1 Coríntios 7
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik says verse 1 "was probably a statement made by the Corinthian Christians, which they asked Paul to agree with. Paul will agree with the statement, but with reservation—the “nevertheless” (KJV)." Because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife and each woman is to have her own husband - Amplified - "because of the temptation to impurity and to avoid immorality" The problem is immoralities (porneia) and it is notable that it is in the plural which signifies that there were various types of immorality commonly in "vogue" in Corinth (see list in 1 Cor 6:9+). Immoralities in the plural might also convey the thought that one episode of immorality will lead to other immoralities (and it is certainly true that sin tends to perpetuate more sin!) One other thought is that the plural conveys the sense that many of the saints at Corinth had problems with sexual immorality. In context however, Paul is specifically speaking to the danger of singleness to be tempted to commit immorality because they did not have a normal God-ordained "outlet" as did married persons. The verbs have...have are euphemisms for sexual relations (cf Mk 6:18; Jn 4:18; 1Co 5:1; 7:29) Notice also in using each and own, Paul is clearly affirming monogamy and excluding polygamy, for as the ESVSB says " a “shared” husband would not be “her own” husband." The two uses of have are both in the present imperative calling for continual obedience (see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey). Have of course is a euphemistic (Greek idiomatic) way of saying they are to enjoy physical intimacy with one another (and no one else). Craig Keener - Jewish people saw married sexual intimacy as the best deterrent to sexual immorality, and Paul here agrees (see also Prov 5:19–20). (IVPBBCNT) Paul speaks of marriage in only positive terms in Eph. 5:22–33; 1 Ti 3:2 and condemns forbidding marriage 1 Ti 4:3. Jack Arnold - While celibacy is not wrong, the Apostle Paul stresses that in the sex-oriented culture of Corinth, where temptations abounded, marriage is necessary for most people. All kinds of sexual immoralities, both heterosexual and homosexual, existed in Corinth. Paul was for maintaining sexual purity, so he suggests the way to prevent premarital and extra-marital sex is to get married and have a normal, healthy and stable sex life. To put it in our vernacular, Paul is saying the way to keep unmarried people from having affairs and the married from cheating on their spouses is to marry and have a healthy sex life. It does help to be married in any sex-oriented society. Just to avoid sexual immorality seems like a low motive for marriage. However, this is not the only reason for marriage. It is to be entered into for many reasons. First, it is to share life with a partner in a lifelong commitment to serve God together. Second, it is to cultivate mutual love. According to Genesis 2:18-25, Adam and Eve were enjoying sex long before there was any sin in this world and before there were any children. God designed sex to bring mutual pleasure to His married creatures and to produce the highest kind of love between two people. The Bible affirms over and over again that sex is good, right, pure and holy because God thought it up. The sex drive is normal within every man or woman and it is nothing to be ashamed of as God’s creatures. This sex drive is to be controlled outside of marriage, and to be released within marriage with God’s full approval. There is nothing two married people can do in private, under the approving eye of God, which is sinful as long as any act does not become morally offensive to one partner or the other. God fully intended the saved to have more fun with sex in marriage than the unsaved can have anywhere else. Third, God gave sex to reproduce the human race and to establish the family which is the basic unit of life. Fourth, God gave sex to prevent sexual immorality. This does not suggest we should only get married to get release from sex drives, but this is one of the reasons. However, even marriage does not take away all sex drives and desire for the opposite sex, but it does take off the pressure. Even in marriage couples must deal with attractions, fantasies and infatuations about other men and women. When this happens, we have a spiritual problem which must be dealt with honestly before God and our mate. The Apostle Paul gives some advice on sex in marriage which is quite explicit. Some have wondered where Paul received this knowledge because at the time of this writing he was a single man. There is some evidence that Paul was probably married at one time in his life. It was a stigma for young Jewish men not to many. Jewish tradition said, “A Jew who has no wife is not a man” (Gen. 5:2; Yehamoth, f. 63,1). Furthermore, Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin at one time. We know this because he tells us he cast his vote against the Christians (Acts 26:10). To be a member of the Sanhedrin required one be married. What happened to Paul’s wife is not known. She may have died or she may have deserted because of Paul’s strong Christian beliefs. Whatever, Paul knew from experience what a healthy sex life meant to a marriage. (Sexual Responsibilities Within Marriage) David Strain - The lifelong union of one man and one woman in marriage, Paul says, is the only appropriate venue and context for sexual intimacy. And within that context, God has ordained that sexual intimacy should strengthen and protect each partner from the temptations of the Devil who twists and distorts sex into something selfish and perverse and shameful. Now let’s face it, as we said, sex is the great spiritual battleground of our age. Wouldn’t you agree with that? It is one of Satan’s favorite avenues of attack. I dare say he has a very high success rate ensnaring many, even those who profess to follow Jesus, with sexual sin. And so Paul is saying that a healthy sexual intimacy within marriage is a vital defense ordained by God against Satan’s attacks.....A healthy sex life within a loving, Christian marriage is part of a Christian’s armor in the spiritual war against the enemy of our souls; a battle in which we are engaged every day. Sex as defense.
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik - No matter what your station—married, single, divorced, widowed, remarried, whatever—God can work in your life. Instead of thinking that you can or will walk for the Lord when your station changes, walk for the Lord in the place you are right now.. This also is a warning about trying to undo the past in regard to relationships. God tells us to repent of whatever sin is there and then to move on. If you are married to your second wife, after wrongfully divorcing your first wife, and become a Christian, don’t think you must now leave your second wife and go back to your first wife, trying to undo the past. As the Lord has called you, walk in that place right now. So let him walk is also a warning to beware the danger of thinking other people have it better than you do because of their different station in life. It doesn’t matter nearly as much whether you are married, single, divorced, or remarried; what matters more is an on-fire walk with Jesus right now. Arnold - God called each Christian to salvation, and has called the believer to stay in the place God called. Paul is not saying if a person has been a prostitute, gambler or bank robber, he or she should stay in that state or environment after conversion to Christ. He is talking about social relationships and marriage in particular. For those who were called into a spiritually mixed marriage, they ought to stay in that relationship. Only, as the Lord has assigned (merizo - allotted, apportioned) to each one (hekastos), as God has called each (hekastos), in this manner let him walk - NLT = "Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you." Let him walk is a present imperative commanding this to be the believer's lifestyle (see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey). Kistemaker writes on Let him walk "When the Christian spouse is divorced by the unbelieving partner, then let it be so, says Paul. Nevertheless, when a marriage has been dissolved, life continues.' Guzik on let him walk - No matter what your station—married, single, divorced, widowed, remarried, whatever—God can work in your life. Instead of thinking that you can or will walk for the Lord when your station changes, walk for the Lord in the place you are right now.. This also is a warning about trying to undo the past in regard to relationships. God tells us to repent of whatever sin is there and then to move on. If you are married to your second wife, after wrongfully divorcing your first wife, and become a Christian, don’t think you must now leave your second wife and go back to your first wife, trying to undo the past. As the Lord has called you, walk in that place right now. So let him walk is also a warning to beware the danger of thinking other people have it better than you do because of their different station in life. It doesn’t matter nearly as much whether you are married, single, divorced, or remarried; what matters more is an on-fire walk with Jesus right now. The principle: you can live for God where you are right now. -- David Guzik
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik noted in 1 Cor 7:17 Paul's principle that you can live for God where you are right now. Now in 1 Cor 7:18 Paul gives an example of this principle from the practice of circumcision. Was anyone called while circumcised? -- "Paul is saying that if you were circumcised when you became a Christian, fine. If you were not circumcised when you became a Christian, fine also. Those things do not matter. What matters is serving the Lord where we are at right now." Was any man called (kaleo) when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. - NLT = "For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it." Called refers to the effectual call to salvation. So was the man called to salvation when he was circumcised (as Jews would have been)? If so, Paul gives a command in the present imperative with a negative which implies that some of the his readers were already seeking to "become uncircumcised" undergoing a surgical procedure to reverse the appearance of circumcision! Barton - BELIEVERS SHOULD BE CONTENT WHERE THEY ARE - 1 Cor 7:17–24 For instance, Paul wrote, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. For the Jews, circumcision was the sign of their covenant with God; the Greeks, however, looked down upon it as the mark of lowly people. Some Jews, in an attempt to become more acceptable in Greek culture, could attempt to surgically reverse the marks of a circumcision. To add to the confusion, the Judaizers (a group of false teachers) were claiming that Gentiles had to be circumcised before they could become Christians. Jewish Christians did not need to reverse their circumcisions, and Gentile Christians did not need to be circumcised (Romans 2:25, 29; Galatians 5:6). Instead, they should stay exactly as they were when they became believers; any outward change would make no difference. The inner change is all that matters. They should focus on keeping the commandments of God, desiring to conform their heart and will in obedience to him. (Life Application Commentary) Arnold - God’s basic principle is that a person should stay in that social condition or relationship in which he was called without complaint. If there is a possibility to move out, such as in the case of slavery (and there is a biblical basis to do so), this has the approval of God. However, Paul has taken these illustrations and applied them to Christian marriage. The basic principle is that Christians married to unsaved mates are to stay in that marriage without divorce and without complaint, for this is God’s ideal. As the country boy said, “Stick with the one who brung ya to the dance!” However, there may be biblical grounds for divorce and only the Biblical criterion is to be used. There is a word of comfort here for those Christians who are living with non-Christian mates. They are to remain with God. The God of all comfort will keep His hand of their lives. He will come to their aid and rescue them when necessary. He will meet their needs abundantly and graciously. They key is to remain with God through faith. Become...uncircumcised (1986)(epispaomai from epi = upon + spao = to draw) means literally to draw over and was a medical technical term pull over the foreskin to conceal former circumcision, to remove the marks of circumcision. Used on in 1 Cor 7:18. NET NOTE on not to become uncircumcised - Grk “Let him not pull over the foreskin,” that is, attempt to reverse the appearance of circumcision by a surgical procedure. This was sometimes done by Hellenistic Jews to hide the embarrassment of circumcision (1 Macc 1:15; Josephus, Ant. 12.5.1 [12.241]). Guzik - How could one become uncircumcised? “Some Jews, for fear of Antiochus, made themselves uncircumcised, 1 Maccab. 1:16. Others for shame after they were gained to the knowledge of Christ, as here. This was done by drawing up the fore-skin with a surgeon’s instrument.” (Trapp) “By frequent stretching, the circumcised skin could be again so drawn over, as to prevent the ancient sign of circumcision from appearing.” (Clarke) MacArthur on not to become uncircumcised - This had a very specific application. Circumcision was an embarrassment in the Roman world. According to the Maccabees, some Jewish men “made themselves uncircumcised.” Josephus tells us that during the Greek rule of the eastern Mediterranean several centuries before Christ, some Jewish men who wanted to be accepted into Greek society had surgery performed to make themselves appear uncircumcised when they bathed or exercised at the gymnasiums. They literally became uncircumcised surgically. The Roman encyclopedist Celsus, in the first century A.D., wrote a detailed description of the surgical procedure for decircumcision (De Medicina VII. 25). The practice was so common that considerable rabbinic literature addressed the problem (e.g., Aboth 3:11; Jerushalmi Peah 1 and 16b; Lamentations Rabbah 1:20). Jews who had such surgery were referred to as epispatics, a name taken from the euphemistic term epispaomai, meaning “to draw over,” or “to pull towards.”That is the very term Paul uses here for uncircumcised. Perhaps some Jewish Christians thought that was a way to demonstrate their break with Judaism. Has anyone been called (kaleo) in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. - "And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now." Paul continues to emphasize his point in 1 Cor 7:17 that they should each continue to live in whatever situation the providence of God had placed them when He saved them. Don't try to change. Here he is speaking of circumcision, but this principle was to apply to their marriages. Don't try to change.
