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1
Corinthians Chapter Seven
I.
Content of the Chapter
Christians’ Views About
Marriage
A. The reasons for marriage
(v.1-9):
1. Marriage can avoid sexual
immorality (v.1-2).
2. Therefore, husband and wife
should deprive one another (v.3-5).
3. If one has the gift of not
marrying, it will be better for him to not marry (v.6-7).
4. If a widower or a widow
cannot exercise self-control, let him or her marry (v.8-9).
B. He who has married should
not divorce his wife (v.10-16):
1. Divorce is forbidden
according to the truth (v.10-11).
2. If one’s spouse has not
believed the Lord, he cannot divorce his spouse (v.12-16).
C. One should remain in the
state in which he was called (v.17-24):
1. Let the circumcised not
become uncircumcised. And let the circumcised not be circumcised (v. 17-19).
2. A slave should not
importune for liberty (v.20-24).
D. It is good for a man to
remain as he is (v.25-38):
1. It is good for a man to
remain as he is because of the present distress (v.25-26).
2. Marriage is not sin, but
those who are involved will have trouble in the flesh (v.27-28).
3. The form of this world is
passing away. Even those who have wives should be as though they had none (v.29-31).
4. He who is unmarried cares
for the things of the Lord. He who is married cares about his spouse (v.32-35).
5. He who keeps his virgin
should stand steadfast in his heart and no necessity, but has power over his
own will (v.36-38).
E. The widower can marry again,
but should be married to one who is in the Lord (v.39-40).
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1Cor. 7:1 “Now concerning the things
of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”
YLT: “And concerning the things of which ye
wrote to me: good for a man not to touch a woman,”
Meaning of
Words:
“touch”: attach oneself to, fasten to;
Literal
Meaning: “concerning
the things of which you wrote to me”, it indicated that the church at
“It is good for a man not to touch a woman”, “a man not to touch a
woman”, it is not general contact, but physical touch between a man and a
woman. “Good”, it is not absolutely good in the original, but properly good or
praiseworthily good. Probably, such diction may have something to do with the
background that the extreme Stoic at that time thought keeping the virgin was
“absolutely good”. Though Paul remained as he was, he was not a stoic (see
1Tim. 4:3; Col. 2:23).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
life that we have obtained by grace is the life of God, and has not difference
between male and female. However, since we still live in the flesh, we have
still the possibility of being stumbled. Therefore, the sphere of the
fellowship among brothers and sisters in the church should be bounded, lest be
tempted by Satan.
2)
Though
the attraction of the opposite sex is of the creation of God, it is still of
the old creation. Our conduct in the new creation is not ruled by the old
creation. Besides, the new creation should dominate the old creation. Believers
should seek the proper answer to the matter of sex according to the perspective
of the new creation.
1Cor. 7:2 “Nevertheless, because of
sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her
own husband.”
YLT: “and because of the whoredom let each
man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;”
Literal
Meaning: “nevertheless,
because of sexual immorality”, the words aimed at the Corinthians among whom
sexual immorality prevailed at that time. It was an urgent problem that how to
prevent sexual immorality at that time.
“Let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own
husband”, it shows that monogamy (namely, the custom of being married to only
one husband or wife) has the effect of avoiding sexual immorality.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
normal marriage life can decrease the chances of committing sexual immorality.
Conversely, the passionate lusts may increase the chances of temptations.
2)
A
husband or a wife should abide whom God appoints to “him or her”. If he or she
loves or relies on others besides the one of him or her, he or she has
committed the sexual immorality (see John 4:18).
3)
The
church should not love or rely on others besides her husband, the only Christ,
for Christ refuses all that is outside of him to be His wife, but only “that is
of Himself, of His flesh, and of His bone” (Eph. 5:30), namely, the pure
constitution of Himself and His full “wife” ---- the church.
1Cor. 7:3 “Let the husband render to
his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.”
YLT: “to the wife let the husband the due
benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to the husband;”
Literal
Meaning: “let
the husband render to his wife the affection due her”, “render … due”, pay the
debt; so they should not deprive one another (see v.5). In other words, a
husband should consider how to let his wife satisfied and joyful, but not be
self-cantered.
