did not speak to the point}.
If
any brother has a wife that believes not
and
she be contented to dwell with him,
DO
NOT divorce her.
13~~
And the woman who has an husband that believes not,
and
if he be contented to dwell with her,
let
her not leave him.
14~~
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified/'set apart to God'
by
the wife,
and
the unbelieving wife is sanctified/'set apart to God'
by
the husband
else
were your children unclean
but
now they are sanctified/'set apart to God'.
{Note: 'Sanctified' means 'set apart-ness'. The whole family can be blessed in time by God because of one believer in the family.}
15~~
But if the unbelieving one departs, let him stay away.
A
brother or a sister is not under bondage
in
such cases {free from the marriage obligations}
but
God has called in the sphere of peace/'inner happiness'.
16~~
For what know you, O wife,
whether
you shall save your husband?
Or
how do you know, O man,
whether
you shall save your wife?
{Note: This is the principal of remaining in 'status quo': principal, then an illustration (in Jerusalem problem was religious ritual problem- must be circumcised to be saved - adding anything to Faith is works), then the principal restated, then another illustration (in Rome was social problem - slavery), and finally the principal again - Verses 17-24.}
17~~
But if - and it is true -
God
has distributed to every one
as
The God has called every one,
so
let him keep on walking.
And
so ordain I in all churches.
{Note: God gives at least one spiritual gift to a believer at the point of salvation then we are commanded to use our own gift (not try to use someone else's gift!).}
18~~
Is any man called being circumcised?
Let
him not become uncircumcised.
Is
any called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
{Note: Jews who were circumcised under the Mosaic Law now are saved and know bible doctrine which says the Jew is no longer under the Mosaic Law and now he does not have to be circumcised and wants to be uncircumcised! Next, Paul is telling the Greeks that circumcism is not important as far as salvation is concerned. It is a ritual of the past and forget it. The illustration here again is to remain in status quo.}
19~~
Circumcision keeps on being nothing.
And
uncircumcision keeps on being nothing.
But
the keeping of the commandments of God {is what is important}.
{Note: Keeping the commandments of God is what is important - 'Walk in the Spirit' (Galatians 5:16).}
{Note: Today, we have similar rituals that do not impress God. Anything you do is works. It is the Filling of the Spirit that is important. Use rebound (I John 1:9) and be filled with the Spirit again - Then when you are in fellowship ALL actions you take are divine works - driving, working, witnessing, prayer, talking, using faith rest, virtually everything! Finally, there is only one ritual Jesus told us to do 'in remembrance of me' - the Eucharist. But even the Eucharist is not 'salvation' - Faith alone in Christ Alone - YOU DO NOTHING but have faith/believe in Christ - an unmeritorious act on your part - 'salvation is a gift of God, not of works' (Ephesians 2:8-9).}
{Next
illustration is about status quo problem in Rome - slaves and freemen}
20~~
Let each one keep on remaining in the circumstances
in
which he was called.
21~~
Were you called while a slave?
Don't
worry about it {remain a slave}.
However,
if you were also given
the
legitimate opportunity to become free . . . take it.
22~~For
he who is called by the Lord,
while
a slave, is the Lord's freeman!
Likewise,
he that is called while free, is the slave of Christ!
23~~
You are bought with a price {The work of Christ on the cross}!
Do
not become what you were not before . . . the servants of men!
{Note: Paul is saying that since slaves were servants of men, don't get into 'human viewpoint'.}
24~~
Brethren, let every one, wherein he is called,
therein
abide from the source of God.
{Note: If you are a slave stay a slave, a wife remain a wife, a soldier remain a soldier, etc. Use your circumstances as your field of service to witness or set an example to unbelievers.}
{Verses
25-38 Single Bliss}
25~~
Now concerning single people
I
have no commandment from the Lord
{Jesus did not cover this point while on earth}.
But
I give my judgment
{idiom - this is an absolute fact - as an apostle it carries the
same weight. The Holy Spirit is directing Paul}
as
one that has obtained mercy {eternal security}
to
be faithful under the direction of the Lord.
26~~
I hold to this conclusion perpetually
therefore
that this {staying single} is good
because
of the present distress . . . I say
that
it is good for a man so to be.
{Note: At this time, Nero's persecution of the Christians was happening. Very hard times for a family man.}
27~~
Are you bound unto a wife? Don't look to get released.
Are
you loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.
28~~
But and if you marry
-
maybe you will, maybe you won't -
you
have not sinned.
And
if a virgin {refers to a single female} marry,
she
has not sinned.
Nevertheless,
such shall have trouble in the flesh {to marry in time of
great pressure will have lots of trouble}.
But
I am trying to spare you {trouble}.
{Principal
of utilized time}
29~~
But this I say, brethren,
the
time is short with the result it is getting shorter.
It
remains, that both they that have wives {and those not married} be
as though they had never had a wife.
{Note: Paul is saying particularly in times of great crisis, time to serve the Lord on the Earth is limited. Marriage is not a time waster, but it is a 'consumer' of time.}
{Illustration
of verse 29 follows: Beware that legitimate living, sorrow,
happiness, and pleasure (buying things), does not interfere with time
for God}
30~~
And they that weep . . . {be} as though they did not weep.
And
they that rejoice . . . {be} as though they did not rejoice.
And
they that buy . . . {be} as though they did not possess.
{Principal
again: utilization of time}
31~~
And they that utilize this world {we all live by 'time'} . . .
{be}
as not abusing it.
For
the fashion of this world passes away
{time keeps on moving until eternity}.
{Verses
32 -35 Advantages of Singleness}
32~~I
constantly wish you to be free from worry.
He
that is unmarried is occupied with the things
that
belong to the Lord,
how
he may please the Lord!
33~~
But he that is married is
occupied
with the things that are of the world . . .
how
he may please his wife {both are legitimate functions}.
34~~
There is a difference also
between
a wife and a virgin {an unmarried woman}.
The
unmarried woman is occupied with the things of the Lord.
That
she may be holy/'set apart to God'
both
in body and in spirit.
But
she that is married is occupied with the things of the world,
how
she may please her husband.
35~~
And this I speak for your own profit . . .
not
that I may put a noose around your neck . . .
but
for that which is face to face with nobility . . .
and
that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
{Verses
36-38 why to or when to leave single status - when this was written,
the father decided who his daughter would marry}
36~~
But if any man {a father}
thinks
that he behaves himself without nobility
toward
his unmarried daughter {translates to 'father won't give his
daughter permission to marry'} . . .
if
she pass the flower of her age {means she is stabilized emotionally
and is not making choices based on libido} . . .
and
it ought to come to pass . . .
let
him do what he will . . . he sins not.
Let
them marry {if she is ready and the father gives his consent, the
father did not sin}.
37~~
Nevertheless he {father} that stands steadfast
in
his heart/'right lobe',
having
no necessity, but has power over his own will,
and
has so decreed in his 'right lobe'/heart
that
he will keep his virgin {daughter} . . . does well.
38~~
So then he that gives her in marriage does well.
But
he that gives her not in marriage does better.
{Note: Protects his daughter from status symbol type wedding etc.}
{Law
of re-marriage}
39~~
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives.
But
if her husband be dead . . .
she
is at liberty to be married to whom she will . . .
only
in the Lord.
{Law
of widowhood}
40~~
But she is happier if she so abide {stay single} . . .
after
my judgment . . .
and
I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
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