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik - This principle applies across a broad spectrum—married or unmarried, circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free. We can seek God’s best and be used by Him right where we are. Of course, let each one remain with God in that calling in which he was called doesn’t mean that we are to continue in a sinful course or occupation once we are saved. “That is, supposing that he was in an honest course of life; for we read in the Acts that the conjurers burnt their books, and unlawful courses of life must not be adhered to after men have once given up their names to Christ.” (Trapp) NET NOTE on called - “Calling” in Paul is God’s work of drawing people to faith in Christ. As in 1:26, calling here stands by metonymy for a person’s circumstances when he becomes a Christian. Related Resource: Utley's Topic - The Called Gil Rugh: What Need Not Change as a Believer Once someone becomes saved and has a heart to serve the Lord, all sorts of questions tend to arise: Should I quit my job and go into the ministry? No Should I abstain from sexual relations in my marriage? No Should I divorce my unsaved spouse? No Should I become circumcised like the Jews? No Should I change something in my physical and social circumstances? The immediate point of the context is when you get saved that doesn’t mean that there should necessarily be any change in your marriage relationship. (“If I had known the Lord before, I would never have married this person . . .”) God has been working in your life all along - even before your conversion. When God sovereignly called you, it was in the context of physical circumstances that He had orchestrated. Certain things are inconsistent with being a child of God; but most of our physical circumstances can continue on without negatively impacting our spiritual relationship. Changing your outward circumstances won’t improve your spiritual relationship with God. Submission to the will of God is what is important. These physical matters are important to the world but should not shape our thinking in terms of our relationship with our God. Bruce Barton - STAY THERE - Often we are so concerned about what we could be doing for God somewhere else that we miss great opportunities right where we are. Paul says that when someone becomes a Christian, he or she should usually continue with the work he or she has previously been doing—provided it isn’t immoral or unethical. Every job can become Christian work when you realize that the purpose of your life is to honor, serve, and speak out for Christ. Because God has placed you where you are, look carefully for opportunities to serve him there. After all, if God found you there, God can certainly use you there!
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik - A slave can please God as a slave. He should not live his life thinking, “I can’t do anything for God now, but I sure could if I was a free man.” He can, and should, serve God as he is able to now. Paul gives us a "commentary" on slaves of men who had become slaves of Christ and how they would still be fully able to serve the Lord Jesus Christ even in their position as slaves... Slaves, be obedient (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will (present tense - also requires dependence on the Holy Spirit to continually) render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.(Ephesians 6:5-9+) Robertson on slave in ancient world - It was usually a fixed condition and a slave could be a good servant of Christ (Col. 3:22+; Eph. 6:5+; Titus 2:9+), even with heathen masters. Slave (1401)(doulos from deo = to bind) (Click additional notes on doulos) was an individual bound to another in servitude and conveys the idea of the slave's close, binding ties with his master, belonging to him, obligated to and desiring to do his will and in a permanent relation of servitude. In sum, the will of the doulos is consumed in the will of the master. A bondservant is one who surrendered wholly to another’s will and thus devoted to another to the disregard of his own interest. Paul and Timothy were not their own but had been bought with the price of the blood of Christ. They were now the property of our Lord Jesus Christ and were His slaves exclusively. No man can serve two masters (Mt 6:24+). Paul and Timothy had been slaves of Sin (see note on "the Sin") by their birth into Adam's likeness, but now they are slaves of Christ by their new, second birth. They had no will of their own, no business of their own, no time of their own and were acting for their Master, Christ; dependent upon Him and obedient to Him. Worry (care, worry)(3199) melo means to concern oneself, to be of interest to. To care for, take an interest in. It is a care or concern to someone, i.e. someone cares. To be an object of care. Melo is used 10x in NT - Mt. 22:16; Mk. 4:38; Mk. 12:14; Lk. 10:40; Jn. 10:13; Jn. 12:6; Acts 18:17; 1 Co. 7:21; 1 Co. 9:9; 1 Pe 5:7 But Term of contrast - He has just said for those who were now believers in Christ to be content with their social status as slaves. However he does not say they should not try to better their social condition (this is different that a circumcised person getting a surgical procedure to reverse his circumcision). If you are able (dunamai) also to become free, rather do hat - Do is (chraomai) in the aorist imperative meaning in essence "Go for it!" "make the most of the opportunity to get free." Barclay = "But if you can become free, grasp the opportunity." While the Christian slaves were not to let their slavery worry them, the option for attaining their freedom was left open and some slaves were able to buy or earn their freedom.
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik - This is true not only in regard to literal slavery, but spiritually also. We are never to put ourselves under the inappropriate control or influence of others. Peter describes the "price" writing "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.." (1 Peter 1:18-19+) Related Resources: What does it mean that “you were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23)? Martin Luther - BOUGHT AT A PRICE You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.1 Corinthians 7:23 Here Paul forbids us to become slaves. No doubt he says this as a general guideline against people who try to destroy the freedom and equality of belief and clamp down too tightly on consciences. For example, if someone teaches that a Christian man absolutely cannot marry a non-Christian woman or stay married to her, as some churches teach, then that person hinders the freedom taught here by Paul. That person actually steers people to be more obedient to him than to God’s Word, which Paul says is serving human beings. The people following this teacher think they are God’s slaves and serving him when in fact they are serving human teaching and becoming slaves of others. This is also true of those who preached that Christians must be circumcised, nullifying Christian freedom as a result. So in every way, Paul is concerned about Christian freedom and guards it against the chains and prison of human rules. Paul verifies this when he says, “You were bought at a price.” Paul means that Christ bought us with his own blood and set us free from all sins and laws, as it says in Galatians 5:1. The freedom Christ purchased, however, isn’t what the world means by freedom. It doesn’t affect the roles people have with one another, such as a servant with a master or a wife with a husband. God doesn’t want these roles to be changed. Instead, he wants them to be honored. He changes us inwardly and spiritually. Before God, no law binds us or holds us captive. We are truly free in all things. Before, we were caught in our sins, but now all of our sins are gone. So whatever outward roles or relationships still exist, they have nothing to do with sin or merit before God. John Bennett - 1 Corinthians 7:23–24 BE NOT YE THE SERVANTS OF MEN Masters who purchased slaves in the market before slavery was abolished, would no doubt have paid handsomely for those who they believed would serve them well. Here the Lord reminds believers that they have been ‘bought with a price’, v. 23, a price far above any paid by a mere earthly master. This, in itself, should be sufficient incentive to the believer, whatever his or her circumstances, to serve God and put His commands first in all things. The Lord