“And likewise also the wife to her
husband”, the blessed marriage life is built on thinking of the other one, for
it is not a unilateral matter. Therefore, Paul calls for the husband and wife
should both assume their responsibility.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Let
the husband or the wife render to the other one the affection due him or her on
the matter of sexual life ---- honor one another and adapt oneself to the other
one. They should neither indulge their lusts, nor be unwilling to do what he or
she is bound to do in the marriage life.
2)
Paul
here mentions the right for the wife, and that for the husband later, for the
right tends to be ignored. Most of the problems among a husband and his wife
are caused by the husband.
1Cor. 7:4 “The wife does not have
authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband
does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. ”
YLT: “the wife over her own body hath not
authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own
body hath not authority, but the wife.”
Literal
Meaning: “the
wife does not have authority over her own body”, a woman has totally lost her
authority over her own body after marriage.
“But the husband does”, it has two
aspects of meaning: 1) it is within the power of a husband to have any
reasonable request of his wife for her body; 2) a wife must not have any other
relationship outside of her husband.
“And likewise the husband does not
have authority over his own body, but the wife does”, “likewise”, it shows that
the principle for the wife is also fit for the husband. There is not the
so-called custom that male is superior to female.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
normal and perfect sexual life of the couple is created and arranged by God. We
should never regard it unclean.
2)
The
bodies of the husband and wife are for each other only. The second is not
allowed to interfere with. The couple should both respect the marriage (see
Heb. 13:4) and keep the holiness of their bodies for each other.
3)
Paul
here firstly mentions that the wife does not have authority over her own body,
for the wife often takes the refusal of the request of her husband as the
weapon to discipline him. It should not be thus.
4)
The
true oneness of one couple is losing the authority and liberty of each one and
humor the other one ---- “have authority over her or his own body, but the
other one does”. It is likewise in the church if we desire to bear the
testimony of oneness. Whenever we are unwilling to sacrifice personal liberty
and humor brothers or sisters, we have destroyed the reality of the oneness of
the church.
1Cor. 7:5 “Do not deprive one
another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting
and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of
your lack of self-control. ”
YLT: “Defraud not one another, except by
consent for a time, that ye may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may
come together, that the Adversary may not tempt you because of your
incontinence;”
Meaning of
Words:
“give yourselves to”: be at leisure for, be vacant;
Literal
Meaning: “do
not deprive one another”, “deprive”: it means that one is unwilling to do his
duty of sexual life in marriage.
“Except with consent for a time that
you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer”, this verse points out three
conditions for “separation” of the husband and wife: 1) the consent of the both
sides ---- “with consent”; 2) it is “for a time”; 3) the purpose ---- “give oneself
to fasting and prayer”;
“And come together again”, it shows
that it is an abnormal phenomenon that the husband and the wife separate from
one another for a long time.
“So that Satan does not tempt you
because of your lack of self-control”, any abnormal lifestyle in marriage may
give room to the devil.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
We
should not be affected by anyone or anything in prayer. Therefore, if one has
great matter to pray, he should temporarily put aside anyone or anything that
must affect our prayer, and even leave the closest spouse for a time.
2)
Our
adversary devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour (1Pet.
5:8). Therefore, we should take heed of it and not give any room to it (Eph.
4:27), lest it creep in.
1Cor. 7:6 “But I say this as a
concession, not as a commandment.”
YLT: “and this I say by way of concurrence
-- not of command,”
Literal
Meaning: it
means that that one marries is not a commandment, but a concession. The true
desire of Paul seemed to be that they would better not marry (see v.7).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
will of God towards believers have two forms: one desires us to keep, and the
other one consents us to do (see Matt. 19:8). We’d better take the mind of God
as ours instead of being satisfied with the concession of God.
2)
“Not
as a commandment”, it suggests that the apostle has the authority to command
believers. When the servant of the Lord has really knowN the Lord’s will to us
and has firm assurance in his spirit of one thing that is helpful, not evil to
us, he can even teach them with a commanding tone.
1Cor. 7:7 “For I wish that all men
were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this
manner and another in that. ”
YLT: “for I wish all men to be even as I
myself ; but each his own gift hath of God, one indeed thus, and one thus.”
