Ep. 308. 1 Corinthians 7 | Godly Marriage

EPISODE 308

GODLY MARRIAGE: 1 CORINTHIANS 7

Continuing from yesterday, we see that Paul offers a correct perspective of the marriage relationship in 1 Corinthians chapter seven. The first five verses of this chapter deal with the sexual relationship between husband and wife. "Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband." I imagine if there were no temptation to sexual immorality, Paul would recommend singleness for all people, though he does acknowledge that "Each has his own gift from God." Paul is not bashful about promoting singleness. After all, "The married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife and his interests are divided. But the unmarried is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit."

Paul would prefer that people have single-minded devotion to the Lord, but we cannot deny, nor would we try to, that God created marriage in the opening pages of the Bible to image him. So, marriage is for the glory of God, and singleness is for the glory of God. But if someone considers their singleness a gift, then they are more easily free from distractions so that they might honor God.

If you will consider chapter seven an answer to the problem of the sin in chapter five, I think this section of Corinthians will make a little more sense to you.

ADDITIONAL READING: 1 Peter 1:18-19