1 Cor. Bible Study 1 Cor. 7:10-16

You remember that our last time together that Paul is being pragmatic in his instructions to avoid sexual immorality. There was a looseness in the pagan lifestyle of Corinth that had become normalized and Paul had to reel the people back to a biblical view of marriage and the fact that all sex outside of marriage was sin.

He encouraged both men and women to get married if the urge for intimacy was so great again, to avoid the sin of fornication. Furthermore, we studied healthy counsel that he offers the marriage in understanding our bodies, understanding that our bodies belong to our spouse and theirs to us and he provides counsel as to how to nurture each other in sexuality within the bounds of marriage.

He as well promotes singleness and finds singleness valued as being married. In fact, he shared that when one is single that they can be more free to devote themselves to the things of God and ministry while the married person has taken on new responsibilities related to a spouse and children and rightfully so.

Tonight, we discuss Paul’s advice on keeping your marriage vows. Paula addressees both married and unmarried along with diverse situations within the bounds of marriage. He specifically addresses relationships between believers and unbelievers.

You will remember that Christianity was in its youth and some people that had opportunity to be converted and believe and the possibility that their husbands were off working and had not heard the gospel yet or visa versa. Either party that was corinthianized was loose within the bounds of marriage as we know marriage from a biblical perspective. They had taken on the culture and the culture as a whole was a promiscuous people.

Acts thru Corinthians The Issue of Marriage (7:1–16)

In fact, the Greek culture distorted scriptural teachings on marriage at both ends of the scale. Those who practiced dualism believed that body and spirit were completely separate entities within a person. In their way of thinking, nothing done to the body had a lasting spiritual effect, so why not engage in hedonism and sexual pleasure-seeking? Another philosophy was asceticism, where the practitioner sought to purify his spirit by depriving his body of any pleasure—sexual or otherwise.

In verse 10 that we begin tonight we see a very assertive stance on the part of Paul-”I command.”

“Yet, not I but the Lord. Paul was reiterating the teachings of Jesus Himself in His time here on earth.

Matthew 19:1–10 NKJV

1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. 3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” 10 His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

Mark 10:2–12 NKJV

2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing Him. 3 And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.” 5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” 10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. 11 So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Ill. A man was interviewed on the subject of marriage due to the fact that he had been married 60 plus years and he was asked by the journalist as the motivation was to learn what brings about a great marriage and he asked this question:

Over the course of your marriage of 60 plus years, did you ever contemplate divorce? He said no, but I did contemplate murder.

As we read these two text that we know comes from Genesis,

“But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate.

1. Commitment to the Covenant (1 Cor. 7:10-11)

1 Corinthians 7:10–11 “10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.”

Marriage is looked at in God’s eyes as an unconditional covenant. It’s not a choice, its a covenant.

in the beginning, romance, compatibility, fun. Later, dutiful, demanding, obligatory, and the spark is gone. Did I choose the wrong one?

Once married, you have entered a holy union. There is no more discussion, the decision is made.

A commitment to marriage is to be life long.

Divorce, though allowed by Mosaic law in limited circumstances:

Matthew 19:8 “8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.”

Divorce was never designed or desired by God.

The First Epistle to the Corinthians Preliminary Note on Divorce in Relation to 7:10–11 (but See Also Second Extended Note on Divorce and Remarriage—After 7:16)

More fundamental than these speculations, however, is the contrast between the seriousness of marriage for Jesus and for Paul, and the ease with which divorce and remarriage could occur in the Roman world

Malachi 2:14–16 NKJV

14 Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. 15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. 16 “For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the Lord of hosts. Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.”

A: Respecting God’s Design for Marriage

Reference: Genesis 2:24 – “A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Supporting Idea: God’s design in marriage is that two become “one flesh,” a permanent and sacred union. This perspective helps couples embrace the commitment as part of God’s purpose rather than personal choice alone.

Illustration: Share about how vines intertwine, growing so closely together they can't be separated without damage, symbolizing the oneness in marriage.

B: Pursuing Reconciliation Over Separation

A wife must not “separate” from her husband, and a husband must not “divorce” his wife.

If she separates, she must remain unmarried or reconcile to her husband.

Remaining unmarried is essential for the possibility of reconciliation.

