|
|
1 Corinthians 7 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
It is important to first understand that Paul is not dealing with a full theology of marriage in this chapter. He is answering specific questions the Corinthians had asked him. We know this from the opening phrase.
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:1 NASB
In order to develop a full view of marriage, we must also include Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3. The Corinthian church was tempted to take the angle of complete celibacy in response to the sexual immorality all around them. This was a slippery slope as it would naturally lead to couples splitting up in order to be more holy. Paul brings balance by stating that sexual immorality is wrong, but, in a healthy, committed marriage the husband will meet the wife’s needs and vice versa.
Although Paul does not want couples to divorce, he does go on to write that if you are single, it is better to remain so. In this way, you have a single-minded approach to your relationship with God and your interests are not divided among your family. It really ends up being a straightforward answer.
If you are married, be married to the glory of God. If you are single, be single to the glory of God.
Paul prefers singleness but does not look down on those who are married. In fact, the encouragement to marry is directly tied to holiness in Paul’s mind. Sex is not the only or even the most important reason to marry, but it does provide a God-ordained relationship to satisfy the natural desires and passions we were created with.
Paul then comes to an interesting point. It is often twisted and misunderstood. He shifts from writing about couples who are both believers to situations where one is a believer and the other is not. Paul’s advice to the believer is to stay committed for the sake of the Gospel.
And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.
1 Corinthians 7:13-14 NASB
Obviously, as we read in 1 Corinthians 6, there are exceptions here. No Christian should tolerate persistent, unrepentant abuse and Jesus specifically addressed this in Matthew 19. It is difficult to formulate a blanket answer to suit every situation. However, Paul clearly states here that if a believing spouse remains with their unbelieving spouse, the latter is blessed in the sense that they are tied to someone showing them the Gospel on a daily basis. Paul is not saying the unbelieving spouse is saved by being married to a believer. He is stating that the unbelieving spouse has an opportunity to be set apart for a special work by being so close to a God-fearing believer.
Paul then moves to the children. Most commentaries agree that the children in such a relationship are saved until they reach the age of accountability (which varies for each child) due to the one believing parent. This is an incredible assurance!
“The Christian need not separate from an unbeliever because of fear that the unbelieving spouse may defile the children. God promises the opposite. They would be unclean if both parents were unsaved, but the presence of one believing parent exposes the children to blessing and brings them protection. The presence of even one Christian parent will protect children from undue spiritual harm and they will receive many blessings, and often that includes salvation.”
John MacArthur