is proprietor, and absolute obedience is enjoined. Of necessity, we have to give to earthly masters due respect and duty, but any service rendered faithfully down here is ultimately for the Lord; ‘Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart’, Eph. 6:5–6. ‘Be not ye the servants of men’, taken in its widest context, will involve putting the Lord and His commands above that of men and especially where men’s commands run counter to the word of God. When told not to speak in the name of Christ, Peter and John said, ‘Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye’, Acts 4:19. The highest standard is set by all this, in that whatever our calling, our service should be as unto the Lord. The believer should never be guilty of slacking when the management is not present, but they should remember that the Lord is present at all times and marks loyal and faithful service. Service towards men seeks to impress with the ‘big deal’, but service to God does not need to distinguish the small from the large service, but leaves it with Him to assess. Service to men seeks external rewards, but service to God rests in the contentment that there is a day of spiritual reward to come. Service to men is temporary, but service unto God is to be rewarded in eternity. We need to remember the words of King Hezekiah: ‘My sons, be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him’, 2 Chron. 29:11. (Day by Day Bible Commands) Alan Redpath - HAPPY, THOUGH UNMARRIED 1 CORINTHIANS 7:23–40 Some very delicate and difficult problems had been submitted to Paul for his decision and judgment by the church at Corinth. Among them was the whole subject of marriage from the Christian standpoint. Several related questions were treated in the earlier part of this seventh chapter, and now we come to the problems of those who are not married. Paul looks at this from two different aspects: First, those who are daughters of Christian parents, and then those who have lost a partner and are left in a state of widowhood. The apostle puts a boundary line around what he has to say about this topic: “Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord” (7:25). We can search the four Gospels thoroughly without finding any teaching from the Lord Jesus concerning the unmarried state except, of course, by implication. “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. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment.” Will you please notice that Paul does not say “as long as the man liveth?” He may have died as a husband, although the man is still alive, when he has been unfaithful in the marriage relationship and leaves his partner. If the marriage is broken by the tragedy of adultery, then the one who is left is entitled to Christian marriage. Our Lord taught that perfectly clearly in Matthew 19. Paul concludes the above advice by saying, “I think also that I have the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 7:39–40). I want to underline something very significant: here Paul distinguishes carefully between “thus saith the Lord,” and that which comes by the exercise of his own judgment. However, that qualification does not render what he has to say any less authoritative. He speaks “as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful” (1 Cor 7:25). He gives his judgment from a mind that has been enlightened by the Holy Spirit and taught from the Word of God. In both instances, in the case of the virgin (the unmarried daughter), and of the widow or the widower bereft of a life-partner, he comes to the same conclusion: “He that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better” (1 Cor 7:38). “She is happier if she so abide, after my judgment” (1 Cor 7:40). That is quite startling, especially in these days when apparently the unmarried condition is to be avoided at any cost. Some people most unadvisedly put some kind of slight upon those who are single. How could a man speaking under the direction of the Spirit of God come to the conclusion that under certain circumstances it would be better to remain single? That is our question: how to be happy, through unmarried. As I studied this chapter, it seemed to me that Paul presents a plan to be adopted: “Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife” (1 Cor 7:27). Two words that stand out here are these: “seek not.” For instance, consider how dangerous it would be to fall in love with someone whose idea of loyalty to Christ is certainly not the same as your own. Here is the carefully conceived plan of a man who knows how to maintain the situation under the control of the Spirit of God: Paul says, “seek not a wife.” That stands in refreshing contrast to the frenzied search for a life-partner which is conducted by many people today. When one witnesses the frantic efforts made by some to find a mate, one can only trust that the person who is victim of such an assault has retained enough emotional stability to be able to conduct a strategic withdrawal immediately, before he or she becomes deeply involved in the situation. Much wreckage has been caused by the tactics of a person who seeks a life-partner at any price. Paul has already given us this principle when he says, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (6:12). Here is a man who is really living in victory; he has control over himself by the power of the Spirit of God. In some instances, as in the thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh verses of this chapter, he recognizes that marriage may be necessary: “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.” Marriage is perfectly lawful; marriage, in some instances, may be necessary; but, Paul says, that is not the issue. He is able to disassociate himself from the situation and keep a cool head: the real point is, “Is it expedient?” Is it right for the individual in the light of what Paul describes as “the present distress” (1 Cor 7:26)? Now I take that statement to mean not simply the local conditions that existed in Corinth; I rather think Paul meant the tremendous pressures that were being brought to bear upon this little group of believers by the spiritual forces of wickedness. If that was true then, certainly it is equally true today. Here is the plan that a fellow or a girl who is unmarried should adopt: seek not. You do not come for training at a Bible Institute or a Seminary in order to find a wife or a husband. You do not live in order that somehow or other, at any price, you may be married. You must ask yourself if this is something that is going to be expedient in the light of the pressures that are going to come, and in the light of what you believe to be God’s will for your life. Know what it means to stand in control of your affections and emotions. This is no easy thing; it requires intense spiritual discipline. If it is difficult, you may ask, why should this plan be adopted? Paul goes on to show us that there is a purpose to be achieved: “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: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife” (1 Cor 7:32–33). “I would have you without carefulness. . . .” He says, “that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction” (1 Cor 7:32, 35b). Here are two great purposes to be achieved in a man’s life. They are possible whether you are married or unmarried, but, in Paul’s judgment, easier to achieve if you are single. If a man or a woman enters into the relationship of matrimony, this may result in the interests of each other crowding out the interests of the Lord. I have known a man called to the mission field, for instance, who married a girl with no call, and years afterward have seen him sinking into the quicksands of life. The blessing of God has departed long since; he had missed God’s best. I have seen a girl, too, dedicated to the Lord, but afraid of going through life alone. She entered into matrimony out of God’s will, and it was not very long before her home and family and immediate circumstances crowded out loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t tell me such a person is happy! He has to look back upon the day he made a choice from which there is no escape, and knows he is living in God’s second best. By involving himself in a relationship out of the will of God, he has become full of carefulness; his interests are in the things of the world and not in the things of the Lord. However, that need not always be the case. There is not question, obviously, but that marriage in the Lord can be a tremendous blessing, a great and wonderful experience. “But and if thou marry,” says Paul, “thou hast not sinned” (7:28). There is no necessity for marriage to put the Lord Jesus in second place. But if it is marriage out of God’s will, and it is going to lead to distracting care, then it is better, as Paul says, to remain single. “Without carefulness . . . without distraction.” I would lovingly put those two words into the thinking and conscience of those who are single. There is a tremendous potential of blessing in serving the Lord with freedom and concentration. In any event, Paul says, if you are going to marry, you are going to have trouble (1 Cor 7:28). No matter how saintly people are and how far they are on together in the Christian life, when they begin to live together, problems are bound to come. It is not on the great sorrows or trials that marriage flounders, but rather upon the irritations of everyday difficulties: a crying child, a late breakfast, a short temper, an unsympathetic mother-in-law — this kind of thing can cause a marriage to become shaky, unless right at the very heart of it is the Lord Jesus Himself. As we think about attending upon the Lord “without carefulness,” our minds go immediately to that familiar story where the Lord Jesus spoke to two sisters and said to one of them, “Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things,” and to the other, “Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42+). It is possible, both in the married and in the unmarried state to live without carefulness and without distraction. It is that which makes married life so wonderful and the unmarried state so full of potential blessing. One other thing I would get out of this passage, perhaps the most important of all: there is a principle to be accepted. You will notice how Paul brings in eternity here: “This I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as thought they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Cor 7:29–31). As Paul gives his judgment on this question of being married or unmarried, he shows us the principle upon which a man or woman may make their decision: the times are troubled; the Lord is coming soon; the opportunity for service is brief. Life is short, at best, and it can end quickly and unexpectedly. Therefore these relationships of life should be treated as though they did not exist, in the light of the urgency of these days. He speaks of marriage, of sorrow and joy, of business life, of the world itself, how to use it and how not to use it. Because of the pressures upon us and the spiritual evil confronting us, these things must take second place — almost be regarded as non-existent. Now Paul is not implying that we should be callous or unkind; that would be totally contrary to all the teaching of the New Testament concerning our relationship with one another. But he does bring the reality of eternity right into everyday life, so that we may live in the ordinary realm with the recognized presence of the Lord Jesus and in the light of heaven. What does that involve? It means that on the questions of being married, everything is to be governed by our relationship to the Lord Himself. For those who are married, there will often be times when the comfort of the home and joy of each other’s presence has to be denied, has to take second place for the sake of the Lord, His work and His service. Sometimes sorrow threatens to take us away from our duty, our loyalty to the King of kings, our service for the Lord. It must not be allowed to do that; if in the time of heartbreak and sorrow we are tempted to give in, these things have to be regarded as though they did not exist. We must press on in the love of God and for the sake of the Lord Jesus. Sometimes thrilling circumstances make us full of happiness, but if joy conflicts with our duty to the Master, then it has to be swept to one side. Nothing must be allowed to make us neglect or delay, or to be anything less than our best in His service. If business threatens to interfere with the Christian life, says the apostle, you cannot help going on buying — but be sure that you hold the things you buy very loosely, and that your interest and affections are not centered on them, but on the things of God. The principle to be observed, as you seek to apply these things to your own life and come to a decision on important matters, is in the two words we have considered already: “seek not,” linked with another command of the Lord Jesus: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). In other words, if in your life you put God first, and His call, even if it seems at the moment it would tear your heart in pieces, if it means denying some human love, turning your back upon some fascinating possibility, then everything that is in the good and acceptable and perfect will of God for you will be added to you. If only people today, young and old alike, facing these tremendously intimate and personal problems, would follow that principle, seeking first His Kingdom, how wonderful it would be to watch how the Lord, as He is put first, frequently brings into their lives the partner of His choice. He gives to them the persons He has waiting for them as He sees that they are determined above everything else to serve Him without carefulness and without distraction. Finally, a word of loving concern and warning. You have seen what the apostle has to say concerning this situation of marriage or singleness, and I have sought to show you that all this should lie within the sphere of the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus. My word of warning is this: to step into any relationship outside the government of the Lord, that is to say, outside His permissive will, is not only to involve yourself in tragedy, but perhaps to bring sorrow into the lives of a generation yet to be born. For a person who enters into marriage out of the will of God and brings children into the world may cause their whole lives to know the blight of unhappiness and misery, because their parents were married out of the will of God. What a tremendous thing it is to be able, by the grace of God and by the power of His Spirit, to do what Paul did, to stand in victory, in control of his emotions, making the decision he knows to be God’s will, that which is expedient in the light of all the pressures upon him. Then whether you are to go through life single or married, you are going to live without carefulness and attend upon the Lord without distraction. May that be your happy portion and mine until our Lord Jesus comes! 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called. Amplified So, brethren, in whatever station or state or condition of life each one was when he was called, there let him continue with and close to God. Wuest Each one in the sphere in which he was divinely summoned, brethren, in this let him be remaining in the presence of God. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 7:24 In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God. NLT 1 Corinthians 7:24 Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you. ESV 1 Corinthians 7:24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. NIV 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. GNT 1 Corinthians 7:24 ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη, ἀδελφοί, ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρὰ θεῷ. KJV 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. YLT 1 Corinthians 7:24 each, in that in which he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God. ASV 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God. CSB 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called. NKJ 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. NRS 1 Corinthians 7:24 In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God. NAB 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brothers, everyone should continue before God in the state in which he was called. NJB 1 Corinthians 7:24 Each one of you, brothers, is to stay before God in the state in which you were called. GWN 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brothers and sisters, you should remain in whatever circumstances you were in when God called you. God is with you in those circumstances. BBE 1 Corinthians 7:24 My brothers, let every man keep in that condition which is the purpose of God for him. each one: 1Co 7:17,20 remain: 1Co 10:31 Ge 5:22-24 17:1 1Sa 14:45 Col 3:23,24 1 Corinthians 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries STAY PUT! Brethren (adelphos), each one (hekastos) is to remain (meno) with God in that condition in which he was called (kaleo) - Remain is in the present imperative a command for this to be their continual practice. Paul basically repeats 1 Cor 7:17 and 1 Cor 7:20 to emphasize that the believers are to continue in the same status of marriage (or not), circumcision (or not) and as slaves (or not). Steve Zeisler: The general principle which Paul is seeking to apply is this: people do not have to change their circumstances in order to be happy. It is not due to a mistake that you find yourself in your present circumstances. God knows your situation, and he is not calling upon you to change your circumstances in order to bless you. Fulfillment in life, freedom in Christ, personal integration, growth and confidence do not depend on whether you are married or not. It doesn't matter whether we have the right job, whether we're making enough money, whether we have the right friends or not. Stephen Armstrong - We remain “with God” when we remain in the condition in which we were as He called us. Paul doesn’t mean we can’t ever change the place we live or the occupation we have, etc. He means our salvation doesn’t – by itself – demand that we upend our entire life to serve God. We can serve Him right where we are ◦ We have this confdence because we know that all the important issues of our sin and our salvation have been already settled on the cross. . ILLUSTRATION - A wealthy man moved into a small community and decided to go to the local barber shop for a shave. He walked into the barber shop to find that the local barber was a woman, named Grace. Grace gave the man a shave, and he asked her, "How much do I owe you?" She said "$25.” The man thought that was somewhat expensive and that he may have to get a shave every other day. Nonetheless, he paid Grace and went on his way. The next day, he woke up and found his face to be just as smooth as the day before. No need for a shave today, he thought, well, it was a $25 shave. The next day he awoke to find his face as smooth as the day before. Wow! he thought. That's amazing, as he normally would need to shave daily to keep his clean-shaven business look. Day 3, he woke up and his face was still as smooth as the minute after Grace had finished. Now, somewhat perplexed, the man went down to the barber shop to ask some questions. On this particular day he found the town pastor sitting in the barber shop waiting for a haircut, so the wealthy man struck up a conversation with the pastor asking if the pastor knew how it was that his face could remain so smooth for so long after he was shaved. The kind old pastor gently explained, "Friend, you were shaved by Grace... and once shaved, always shaved." The permanence of our faith and salvation underlies everything Paul is teaching in this chapter. We can have confidence to remain in our present condition for as long as God requires because our condition has no impact on our salvation Martin Luther - CONTENT IN YOUR CALLING Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. 1 Corinthians 7:24 Everyone has a calling in life. Believers serve God when they wholeheartedly take care of these responsibilities. An official who governs well serves God. A mother who cares for her children, a father who goes to work, and a student who studies diligently are all servants of God. Many overlook this God-pleasing lifestyle because they consider simple, day-to-day work insignificant. They look instead for other work that seems more difficult and end up becoming disobedient to God. Doing what God requires is a sign of superior wisdom. God requires that believers work hard at their callings without worrying about what anyone else is doing. Yet few people do this. A poet who reflected on what people are like once said, “The farmer would like to be a shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper a farmer.” As the saying goes, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” Few people are satisfied with their lives. The person in the pew wants to be a member of the clergy. The student wishes to be the teacher. The citizen wants to be mayor. Few people are content with their callings. However, there is no other way to serve God except simply living by faith, sticking to your calling, and maintaining a clear conscience. Stephen Olford - – 1 Corinthians 7:24 Here is a message to my own heart: find contentment in the things I have and the ministry to which He has called me. This requires patience. For very often, my calling requires waiting periods. O, to know the truth of the words, “They also serve who only stand and wait.”14 This calling also requires consistency. It is so easy to be spasmodic in Christian service, especially when circumstances lend themselves to extra efforts. But to be consistent and patient necessitates God. Hence, the apostle says, “Remain with God” (v. 24). “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). No wonder Moses said, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here” (Ex. 33:15). Teach me, Lord, to be content with such things as I have, and in the vocation wherewith I am called. 1 Corinthians 7:25 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. Amplified Now concerning the virgins (the marriageable maidens) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion and advice as one who by the Lord’s mercy is rendered trustworthy and faithful. Wuest Now, concerning the virgins [unmarried women], an injunction from the Lord I do not possess. But I am giving my reasoned judgment as one who is trustworthy by reason of the mercy shown him by the Lord. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 7:25 With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. NLT 1 Corinthians 7:25 Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you. ESV 1 Corinthians 7:25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. NIV 1 Corinthians 7:25 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. GNT 1 Corinthians 7:25 Περὶ δὲ τῶν παρθένων ἐπιταγὴν κυρίου οὐκ ἔχω, γνώμην δὲ δίδωμι ὡς ἠλεημένος ὑπὸ κυρίου πιστὸς εἶναι. KJV 1 Corinthians 7:25 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. YLT 1 Corinthians 7:25 And concerning the virgins, a command of the Lord I have not; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from the Lord to be faithful: ASV 1 Corinthians 7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. CSB 1 Corinthians 7:25 About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. NKJ 1 Corinthians 7:25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. NRS 1 Corinthians 7:25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. NAB 1 Corinthians 7:25 Now in regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. NJB 1 Corinthians 7:25 About people remaining virgin, I have no directions from the Lord, but I give my own opinion as a person who has been granted the Lord's mercy to be faithful. GWN 1 Corinthians 7:25 Concerning virgins: Even though I don't have any command from the Lord, I'll give you my opinion. I'm a person to whom the Lord has shown mercy, so I can be trusted. BBE 1 Corinthians 7:25 Now about virgins I have no orders from the Lord: but I give my opinion as one to whom the Lord has given mercy to be true to him. concerning: 1Co 7:28,34,36-38 Ps 78:63 have: 1Co 7:6,10,12,40 2Co 8:8-10 11:17 obtained: 1Co 4:2 15:10 2Co 2:17 4:1,2 1Ti 1:12-16 1 Corinthians 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 19:12 “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.” CONCERNING VIRGINS Paul Apple gives the context for this last section (1 Cor 7:25-40) - We must understand that Paul was asked a specific question or was addressing particular circumstances that faced the believers of his day in Corinth. He starts out with his focus on the virgins, but then expands his answer since most of the same principles would apply to any unmarried parties - those who had been divorced, widows, etc.Paul had been answering questions regarding sexual relations in marriage, regarding whether singleness or marriage was appropriate for different groups, and whether conversion requires a change in one’s outward physical circumstances. He now leaves the more general discussion of overall contentment to