1 Cor 7 – Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 1 Cor 7:1-7

1 Now for the matters you wrote about: ‘It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’ 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfil his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

A. Find Out:

1. What subject does Paul now move on to and why? v.1a
2. What suggestion does he make but how temper it? v.1b,2
3. What does he teach and why, about marital relationships? v.3,4
4. What guidelines does he give for abstinence? v.5
5. How does he frame this? v.6
6. What does he concede? v.7

B. Think:

1. What had caused Paul to write on this subject?
2. What encouragement does he give for singles?
3. What directions does he give for married couples?

C. Comment:

The Corinthians had obviously written to Paul with some queries and one of them had clearly been about marriage and sexual relationships. Perhaps, because Corinth was known for its sexual immorality, they had asked how to encourage chastity in their youth.

Paul will expand on this later in the chapter but for now he simply says the state of singleness is good. Some of us need to rest in that. But then he acknowledges that they lived in a climate of sexuality and to remain pure in that was difficult. OK, he says, in the light of that find yourself a partner and express your sexuality within the marriage context, that’s fine. However, having got married, he goes on, remember that in that relationship you belong to each other and you have a duty to each other to bless the other’s body with your body. For those who would say that Paul was a sexual killjoy these verses come in direct contradiction to that assertion.

Paul teaches that sexual activity is good and right within the marriage context and that both partners should seek to be a blessing to the other through their sexual activity together. His teaching is very practical: hold off in times of prayer and fasting, by all means, but don’t abstain any longer otherwise Satan will tempt you on that front.

D. Application:

1. God gave sex for mutual enjoyment in the marriage.
2. As well as for personal pleasure it is to bless my partner.

Passage: 1 Cor 7:8-14

8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: it is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): a wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

A. Find Out:

1. What counsel does Paul give to singles? v.8
2. Yet what wise counsel does he give as a concession? v.9
3. What command does he pass on to married Christians? v.10
4. What concession does he allow & with what limitation? v.11
5. What counsel does he bring to “mixed” marriages? v.12,13
6. What further does he say about those situations? v.14

B. Think:

1. What is the counsel to singles that Paul gives?
2. What is the command to married Christians?
3. What is the counsel to Christians with non-Christian partners?

C. Comment:

Paul first reiterates what he said in v.1 and what he will yet say again with explanation: if you’re single, be at rest in it, yet if you have strong passions then by all means get married, that’s the place for them.

But now comes some of his strongest words which modern Christian society in the West in particular needs to hear, and it comes as a command from the Lord: don’t separate if you are a Christian married to a Christian, but if you have to, don’t take it to divorce. So serious is this subject that we have expanded these comments in a special note that follows. These were instructions for a Christian married to a Christian.

Next, he speaks to those who are Christians married to non-Christians. Don’t use your different outlooks as an excuse to separate and divorce. If your unsaved partner is willing to live with you now that you have become a Christian, then you live with them. Paul’s thinking on this is interesting: the unsaved partner is sanctified by the saved partner! Does that mean they are saved? No, but it does mean they are specially set apart for God’s attention because of you and the way is open for God to reach them through you, and the same is true of unsaved children. You, the Christian, create a holy environment for them, so in a sense they are also holy, and open to God in a special way.

D. Application:

1. Marriage is not something to be lightly put aside.
2. You may be a channel to bless your unsaved partner.

Passage: 1 Cor 7:15-24

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you – although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

A. Find Out:

1. What does Paul now say about living with an unbeliever? v.15,16
2. What general guideline does he lay down? v.17,20,24
3. What first example does he give? v.18
4. What is important? v.19
5. What second example does he give? v.21
6. What were the principles behind that? v.22,23

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise what Paul says about being married to a non  Christian?
2. How would you summarise the main teaching of this passage?

C. Comment:

Paul has just been speaking to those who have an unbelieving partner saying they should not separate from them, but now he acknowledges that it may be the unbelieving partner who wants to leave and if that is so then the believer is simply to rest in that. The context seems to indicate that the reason the unbeliever would leave is that they find their live incompatible with the Christian faith and would basically run because of that. Paul’s advice is (by implication) hope and pray for your unsaved partner but if they leave and you cannot do anything to stop them, then simply rest in that.

