1 Corinthians 7 - Introduction

FIRST CORINTHIANS-chapter 1 Corinthians 7:1-16:

OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY-MARK DUNAGAN

I. The Premise of the Whole Chapter: 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

II. Sexual Obligations in Marriage: 1 Corinthians 7:3-6

III. Advice to the Unmarried/Widows: 1 Corinthians 7:7-9

IV. Commands to the Married: 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

V. When Married to an Unbeliever: 1 Corinthians 7:12-16

II. INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER SEVEN:

This chapter begins what could be viewed as the second half of First Corinthians. With this chapter Paul begins his response to. letter that they had written him (1 Corinthians 7:1). We can infer some of the topics of their letter from the often repeated phrase, "now concerning" (1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Corinthians 16:1). Two basic views exist concerning the spirit and tone of their letter. (1) Their letter included. sincere list of questions that they were wanting Paul to give them God's will upon. (2) Their letter was combative in nature, "probably. response to Paul's previous letter mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:9, in which they were taking exception to his position on point after point. In light of their own theology of spirit, with heavy emphasis on "wisdom" and "knowledge" they have answered Paul with. kind of "Why can't we?" attitude, in which they are looking for his response.' [Note:. Fee p. 267]

'Not every item is equally combative (e.g., Chapter s 8-10 are much more so that 1 Corinthians 1:1-24 or 1 Corinthians 7:25-40); nonetheless in every case he takes exception to their position, or at least to the position of some among them who have influenced the whole.. (Fee p. 267)

Various Misconceptions Existed in the Ancient World Concerning Marriage:

We need to realize that the Church in Corinth was composed of members from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds. Both of these cultures held to various myths concerning marriage, that apparently some in Corinth were still bothered by or advocating.

The Greeks and the Romans had. very low view of the permanency of marriage. (1 Corinthians 7:10-11) 'Demosthenes, the Athenian, said: "We keep courtesans to be amused, concubines to be nursed, wives for the bringing forth of legitimate children and as faithful watchers of the house."....Seneca said Roman women were married to be divorced and divorced to be married...Walton spoke of "an extraordinary freedom of divorce"..and Mommsen spoke of the second century B.C. as marked by "the frequency of divorce and the general aversion to marriage."' [Note:. McGuiggan pp. 88-89]

And yet on the other hand, the Jewish culture had. very low view of being single. 'It was taught with vigor that. man who had not married by the age of twenty had transgressed the law of God...Celibacy was frowned on and early marriages were urged..' (McGuiggan p. 88) 'Now orthodox Jewish belief laid down the obligation of marriage. If. man did not marry and have children, he was said to have "slain his posterity", "to have lessened the image of God in this world." Seven were said to be excommunicated from heaven, and the list began, "A Jew who has no wife."' (Barclay p. 68)

And then there was the question of being married to an unbeliever. (1 Corinthians 7:12-16) Could it be that some were arguing that the example in the book of Ezra (Jews being commanded to put away foreign wives), necessitated that Christians divorce non-Christian mates?

And what about widows? (1 Corinthians 7:8-9; 39-40) 'The Jews in keeping with other nations esteemed highly those who remained unmarried when their partner died..Jerome and others thought remarriage after the death of. partner was "decent adultery."' (McGuiggan p. 89)

There also existed questions concerning the moral purity of sexual relations even in the marriage relationship. (1 Corinthians 7:2-5) Apparently there were some Greek schools of thought that considered the body to be evil, and hence anything done with the body, including sexual relations in marriage were also evil. But that teaching doesn't seem to have made much of. dent in Corinthian society. When people come out of sin, sometimes they are prone to go overboard in their zeal. Paul preached so strongly against fornication, that some in Corinth might of been so repulsed by their former ways, that they went overboard and declared all sex to be sinful, or at least, "an unspiritual activity."

In conclusion, McGuiggan reminds us, 'Do remember, that divorce and remarriage, celibacy, sexual abstinence are all matters for discussion whether you were prone to Greek asceticism or Greek libertinism or Jewish whatever. These questions don't relate to any one group, they were all interested in them. And it wouldn't hurt us to pay special attention to the fact that it was to Hebrews and not Greeks that the word was written: "Let marriage be had in honor among all." (Hebrews 13:4)' (p. 91)

FIRST CORINTHIANS chapter 1 Corinthians 7:17-40

OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY-MARK DUNAGAN

I. OUTLINE OF chapter 1 Corinthians 7:17-40:

I. Calling and Status: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

II. Concerning Virgins: 1 Corinthians 7:25-38

III. Concerning Widows: 1 Corinthians 7:39-40

II. INTRODUCTION:

'Here Paul lays down one of the first rules of Christianity, "Be. Christian where you are." It must often have happened that when. man became. Christian he would have liked to break away from his job, and from the circle in which he moved, and begin. new life. But Paul insisted that the function of Christianity was not to give. man. new life, but to make his old life new.' [Note:. Barclay p. 72]

'A man or woman's social status is of minor importance; what matters is the fact that one has been called by God into his fellowship and service (1 Corinthians 1:9). To this calling the believer should remain faithful whatever his state of life may be. Concern to change one's status could absorb energies which might be more profitably devoted to Christian life and service.' [Note:. F.F. Bruce p. 71]

'As. summary rule for all things of. smaller nature, the apostle says that each man must rest content to walk in the lot which God has apportioned to him, not making his new religion an excuse for unwarranted changes.' [Note:. McGarvey p. 81]

III. COMMENTARY ON chapter 1 Corinthians 7:1-16: