The last teaching by Apostle Paul concerning marriage for the unmarried began in 1 Cor. 7:6-9. He explains his reasoning now in verses 25-35. Let us read verses 6-9 first. 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. 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.
Now turn to 1 Cor. 7:25-35. 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.
Notice Paul is returning to the unmarried as he began earlier; virgins–maidens who have never been with a man and therefore are not married. He will include widows who are no longer married due to the death of their male spouse. Once again, Paul is speaking with the approval of the Holy Spirit. (2 Tim. 3:16) It is not a direct command by God, therefore, man should not bind this teaching upon mankind as a condition for salvation.
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.
The present destress for Corinth is no different than today; the perils of life with persecutions against Christians is real and heavy upon mankind. With a dual responsibility to family and God, Christian mankind has a more difficult time being totally loyal to both situations–physical life and spiritual life. Now we will see the direct reasoning Paul would have unmarried Christians to choose to remain unmarried.
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. 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.
Paul wants to instill within the mind of unmarried Christians the difficulties they will face being tied to two ‘masters’, if you will. Those masters would be: God and the spirit duty; physical duty to provide and protect a family in times of Christian persecution. This is the ‘carefulness term used in verse 32. Reread verse 32-33. 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. A Christian is split between the physical cares and God, the spiritual cares.
Paul includes a widow in this strong suggestion to be unmarried. Now that she is unmarried, she should try to remain unmarried. Again, this is not a command by Paul or God.
The term VIRGIN is defined as a marriageable maiden, a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man, and/or one's marriageable daughter. As speaking of the male, one who has never had intercourse with women. We see the connotation as understood in today’s verse, yet, it can be just the marriageable maiden to whom has not been pre arranged for a husband according to custom. When speaking of this passage, I believe we must take the custom of the Jews and assume neither person, either male or female, have had intercourse with anyone. However, for Gentiles, one might assume any one has had sexual intercourse before, as the intro of this topic was to confront fornication and put a stop to it for believers. Thus, to not take a spouse, even if fornication has previously occurred, if the new Gentile convert can contain, a single life would be better for them.
In this passage, we see the true reasoning Paul desired for all men to remain ‘even as I myself’ (vs. 7). Marriage served its purpose--to reduce the physical need of fornication; to which all perhaps were guilty, both Jew and Gentile. (vs. 2) And, marriage is necessary for the propagation of children in its proper manner prescribed by God from the beginning. For the believer, they were to ‘renew their minds’ to be holy, as God is holy. Any distractions from the duty of man could cause opportunities to fall from grace before God. This gave Satan an opportunity for temptation into the lives of mankind. Therefore, it was deemed necessary to include this dialog in the teachings of marriage to the church. It was understood more fully by those to whom persecution was imminent.
Realizing this dialog was not a binding command, let us consider vss. 8-9. 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. A young virgin may not be strong enough to ‘contain’ themselves; nor might a young widow. Therefore, Paul says to avoid fornication, let them marry–either for the first time in the case of the virgin, or a second time if a young widow.
The conclusion of this dialog is: vss. 36-38. The father of the maiden is responsible for the virgin daughter. He, in the traditions of the first century Christians, was the one to choose if, and, to whom his daughter was to marry, if at all. Early in our American civilization a similar tradition stood. Today, mankind has turned away from these teachings of marriage as to the importance of the vow to the chosen spouse and God. Fornication is rampant among mankind and perhaps out of control due to changes in culture–good or bad. Proper teachings are also to blame. Let us read vss. 36-38. 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.
Speaking of the fathers and their control over their daughters is the full concept. If the father can know the daughter is not fornicating and can keep her pure he does not have to allow her to marry. She has no control over this matter. However, if he knows she is fornicating, (vs. 36; ‘if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require’) let her have her own husband. Either way the father is righteous in his choice. (vs. 38)
The bottom line for Christians is this: vss. 39-40. 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.
What is the law for a woman? 1 Cor. 7:10-11. 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. This was and is the commandment of the Lord. Let not man put the marriage asunder. If the wife departs the house of her husband, to be righteous before God, she must reconcile to her husband; no other male. She must also remain celibate. Committing adultery by fornicating with another man is a sin which will not be allowed in heavenly dwellings. Committers of those sins will not inherit heaven if they are not repented.
