1 Corinthians 7
Notes
Transcript
Review
Review
1 Corinthians 6:18–20 “18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
In the 1st century CE, Corinth was notorious for its sexual practices, which were considerably more permissive compared to many other cities in the Roman Empire. Several historical and archaeological sources, along with biblical references, provide insights into the sexual mores of Corinth during this period.
Corinth was a cosmopolitan port city with a reputation for sexual licentiousness. The city was home to the temple of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, which was said to have employed hundreds of sacred prostitutes. This religious practice of sacred or temple prostitution was a significant aspect of the city's sexual culture.
Key characteristics of Corinthian sexual morays included:
1. Widespread Prostitution: Both sacred and secular prostitution were common. The term "to Corinthianize" became synonymous with sexual immorality in the ancient world. Prostitution was not just a marginal activity but a socially integrated practice, particularly associated with the city's maritime and commercial character.
2. Sexual Freedom: Social norms were relatively relaxed compared to more conservative societies. Sexual encounters outside of marriage were more tolerated, especially for men. Wealthy men often had female slaves who were sexually available, and extramarital affairs were not uncommon.
3. Cult Prostitution: The temple of Aphrodite reportedly employed a large number of sacred prostitutes. These individuals were part of religious practices that integrated sexuality with worship, a concept quite different from modern religious understanding.
4. Social Stratification of Sexual Practices: Sexual behaviors were heavily influenced by social class. Elite men had more sexual freedom and fewer social consequences for their sexual activities compared to women and lower-class individuals.
Average life expectancy of women in the first century was between 20-30 years with 1 in 5 pregnancies being fatal to the woman.
So how do we do it right in this context?
CONCERNING MARRIAGE AND SINGLENESS
CONCERNING MARRIAGE AND SINGLENESS
1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. 7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
Chloe ‘n ‘em came, and also while they were here you sent a letter asking questions about sex, marriage, divorce, idolatry, how men and women are to relate to each other in worship, how the worship service was to be conducted (specifically the Lord’s Supper), about spiritual gifts and how they ought to be used and understood, before coming to the matter of the resurrection. - The answers to these questions will largely make up the rest of Paul’s letter back to them after addressing the things about rumors of sexual immorality and litigation Chloe’s people brought up to Paul
permission not commandment - wisdom not specifically a commandment - that we are not tempted by his flesh; some are gifted with not having the passions of the flesh that can and will lead to sexual immorality if not rightly ordered
Paul apparently had been gifted with not having those desires to the level most people (especially men) have struggled with and wished all people could be that way so they could not struggle with the sins of the flesh
TO THE UNMARRIED AND WIDOWS
TO THE UNMARRIED AND WIDOWS
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
unmarried - used to be in the category that read this as ANY person not married. As I’ve studied this week there is a very compelling case in the context we see it in for this to be what Paul uses for widower
distinct word used for those that have not physically consummated a marriage; virgins as we tend to think about them
interestingly in the context of this verse (and it fits for the context of a rabbi on the way to the top as Paul had been) it would mean Paul was married and his wife had died. not dogmatic at all, not even close
regardless, Paul says if you do struggle with those passions, it’s better to be married than to struggle so greatly you either constantly sin or the fight takes all the energy you should be serving the Lord with
TO THE MARRIED
TO THE MARRIED
10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
Paul’s opinion is still by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20–21 “20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
if at all possible they should reconcile. Don’t look for ways to get out of the marriage but seek to be faithful
TO THE REST
TO THE REST
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
A Christian husband has an unbelieving wife and the Christian wife that has an unbelieving husband - STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND DON’T LEAVE THEM - you’re not doing anything wicked or taking away from your holiness or condemning your kids if you stay married to them - on the contrary
unbelieving is sanctified: not justification but sanctification - set apart - because of the blessings salvation brought to this formerly unbelieving family (going to church, hearing scripture, hearing about Jesus and how He saves) the unbelieving spouse and the children have “surface level” grace applied to them
the marriage before one was saved had no aroma of Jesus at all and maybe the kids never even told about Jesus or church at all
after one was saved, the surface grace was everybody knowing the aroma of Jesus and the testimony of salvation and the giving of the gospel by life as well as words
if the unbelieving leave, let them go
surface level grace is not saving grace so there’s not even a desire to please God
not enslaved - no obligation to a dissolved covenant; the unbelieving has abandoned the believing spouse and the covenant so the covenant had been dissolved by the unbeliever
Only Jesus saves the soul but who knows how the Lord uses how you act and/or how you live to bring the unbelieving to faith in Christ
GROW WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED
GROW WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
Don’t think after the Lord has saved you, doing anything "in addition” makes you more saved or a higher class of Christian
Circumcision (or any other add-on) doesn’t improve your standing or add to the efficacy of Christ on the cross
John 14:15–16 “15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” - It’s not the keeping of the law that saves us. It’s our desire to live like Jesus that is evidence we’re saved
do it if you want or don’t do it but it’s not how you’re saved - your faith in His fulfillment of the law and prophets and His dying on the cross for our sins is the only way we’re saved
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
servant = slave; Paul gives the example of a slave being saved and rather than wanting to be something else, to desire to use it as a testimony.
Romans 8:15–16 “15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
A MEASURED RESPONSE
A MEASURED RESPONSE
25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. 27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
present distress - whatever it was, Paul is talking about something happening during their lives - famine or the coming persecution
ESCHATOLOGICAL REALITIES AND IMPLICATIONS
ESCHATOLOGICAL REALITIES AND IMPLICATIONS
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
But not only the present distress - Paul believes the Lord is coming back any time
so live like it - make Jesus the focus of our lives and the rest takes care of itself
unmarried again - just a thought that I’m not crazy, look at the context “because the time is short, if you have a wife make Jesus the main thing. He doesn’t say if you don’t have a wife, make Jesus the main thing; instead he goes into they that weep… It sure can sound like he’s saying
THE ADVANTAGES OF SINGLENESS
THE ADVANTAGES OF SINGLENESS
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
this with the next passage paints a difference between those that have been married and now are not vs. those that have never been a part of a consummated marriage
either way, unmarried means you only have to worry about pleasing Jesus
FINAL WORDS ON VIRGINS
FINAL WORDS ON VIRGINS
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
Either daughter or fiance (which one doesn’t change Paul’s advice)
IN CONCLUSION
IN CONCLUSION
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
kinda finishes the idea of the differences between widows, widowers, and engaged but not married
I think also that I have the Spirit of God - wisdom not command