finish with his discussion of the single state vs. marriage. Virgins is a key word in this last section for there are 6 uses out of a total of 14 NT uses occur - 1 Co. 7:25, 28, 34, 36, 37, 38 Now concerning (same phrase 1 Cor 7:1 1 Cor 7:25 1 Cor 8:1 1 Cor 12:1 1 Cor 16:1) - "The Corinthians had written a letter to the Apostle Paul asking him to answer various questions on marriage. One must have been about celibacy—is it right and biblical to stay single? Is singlehood morally superior to the marriage state? Is a person a second class citizen if he or she is single? The Corinthian church had a particular false teaching in their midst. There were some who taught singlehood was a superior moral state to marriage and that a person was more spiritual if he or she decided to stay celibate. The Apostle Paul does not deprecate the single state, in fact, he exalts it. He concludes that celibacy is desirable but not demanded. Marriage is good but celibacy is better under certain circumstances if a person has the gift of celibacy." (Arnold) Virgins I have no command (epitage) of the Lord (kurios), but I give an opinion (gnome) as one who by the mercy (eleeo) of the Lord (kurios) is trustworthy (pistos) - While He gave no direct teaching, Jesus does allude indirectly to this is Mt 19:12. The NET has "With regard to the question about people who have never married." In saying I have no command of the Lord, Paul is not saying this is not inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Pe 1:21+) but only that he had not received a specific command from his Lord. The ESV translation renders parthenos "Now concerning the betrothed" and then in the ESV Study Bible explains betrothed translates the Greek word for "virgins (plural of parthenos). Although the term could apply to either men or women, it most often applied to women of marriageable age who had never married. Paul’s use of the term in 1 Cor 7:28 is clearly feminine, so he probably has women in mind here as well. In light of what he says later in 1 Cor 7:36–38, it seems clear that his comments in1 Cor 7:25–26 are directed to any man who has promised to marry a “virgin.” Arnold - This is primarily a reference to young unmarried women who had never known a man sexually. Perhaps a better translation would be “maidens.” It appears the Corinthians asked Paul about the relationship of maidens to marriage, but Paul applied the truth to both young unmarried men and women. There is no double standard in God's will for unmarried men and women. He expects both to be virgins. The saying, “Boys must sow their wild oats, and girls must be proper" is straight from the pit. God’s standard is sexual purity for both men and women before marriage. But I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. While on earth, the Lord Jesus said very little on the single state, so Paul gives his opinion on this matter. It is a sanctified opinion because Paul wrote as an Apostle (1 Cor 1:1) being led along by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle was “trustworthy” and in 1 Corinthians 7:40+ he says, “I too have the Spirit of God.” What Paul had to say was just as inspired as what Jesus had to say and as authoritative. Utley on I give an opinion - Some have tried to use Paul’s statement in vv. 6 and 25 to lower his authority as an Apostle or make this a disclaimer of inspiration. It is neither. This is an idiomatic way of admitting that he does not know whether Jesus ever addressed this issue specifically. Verses 25 and 40 show that Paul felt his apostleship and call gave him the authority to address issues that arose in the life of the early Gentile church. NET NOTE on never married - Greek “virgins.” There are three main views as to which group of people is referred to by the word parthenos here, and the stance taken here directly impacts one’s understanding of 1 Cor 7:36–38 (See NET NOTE there). (1) The term could refer to virgin women who were not married. The central issue would then be whether or not their fathers should give them in marriage to eligible men. (This is the view which has been widely held throughout the history of the Church.) (2) A minority understand the term to refer to men and women who are married but who have chosen to live together without sexual relations. This position might have been possible in the Corinthian church, but there is no solid evidence to support it. (3) The view adopted by many modern commentators (see, e.g., Fee, Conzelmann, Barrett) is that the term refers to young, engaged women (ED: NOTE ESV TRANSLATES IT "BETROTHED.") who were under the influence of various groups within the Corinthian church not to go through with their marriages. The central issue would then be whether the young men and women should continue with their plans and finalize their marriages. For further discussion, see G. D. Fee, First Corinthians (NICNT), 325–28. Stephen Armstrong - As he did earlier in the letter, Paul qualifies his instructions, but unlike the earlier qualification, this time he makes clear there is no mandate here ◦ He says this instruction is not something Jesus Himself gave. But even more, Paul says he is giving an opinion. Paul is saying that the Christian is not bound by this counsel as if it were a command. Nevertheless, it is scripture, so it is wise and trustworthy counsel ◦ That counsel is that Christians should not seek to change their marital status in view of the present distress. If you are unmarried, then it may be best to remain that way. If you are married already, then certainly do not violate your marriage vows by ending the marriage. In other words, remain as you are. Do not become distracted by such things as marriage when more important, eternal concerns present themselves. Henry
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Guzik - What is the advantage of remaining single? We can easily imagine how in a time of persecution or great crisis, how much more of a burden a wife or a family can be for someone committed to standing strong for the Lord. We may say, “Torture me, and I will never renounce Jesus.” But what if we were threatened with the rape of our wife or the torture of our children? These may seem far away to us, but they were not far away to Christians in the first century. Think (3543) nomizo from nomos = law, custom) to follow or practice what is customary (Acts 16:13), To think, believe, suppose, consider Mt 5:17; 10:34; Lk 2:44; Ac 7:25; 8:20; 16:13, 27; 1 Cor 7:26, 36 It means to think or believe something without being fully settled in mind or opinion. BDAG says "to form an idea about something but with some suggestion of tentativeness or refraining from a definitive statement." Distress (hardship) (318) anagke from ana = up, again, back, renewal, repetition, intensity, reversal + agkale = arm when bent) refers to any necessity or compulsion, outer or inner, brought on by a variety of circumstances. It can mean necessity imposed either by external conditions or by the law of duty. The idea of trouble, distress or hardship is dominant in Luke 21:23; 1Co 7:26; 2Co 6:4; 2Co 12:10. This is the predominant sense here in 1 Th 3:7 where anagke refers to difficult circumstances that come on one with compelling force. Anagke - 18v in NT - Matt. 18:7; Lk. 14:18; Lk. 21:23; Lk. 23:17; Rom. 13:5; 1 Co. 7:26; 1 Co. 7:37; 1 Co. 9:16; 2 Co. 6:4; 2 Co. 9:7; 2 Co. 12:10; 1 Thess. 3:7; Phlm. 1:14; Heb. 7:12; Heb. 7:27; Heb. 9:16; Heb. 9:23; Jude 1:3 That it is good (kalos) for a man to remain as he is - Amplified = "it is well (expedient, profitable, and wholesome) for a person to remain as he or she is." Although it is translated "man" a number of versions (as Amplified just quoted) translate it as if it could be either a man or a woman (NIV = "I think that it is good for you to remain as you are."). In context while virgin is usually referring to a young maiden, there is no question that Paul applied the truth to both young unmarried men and women and that truth was that it was better to remain unmarried. It would be easier to cope with whatever the stress was because the single person would not have to be concerned for their spouse and possibly children. In a word the single state would have less pressure!
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik - Paul echoes the same principle laid down in 1 Corinthians 7:17–24. God can use us right where we are, and we should not be so quick to change our station in life.
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik - Paul felt (especially for himself) that the greater advantages were found in being single, yet he knows that each one has his own gift from God (1 Corinthians 7:7).. Most significantly, Paul never implies that being married or single is more spiritual than the other state. This was the big error of the Corinthian Christians. NET Note on such problems - "I am trying to spare you." Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context. "Such problems" has been supplied here to make the sense of the statement clear. Arnold - Paul is not saying marriage automatically brings trouble into one’s life, although many can testify to the fact that while marriage lifted some major pressures, it added many more cares: education, food, clothing, housing, bills, in-laws, etc. It may be more fun to live with someone else but it is certainly much more complicated. However, Paul is thinking about trouble in times of crisis due to persecution. It is one thing for a man to face persecution and even martyrdom, but it is quite another to bring this upon his wife and children. A man might be brave but turn coward at the sight of his wife and children being persecuted because of his personal faith in Christ. Paul’s point is that in times of crisis, single life has advantages. Singles can be more flexible, can adapt more readily to certain cataclysmic conditions, can pick up and move if necessary, and can act without handling the affairs of others for whom they are responsible. Paul is not putting down marriage but is suggesting that for some singlehood might be the better course to take because marriage increases responsibilities. Sinned (264) hamartano literally means to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize). Hamartano means to act contrary to the will and law of God. To commit a wrong. To be in error. Hamartano in the Corinthian letters -1 Co. 6:18; 1 Co. 7:28; 1 Co. 7:36; 1 Co. 8:12; 1 Co. 15:34 Trouble (2347) thlipsis rom thlibo = to crush, press together, squash, hem in, compress, squeeze in turn derived from thláo = to break) originally expressed sheer, physical pressure on a man. Thlipsis is a strong term which does not refer to minor inconveniences, but to real hardships. Medically thlipsis was used of the pulse (pressure). It is a pressing together as of grapes. It conveys the idea of being squeezed or placed under pressure or crushed beneath a weight. When, according to the ancient law of England, those who willfully refused to plead guilty, had heavy weights placed on their breasts, and were pressed and crushed to death, this was literally thlipsis. The iron cage was stenochoria. Thlipsis thus refers not to mild discomfort but to great difficulty. Thlipsis in the Corinthian letters - 1 Co. 7:28; 2 Co. 1:4; 2 Co. 1:8; 2 Co. 2:4; 2 Co. 4:17; 2 Co. 6:4; 2 Co. 7:4; 2 Co. 8:2; 2 Co. 8:13; 1 Corinthians 7:29 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; Amplified I mean, brethren, the appointed time has been winding down and it has grown very short. From now on, let even those who have wives be as if they had none, Wuest But this I am saying, brethren, The strategic, epochal period of time [in which we are living] has been shortened, that henceforth both those who have wives be as though not having wives, (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 7:29 And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, NLT 1 Corinthians 7:29 But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. ESV 1 Corinthians 7:29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, NIV 1 Corinthians 7:29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; GNT 1 Corinthians 7:29 τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί, ὁ καιρὸς συνεσταλμένος ἐστίν· τὸ λοιπόν, ἵνα καὶ οἱ ἔχοντες γυναῖκας ὡς μὴ ἔχοντες ὦσιν KJV 1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; YLT 1 Corinthians 7:29 And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened -- that both those having wives may be as not having; ASV 1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; CSB 1 Corinthians 7:29 And I say this, brothers: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, NKJ 1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, NRS 1 Corinthians 7:29 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, NAB 1 Corinthians 7:29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, NJB 1 Corinthians 7:29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time has become limited, and from now on, those who have spouses should live as though they had none; GWN 1 Corinthians 7:29 This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time has been shortened. While it lasts, those who are married should live as though they were not. BBE 1 Corinthians 7:29 But I say this, my brothers, the time is short; and from now it will be wise for those who have wives to be as if they had them not; the time: Job 14:1,2 Ps 39:4-7 90:5-10 103:15,16 Ec 6:12 9:10 Ro 13:11,12 Heb 13:13,14 1Pe 4:7 2Pe 3:8,9 1Jn 2:17 that both: Ec 12:7,8,13,14 Isa 24:1,2 40:6-8 Jas 4:13-16 1Pe 1:24 1 Corinthians 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries TIME IS SHORT REDEEM THE TIME! So the first reason it is better to remain single is because of the present distress and here is the second reason which is because the time is short (the time of our life on earth, the time of this present age)
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik - Paul is not encouraging the neglect of proper family duties, but encouraging living as if the time is short. It means that we will not live as if our earthly family was all that mattered, but also live with an eye to eternity. A time is short attitude will also not indulge the feelings and things of this world. Weeping, rejoicing, and having possessions must not get in the way of following hard after Jesus. THOUGHT - I like to refer to this as Vertical Vision - we live on earth "horizontally" so speak, focused on earthly things, but that focus needs to be tempered and even dominated by focus on heavenly things or "Vertical Vision." See notes on Vertical Vision
1 Coríntios 7
Guzik - A time is short attitude will also not indulge the feelings and things of this world. Weeping, rejoicing, and having possessions must not get in the way of following hard after Jesus. And those who (present tense - continually) weep, as though they did not (present tense - continually) weep; and those who (present tense - continually) rejoice, as though they did not (present tense - continually) rejoice - Keep the context in mind. All of these are to be practiced in light of the fact that the time has been shortened. MacArthur "With our emphasis on celebration and happiness it is also easy for believers to get carried away with rejoicing over those things that pass away. A personal success, an inheritance, or a business promotion sometimes excites us more than a spiritual victory. Even when we give the Lord credit for the blessing, we can lose our perspective and be controlled more by our emotions than by our good judgment and spiritual priorities. Stephen Armstrong - This principle of serving Christ free from divided attention extends far beyond the restrictions of marriage ◦ In v.30, Paul says we cannot allow the sorrows and disappointments of this life to become excuse for not serving God. In Paul’s day, Christians often experienced the sorrow of losing a loved one to persecution or suffering economic distress for their faith. Paul says if we have such sorrows, we must continue serving Christ as if we have only joys Arnold has a good explanation of these somewhat confusing statements - Paul's advice is that it is not good to get wrapped up in the affairs of this world which will hinder our fellowship with Christ and our obedience to God’s will. Weeping, rejoicing and buying are all legitimate and necessary aspects of life, but the highest good is one’s service to Jesus Christ. There are multitudes of Christians who had real spiritual zeal for Christ in their single state who after marriage became bogged down with children, home, jobs, paying bills, material concerns or whatever and lost that zeal. Surely marriage and children will change our zeal for service to Christ to some degree, but we must never let marriage kill our zeal for Christ. (LET IT NOT HAPPEN LORD. AMEN!) Poole on rejoice as though they did not rejoice - for any of those who rejoiced in any worldly enjoyments, the shortness of the time (1 Cor 7:29) they are like to have them to rejoice in, should admonish them to govern and moderate their joy, for it is like to be but like the crackling of thorns under a pot.