1 Corinthians (2) Principles for Diverse Situations, Both Unmarried and Married (7:8–16)

Women may have raised the question.” Was there a sense of “liberation” among the female members of the church or a pro-celibacy faction that advocated the dissolution of marriages altogether? Were some seeking to escape sexual obligations through divorce? Paul’s insistence that the woman remain unmarried implies that remarriage was a real possibility and seems to argue against such scenarios. Some may have been justifying the dissolution of one marriage only to find another spouse. The key point is that Paul restates the teaching of Jesus regarding divorce.

This area refers to “married” between believers. Section below unbelievers.

Reference: Matthew 19:6 – “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Supporting Idea: Paul’s counsel for reconciliation echoes Jesus’ teaching on not letting man separate what God has joined. If conflict arises, pursuing peace over separation respects God’s desire for unity in marriage.

Question: “How can we prioritize reconciliation and peace when marriage challenges arise?”

2. Counsel for Mixed Marriages (1 Cor. 7:12-14)

Paul has no grounds to demand anything of the unbeliever.

1 Corinthians (2) Principles for Diverse Situations, Both Unmarried and Married (7:8–16)

Apparently situations existed in Corinth where one spouse converted to Christianity and the other remained unevangelized. This circumstance would have raised legitimate theological questions. Should the believer separate from the unbeliever in light of Paul’s injunctions in his previous letter not to associate with the immoral (5:9–10)?

1 Corinthians (2) Principles for Diverse Situations, Both Unmarried and Married (7:8–16)

Was it their Christian duty to dissolve the marriage and seek a believing spouse? Was marriage to a pagan somehow defiling based on the biblical teaching of the one-flesh union (6:16; cf. also Ezra 10:3, 19)?

1 Corinthians 6:15–16 “15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.””

In a mixed marriage, the believer is not to initiate divorce. The decision for the marriage to hold together is hinges on the decision of the pagan unbeliever.

A: Sanctification Through Believing Spouse

1 Corinthians 7:13–14 “13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.”

Sanctification meaning there is no contamination for a believer with an unbeliever. The union is lawful and holy according to God’s established pattern fro marriage.

Sanctifed also refers to the influence of the believer on the unbeliever

Reference: 1 Peter 3:1-2 – Wives are encouraged to win over unbelieving husbands through their conduct.Supporting Idea: Paul teaches that the faith of the believing spouse sanctifies the family, influencing the home for good. This does not guarantee salvation but creates an environment where faith can flourish.

Illustration: Discuss how the consistent, loving actions of a believer can be like a lighthouse that brings light and hope to their spouse and family.

B: The Power of Prayer and Influence

Reference: James 5:16 – “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”Supporting Idea: A believing spouse is encouraged to stay faithful and pray for their unbelieving spouse, trusting that God can work through their testimony and prayer.

Discussion Question: “What are ways a believing spouse can show the love of Christ in marriage without pressuring their unbelieving partner?”

3. Calling in Circumstances (1 Cor. 7:15-16)

1 Corinthians (2) Principles for Diverse Situations, Both Unmarried and Married (7:8–16)

The concepts of “reconciliation” and “peace” represent the heart of the gospel and are essential to decision-making.

A: Peace as God’s Priority

Reference: Romans 12:18 – “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”Supporting Idea: Paul indicates that if an unbelieving spouse leaves, the believer is not bound, as peace is God’s will for us. This calls for a willingness to let go if forced by circumstances, rather than clinging to strife.Example: Relate a story of someone who found peace after a difficult separation when reconciliation wasn’t possible, trusting God’s guidance in their lives.

1 Corinthians 9:22–24 “22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

1 Peter 3:1–6 NKJV

1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

1 Corinthians (2) Principles for Diverse Situations, Both Unmarried and Married (7:8–16)

Paul argues against Christians initiating divorce from unbelievers on the basis of the sanctifying character of marriage and its evangelistic potential

B: Hope for Salvation Through Witness

Reference: 1 Peter 3:15 – “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

Supporting Idea: The believing spouse should live with hope and readiness to share Christ, trusting that their actions could influence their spouse’s journey to faith.

Discussion Question: “How can a believer live out their faith authentically while allowing space for God to work in their spouse’s heart?”