What wisdom would married and single Christians want to consider?
1 Corinthians 7:1-16 Christian Marriages
Is celibacy good or bad?
1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
What should single people do if they continually face many sexual temptations?
1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Should a husband or wife deprive each other of sexual affection?
1 Corinthians 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
Why? Does the idea of mutual submission play a role in marital sex?
1 Corinthians 7:4 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.
Is there ever a time to mutually agree to abstain? Why should husband and wife return to normal sexual relations?
1 Corinthians 7:5 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.
Is this a command or pastoral advice?
1 Corinthians 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
In those troubled times of severe persecution, how did Paul wish all people were? Is this state a gift?
1 Corinthians 7:7 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.
What was Paul talking about specifically?
1 Corinthians 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.
What strength of character does celibacy exhibit? What if people don’t have this gift?
1 Corinthians 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn [with passion].
What commandment is from God to the married?
1 Corinthians 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
What if a spouse does depart the marriage?
1 Corinthians 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
What about those already married to unbelievers?
1 Corinthians 7:12-13 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. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
What benefit does the unbelieving spouse obtain from being married to a believer?
1 Corinthians 7:14 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.
What if the unbeliever departs the marriage? Is the marriage bond also broken in principle by an abusive spouse who has departed the safety and peace that a marriage is meant to be?
1 Corinthians 7:15 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.
What should we pray for those married to an unbeliever?
1 Corinthians 7:16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Keep Your Calling
Should we change our social status when we become Christians?
1 Corinthians 7:17 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.
What about circumcision?
1 Corinthians 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
How important is circumcision under the new covenant?
1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God [is what matters].
What about our employment?
1 Corinthians 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
What if we are a slave, an employee under contract, or in slavery to debt?
1 Corinthians 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
What does our social status mean to God?
1 Corinthians 7:22 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.
What if we are debt-free and self-employed? Should we be cautious about being enslaved to anything?
1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Although there would be obvious exceptions, what principle should the new Christian think about in regards to his situation in life?
1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
1 Corinthians 7:25-40 Christian Singles
Does Paul have some pastoral advice for Christian singles during such times of crisis?
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.
Are there Christians in similar distress today?
1 Corinthians 7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
Modern persecution against Christians is worse than it has ever been in history, mostly across north Africa and Asia. What would Paul advise singles?
1 Corinthians 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
What troubles could a marriage bring to a Christian couple in times of crisis?
1 Corinthians 7:28 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.
What can happen to marriages, especially in times of severe persecution? What would Paul advise?
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;
How can worldly cares consume us? How should we act towards things which we temporarily own?
1 Corinthians 7:30 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;
How attached should we become to the things of this world? Why?
1 Corinthians 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
What attitude does Paul want us to have about the things of the world?
1 Corinthians 7:32 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:
What does marriage force us to care about?
1 Corinthians 7:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
What advantage do single Christian women have over their married sisters?
1 Corinthians 7:34 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.
How is marriage a distraction?
1 Corinthians 7:35 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.
Is it wrong to later change from celibacy to marriage? If so, why would anyone require a vow of celibacy?
1 Corinthians 7:36 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.
Is having a low libido somehow wrong?
1 Corinthians 7:37 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.
Under difficult circumstances, which is better, marriage or celibacy?
1 Corinthians 7:38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
Can widows remarry a Christian?
1 Corinthians 7:39 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.
In times of severe persecution, which is likely a happier life?
1 Corinthians 7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
During the first 300 years of Christianity, many were martyred. Paul recommends celibacy, but not by mandate, coercion or a foolish, irreversible vow. Rather, a couple ought to be free to change their minds and later marry. He also says that in marriage, mutual submission to sexual needs provides much needed protection against temptation.
