Lesson for June 12, 2022
The Book of I Corinthians
Chapter 7:21-40
Verses 21-24
“Were you a slave when you were called? Do not worry about that [since your status as a believer is equal to that of a freeborn believer]; but if you are able to gain your freedom, do that. For he who was a slave when he was called in the Lord is a freedman of the Lord, likewise he who was free when he was called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price [a precious price paid by Christ]; do not become slaves to men [but to Christ]. Brothers, let each one remain with God in that condition in which he was [when he was] called.”
Paul now used an illustration of slavery, which was a common practice in the Roman Empire. Paul, as we know, knew many slaves and during his ministry he led many of them to Christ. Once again, this illustration was designed to teach how a believer in marriage can stay married to an unbelieving partner as a testimony for Christ. Paul was not condoning slavery, but it was a fact of life in the Roman Empire, and the point he made was that a slave who was a believer could have a spiritual life and be an influence while a slave. If a slave, who is a believer, has the opportunity to become a freeman, Paul said to take it. Slave or free, a believer can serve the Lord. Our service to God does not depend on our social status, or marital status.
Verse 24
“Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.”
Paul said that all believers are “slaves” to Christ. So, whether slave or free, circumcised, or uncircumcised, married to a believer or married to an unbeliever, we have been bought with a price and we are to glorify God in all situations. Spiritual freedom is what is important in life, not our circumstances. A believer with accurate doctrine can transcend difficult circumstances by applying doctrine. Circumstance should not be an issue, if we are orienting to the will of God. We are to glorify God regardless of our circumstances! Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Verse 25
“Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.”
Once again, let’s remember the persecution that was going on at the time Paul wrote this and gave his opinion. The word ‘virgins” here simply refers to unmarried women. I have no command of the Lordmeans the subject was covered by Jesus when He was on earth. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this as sound doctrinal advice based on the situation they faced at that time. Paul’s trustworthiness to record it means it is the inspired Word of God. I Peter 1:20-21, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
Verse 26
“I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is.”
At the time that Paul wrote, throughout the entire Roman world, there was great persecution of Christians. So, this refers to the great persecution of Christians primarily by Emperor Nero. And in time of great adversity and persecution, the point was that it is better to be single than it is to be married. The reasoning for remaining single is that it relieved an unmarried believer from the responsibility of protecting a family.
Verse 27
“Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.”
Paul clarified the doctrine by saying if a believer is married, don’t divorce your wife and become single to avoid the responsibility of a family. If, however, you are already divorced, don’t seek to be married. It would be better to remain single in this case.
Verse 28
“But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.”
If you change from single to married, it isn’t wrong. However, the change involves great responsibilities and places a believer at a disadvantage in time of stress. In other words, if a believer married in the time of great pressure in the first century when Christians were being persecuted, they were not only going to have the pressure of Christian persecution, but they were also going to have the pressures of marriage and caring for a family. Paul said he was trying to spare them additional pressure and asking them to consider the situation within the Roman Empire before they sought to get married.
Verses 29-31
“But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.”
These verses are not advocating divorce. The time being shortened refers to the time to serve the Lord because of persecution and the coming fifth cycle of discipline from God upon Israel. So, Paul encouraged married believers to beware that marriage did not hinder their Christian service. Managing one’s time can often be a challenge, but especially at the time this was written. Paul had special responsibilities which could be fulfilled more effectively because he was single.
There is a time for weeping (grieving or mourning a loved one), but do not let it become a distraction to your spiritual life by consuming you. The same goes for rejoicing (happiness over any event) if it takes time away from producing divine good. Buying (accumulating material things) must not be allowed to distract you. Using the world (being consumed with the details of life) must not keep a believer from God’s service. These things are not wrong unless they become distractions to a believer’s spiritual life. The point is that we are all given a certain amount of time and we are to use that time for God’s glory.
Verses 32-35
“But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.”
Paul was saying that he constantly wished these believers were free from any concern about their families. When Paul said married believers are concerned about the things of the world, he was referring to the normal activities of life, not sinful things. Pleasing a wife means doing these normal activities like providing for a family. Therefore, their interests may be divided between their family and God.
Verses 36-38
“But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry. But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.”
These verses must be interpreted based on the Roman persecution that was going on at the time of this writing. The father in the culture of the time had to give his daughter permission to marry, even arranging a marriage for his children. To behave himself unbecomingly is not a reference to possible immorality, but a reference to a father who will not give his single daughter permission to marry because of the persecution of the time. However, if he allows her to get married, he has done nothing wrong. And if the father refuses to let his daughter marry, he has not done wrong. In the circumstances of the time of persecution, the father would do better to keep his daughter single because he would be protecting her.
Verses 39-40
“A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But in my opinion, she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.”
The same principle regarding persecution and distress at the time Paul wrote this still applies. There is no need for a widow to remarry. She is free to marry another believer. She is happier if she remains as she is (unmarried) means she will not be as stressed over family matters during this time of persecution. So, Paul was once again stressing that regardless of your current marital status, continue to serve the Lord.
These verses in no way mean that a believer who is married cannot have a huge impact on others or be engaged in a ministry. Paul was writing to these believers knowing that the stress and persecution was going to intensify. The martial status of believers in no way hinders them from living their spiritual lives even in times of trouble by using the Faith-Rest Technique and the Problem-Solving Devices.