In fact the thrust of all that Paul says in this passage is “rest in the position you find yourself”. He goes on to develop that teaching using the example of circumcision and slavery, both common problems for the early church. Many circumcised Jews were being saved. Fine, says Paul, rest in that, but if you are an uncircumcised Gentile, rest in that as well. Neither state has influence on being a Christian. Some people were slaves. Fine, says Paul, rest in that; receive your freedom if you can, but otherwise just rest in being a slave. You are free before God, and indeed a slave of God’s so don’t worry about being a slave of man. Be content in the position you had when God called you.

D. Application:

1. Are we at rest in the place where we are, with God’s grace available?
2. Commit your future to God and let Him change it if He wants to.

Passage: 1 Cor 7:25-31

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

A. Find Out:

1. On what basis does Paul speak? v.25
2. What has he in mind when he gives his advice? v.26,27
3. What does he say he wants them to avoid? v.28
4. How does he view things? v.29a,31b
5. How does he say that should affect outlook? v.29b-31a

B. Think:

1. What is in the back of Paul’s mind as he gives this advice?
2. How would you summarise his advice?
3. How is this seen not to be a command from God?

C. Comment:

There are times when the circumstances of history require unusual advice, and it is advice and not divine commands that Paul brings at this point. We are not told what “the present crisis” is that Paul refers to but we may simply summarise it as circumstances that indicate circumspect and wise behaviour is called for. Paul has already mentioned it twice (v.1,8) and then expanded on it in the passage we considered yesterday: stay as you are. But we must note that that is not a general teaching; it was specific to the historic circumstances prevailing at that moment there. There had been persecution there (Acts 18:12 -) and it may be that there were indications that further harsh persecutions against the Christians were coming.

So it is that Paul continues to bring this same counsel: stay as you are in whatever state you’re in (by implication) until these times are past. Get focused, he says, don’t get dragged down by affairs of life, marrying, burying, celebrating, acquiring possessions, filling your life with personal pleasure and self-concerns. Changes are coming so that these things will be seen as unimportant. While our circumstances may not be the same, we too need to ensure that our central focus is on Jesus and his kingdom. All the other things are all right, but they are passing and are not of enduring value. Do we wrongly give them that?

D. Application:

1. Are we aware of the changing times? Does that focus our faith?
2. Do we make Jesus’ will our top priority?

Passage: 1 Cor 7:32-40

32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs – how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world – how he can please his wife – 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world – how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honourably towards the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin – this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.]

39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is – and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

A. Find Out:

1. How does Paul contrast a married & unmarried man? v.32,33
2. How does he also contrast a virgin & a married woman? v.34
3. What is his overall aim? v.35
4. How does he contrast two men next? v.36,37
5. What is his guidance on the permanence of marriage? v.39
6. What is his final conclusion? v.38,40

B. Think:

1. What guidelines does Paul give here about getting married?
2. Yet what does he say about remaining single?
3. How does that go with what we read earlier about that time?

C. Comment:

In what we read yesterday we saw that there were indications that the time about which Paul was writing was one where it was likely that persecution was spreading and if you were married you would have constant worries about the safety of your partner. In today’s reading Paul enlarges that way of thinking to cover more general principles.

He distinguishes, first of all, between the concerns of the married and unmarried persons. The married person is concerned about the needs of their partner; the single person does not have that concern and is, therefore, able to focus solely on the Lord. This is a genuine benefit of being single. Putting the Lord first should be the priority of the Christian whether married or single, but it is often easier for the single person. It is for that reason that Paul urges caution before rushing into marriage (but for benefits of marriage see Eccles 4:9-12).

Yet in all this Paul is not laying down hard and fast rules, he is just giving simple wise counsel to his readers of that day, the principles of which may still apply to us today. But, he says, if you feel you ought to get married, go for it! But remember, marriage is for a lifetime, not just for a short while.

D. Application:

1. Our first priority is always to be the Lord and His will for us.
2. That will may be to remain single with all those advantages, or to marry,  with other advantages. Is it His choice?