Literal
Meaning: “for
I wish that all men were even as I myself”, Paul was single when he wrote this
epistle. Someone thought Paul might have married and yet his wife died early
and he never married again, so he was so familiar with the need between men and
women.
“But each one has his own gift from
God”, “gift from God”, it here especially refers to the gift of remaining
singlehood (see Matt. 19:10-11)
“One in this manner and another in
that”, one is the gift that one does not marry and another is general gift,
which is insufficient to overcome the lusts in the flesh and has the
possibility of being tempted by Satan (see v.5, 9).
Controversial
Clarification: according
to this verse, the Catholicism raised “two classes” among the people of God:
one was the clergyman class ---- they had the gift of being virgins, e.g. the
Catholic fathers and nuns, who did not marry all their life; the other one was
the common believer’s class ---- they had not received the gift of being
virgins and could marry freely, but could never be Catholic fathers or nuns. It
was wrong for the reasons as follows:
1)
The
instinct of “sex” created by God to man was regarded unhallowed, so the
Catholicism proposed the abstinent monarchist, inserting a kind of unhealthy
view into believers, who even thought the sexual relationship in marriage was
unholy and felt shameful and sinful to sexual relationship of the husband and
wife. However, such view was opposite to that of the Scriptures. And they were
both naked, Man and his wife, and were not ashamed (Gen. 2:25).
2)
In
fact, many of those clergymen had not gift of keeping virginity and only kept
the form of not marrying before men because of the rules. And they actually
committed various shocking sins in secret. In the past 2000 years, many
scandals were hidden by the conservative power of the church. However, fire can
never be wrapped in paper. In the past decades, especially in
3)
It
does not agree with the history of the church if we equal the gift of being
virgins with spiritual gifts. Most of the twelve apostles had married (see
1Cor. 9:5).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
No
matter what the preachers teach, they should set themselves as examples, and
should not be like scribes and the Pharisees, who say and do not (see Matt.
23:3).
2)
He
who remains as he is does not rely on his will only, but shall also have the
gift of God.
3)
Here,
it points out a principle ---- one should not imitate others beyond the grace
in the Lord when following the Lord. Or else, it will become worse. Any choice
of spiritual things should be clearly and naturally pressed by the Lord in us.
Otherwise, man can not persevere in doing it and thus fall into worse end.
4)
On
one hand, Paul directly spoke of his own opinion and gave his testimony. On the
other hand, he did not force others to imitate him at all and yet exhorted
everyone to do according to what they had “received” before God ---- “as God
has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one” (v.17). This is
the attitude that one who leads others should have ---- help others sincerely
but do not force or rule them.
1Cor. 7:8 “But I say to the
unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;”
YLT: “And I say to the unmarried and to the
widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I ;”
Literal
Meaning: “the
unmarried” is male in the original, so refers to the widower, not the one who
has not married, for the matter concerning those who have not married will not
be mentioned until verse 25.
“It is good for them if they remain even as I am”, if Paul had married
in the past, he might remain as he was after losing his wife (see the
commentary of verse seven).
1Cor. 7:9 “but if they cannot
exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn
with passion. ”
YLT: “and if they have not continence --
let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;”
Literal
Meaning: “but
if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry.” ---- “self-control”, it
is like that every athlete who is going to partake in competition is temperate
in his food and all things (see 1Cor. 9:25). Here, it indicates that if one can
not control his passion in the flesh, it is better to marry for him.
“For it is better to marry than to
burn with passion”, “burn with passion”, it refers to the condition that one is
harassed by lusts and cannot suffer it. If the sexual desire of a single one is
strong like this, to marry is the best choice for him.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
If
one cannot exercise “self-control” or even feel “burnt with passion”, it shows
that he has not received the gift of not marrying from God (see v.7).
2)
One
who has not the gift of not marrying, it is hard to avoid “being burnt with
passion” and becoming vexatious. If so, it is better to marry for him so as not
to be overcome by temptation without “self-control”.
1Cor. 7:10 “Now to the married I
command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.”
YLT: “and to the married I announce -- not
I, but the Lord -- let not a wife separate from a husband:”
Literal
Meaning: “now
to the married”, it begins to mention believers who have married.
“Yet not I but the Lord”, that believers
cannot divorce is a clear and obvious teaching that the Lord declares (see
Matt. 5:32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). Therefore, Paul says it is the
Lord’s commandment, not his.
“A wife is not to depart from her
husband”, “depart from”, it means divorce.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Prophets
speak for the Lord according to two points: one is the abiding words (logos) of
God in the Scriptures and the other is the transient words (rhema) in prophets
from the Holy Spirit. However, the transient words of the Spirit will not be
against the words of the Scriptures or its principles. Therefore, we can know
whether the words of the prophets are of God according to the Scriptures.
2)
We
should let the words of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom so that we can
teach and admonish one another when it is necessary (see
3)
If
the preachers are joined to the Lord unto one (see 1Cor. 6:17), the Lord will
speak in them, and their words are the Lord’s words.
1Cor. 7:11 “But even if she does
depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband
is not to divorce his wife. ”
YLT: “but and if she may separate, let her
remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a
husband send away a wife.”
Meaning of
Words:
“depart”: leave, separate;
Literal
Meaning: “but
even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried”, “if she does depart”, it
does not mean divorce is allowed in the Scriptures, but that one has departed
from her spouse when he does not know the truth. “Let her remain unmarried”, it
shows that she must not marry again.
“Or be reconciled to her husband”,
since God does not accept divorce, it is better for the husband and wife to be
reconciled to each other again.
“And a husband is not to divorce his
wife”, the request for the wife is also for husband.
1Cor. 7:12 “But to the rest I, not
the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is
willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.”
YLT: “And to the rest I speak -- not the
Lord -- if any brother hath a wife unbelieving, and she is pleased to dwell
with him, let him not send her away;”
Literal
Meaning: “but
to the rest I, not the Lord, say”, “the rest” refers the one who spouse does
not believe the Lord (see v.12-16). “Not the Lord, say”, the points that the
Lord had not left such teaching when He was on the earth. The following
teaching is given by the apostle Paul. Since he expresses his opinions after he
has known the principle of the Lord’s works, under the inspiration and guidance
of the Spirit, his opinions are finally admitted by God and are recorded in the
Scriptures as the words of God.
“If any brother has a wife who does
not believe”, such marriage might be formed when the believer had not been
saved. However, many times today, believers may marry those who do not believe
because of loving them or having not found satisfying brothers or sisters.
“And she is willing to live with him,
let him not divorce her”, though believers in the New Testament are encouraged
not to be diversely yoked with unbelievers (see v.39; 2Cor. 6:14-15), those who
have married are also not encouraged to divorce their spouses. It is different
from the rule in the Old Testament that the Jews were not allowed to marry the
Gentiles (see Ezra 10:2-3; Neh. 10:30).
Enlightenment
in the Word: the
principle of “incarnation” in the New Testament is that the Lord’s words are
spoken by men. Apparently, it is man that speaks, but it is the Lord that
speaks in reality. Believers should listen to the words of the Lord’s servants
with the attitude of receiving the Lord’s words.
1Cor. 7:13 “And a woman who has a
husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not
divorce him.”
YLT: “and a woman who hath a husband
unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away;”
1Cor. 7:14 “For the unbelieving
husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by
the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.”
YLT:
“for
the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving
wife hath been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean,
but now they are holy.”
Literal
Meaning: “For
the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife”, “is sanctified”, be
separated unto God; when one of a couple has believed the Lord and the other
one has not, the believer has still been separated unto God and is of God. And
the spouse who does not believe is of the believer, so he or she has indirectly
been separated unto God and is of God.
Another meaning is that the sexual relationship in marriage is allowed
by God and will not become unclean because one has not believed the Lord.
“And the unbelieving wife
is sanctified by the husband”, God treats brothers and sisters alike, for there
is not the difference between male and female in the new man (see Gal. 3:28).
“Otherwise your children
would be unclean”, if the matter of sexual intercourse is unclean, the children
will also be unclean.
“But now they are holy”,
“holy”, it does not mean they are holy in spirit, but that all the children
that believers have borne in lawful marriage are admitted by God and have been
separated unto God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Since
the family members are sanctified by God, we should pray for their being saved
and entreat God to save them and make them become real “saints”.
2)
Believers
should have spiritual insight concerning their family members, seeing that they
have been separated by God. Such insight will produce faith (see Heb. 11:1) and
faith may give birth to fruit.
1Cor. 7:15 “But if the unbeliever
departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such
cases. But God has called us to peace. ”
YLT: “And, if the unbelieving doth separate
himself -- let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under
servitude in such , and in peace hath God called us;”
Meaning of
Words:
“under bondage”: bond, restrict, enslave;
Literal
Meaning: “but
if the unbeliever departs, let him depart”, “the unbeliever” refers to the wife
who does not believe (v.12) or the husband who does not believe (v.13). It is
said that when the one who does not believe actively proposes the request of
divorce, if the believer receives passively, he or she needs not to assume the
responsibility of breaking the marriage.
“A brother or a sister is not under
bondage in such cases”, “not under bondage”, be not restricted by the rule that
“believers should not divorce”.
“But God has called us to peace”,
“peace” is not only external peace, but also internal peace. God has saved us,
so we can enjoy the peace (see Eph. 2:15-17) with others as well as the rest in
spirit for we have been reconciled to God. No matter what things, even like the
great thing of divorce, we should also let the peace of Christ preside in our
hearts (Col. 3:15).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
God
does not desire His children to regard the words of His servants as dead
regulations to keep or live under the bondage, but desires that the children of
God can walk by the peaceful feelings of the Spirit when they deal with those
matters.
2)
We
should seek peace with all in any circumstance. If there are believers’ family
members that have not believed the Lord, what is most important for us is to
pursue peace with them. We should not be hostile to them because we have
believed the Lord, but treat them well so as to let them be moved because of
our good works and thus be willing to turn the Lord.
1Cor. 7:16 “For how do you know, O
wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband,
whether you will save your wife? ”
YLT: “for what, hast thou known, O wife,
whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband,
whether the wife thou shalt save?”
Literal
Meaning: “for
how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?” ---- It indicates
that the unbelieving spouse may believe the Lord and be saved in the future.
Enlightenment
in the Word: God
desires that all men should be saved (1Tim. 2:4). And he must be more willing
to save the spouses of believers. How can we give up the chances?
1Cor. 7:17 “But as God has
distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And
so I ordain in all the churches. ”
YLT: “if not, as God did distribute to each,
as the Lord hath called each -- so let him walk; and thus in all the assemblies
do I direct:”
Literal
Meaning: “but
as God has distributed to each one”, it indicates that the spouses of believers
are distributed by God and believers should not desire to change. Moreover, it
also refers to the position when believers were saved ---- the circumcised or
the uncircumcised, the salve or freedman (see v.18-24).
“As the Lord has called each one”, it
means that trying one’s best to lead the unbelieving spouse to believe the Lord
is the work that God calls everyone to do. Moreover, it also means that each
one should remain in the state in which he was called before God (see v.20, 24)
---- this is what believers should do.
“And so I ordain in all the churches”,
the teachings of Paul to all the churches are the same.
1Cor. 7:18 “Was anyone called while
circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while
uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. ”
YLT: “being circumcised -- was any one
called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called?
let him not be circumcised;”
Meaning of
Words:
“become uncircumcised”: efface or hide the mark of circumcision;
The
Background: there
were two extreme and opposite opinions among believers in the church. Those who
especially advocated the law in Judaism thought one could be saved by
circumcision besides faith (see Acts 15:1). Some Gentile believers held that
the circumcised believers could be saved by becoming uncircumcised.
Literal
Meaning: “was
anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised”. ----
“Become uncircumcised”, since the mark of circumcision is not seen by others,
it possibly means that one hides his status of circumcision.
“Was anyone called while uncircumcised?
Let him not be circumcised”. ---- The Gentile believers do not need to receive
circumcision.
1Cor. 7:19 “Circumcision is nothing
and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what
matters.”
YLT: “the circumcision is nothing, and the
uncircumcision is nothing -- but a keeping of the commands of God.”
Literal
Meaning: “circumcision
is nothing”, the fleshly circumcision only removes a flat of skin of one’s
body, but has not really cut off the lusts or corruption in men (see Col.
2:11). Therefore, circumcision is nothing.
“And uncircumcision is nothing”,
uncircumcision can not show that one is better than the circumcised, so it is
also nothing.
“But keeping the commandments of God
is what matters”, it is not encouraging believers to keep the regulation in the
law (see
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
We
are not Christians according to external letters, but according to the internal
spiritual reality (see Rom. 2:28-29). Therefore, what is most important is to
keep the words of God.
2)
Believers
in the New Testament should keep the commandments on which the whole law and
the prophets hang (see Matt. 19:17-19; 22:37-40), as well as the new
commandment given by the Lord (John 13:34-35).
1Cor. 7:20 “Let each one remain in
the same calling in which he was called.”
YLT: “Each in the calling in which he was
called -- in this let him remain;”
Literal
Meaning: “in
the same calling in which he was called”, “calling” the apparent identity and
status in the world.
“Let each one remain … ”, “let … remain”, abide in the original calling.
If it is allowed, one should seek a better calling (see v.21), but should not
strive for it through fierce ways.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Christianity
does not focus on social reformation, but on the change of life. Through the
change of life, the external social condition will surely be transformed.
Therefore, we believers should regard the preachment of the gospel as our duty,
not social welfare.
2)
The
normal Christians are most law-abiding in the nation. To any unreasonable
condition, we can pray and commit it unto God, but not make war or start
revolution.
1Cor. 7:21 “Were you called while a
slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use
it. ”
YLT: “a servant -- wast thou called? be not
anxious; but if also thou art able to become free -- use rather;”
Literal
Meaning: “were
you called while a slave?” ---- At that time, many Christians were saved when
they were bondmen (see the commentary in
“Do not be concerned about it”, do not
be so care about it, or not be disturbed by it ---- because the status of a
salve does not d spiritual pursuit. The bondage in the flesh does not disturb
the true liberty in spirit.
“But if you can be made free, rather
use it.” ---- The meanings of this verse in English and the original are the
same, but they are different from that in the Chinese Union Version. The former
two versions mean that one would rather use the present position as a slave.
Though a slave serves his master in bondage, he can also serve Christ in this
status (see Col. 3:22-23).
Nevertheless, many Bible exegetes
agree with the translation of the Chinese Union Version. The position of
liberty is more convenient than the position of bondman in the matter of
serving the Lord. Therefore, it is better to seek liberty.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
If
we believers receive sufficient grace from the Lord (2Cor. 12:9), we will not
be troubled by anything.
2)
The
external liberty may deprive men of their internal true freedom. When a man
remains in a circumcision that is not free, it is easy for him to realize the
preciousness of true freedom. Therefore, if one spares no effect to seek
external liberty, it is better for him to be faithful to serve the Lord Jesus
in the present circumstance in the same spirit and with the same effort.
1Cor. 7:22 “For he who is called in
the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while
free is Christ's slave. ”
YLT: “for he who in the Lord -- having been
called a servant -- is the Lord's freedman: in like manner also he the freeman,
having been called, is servant of Christ:”
Literal
Meaning: “for
he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman”, “the Lord's
freedman”, the slave is delivered from the power of sins and Satan and the law
by Christ and thus becomes free (see Gal. 5:1, 13).
“Likewise he who is called
while free is Christ's slave”, if a free man is saved, though he is still not
ruled by men, he has become the Lord’s slave.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
Lord’s calling does not change the external status of believers, but changes
their internal reality. He who was a slave has become free after he is called
by the Lord. He who was free has become the salve of the Lord after he is
called by the Lord.
2)
The
liberty in the world is not real liberty, for man’s heart is ruled by many
things. Only the Son of God can make us free (John 8:36).
3)
What
we Christians should focus on is the internal relationship with Christ and the
spiritual condition before Christ, not the external status in the world. For
example, one who has noble status on the earth may have light measure before
the Lord; one who is physically aged may still be very young before the Lord.
1Cor. 7:23 “You were bought at a
price; do not become slaves of men.”
YLT: “with a price ye were bought, become
not servants of men;”
Literal
Meaning: “you
were bought at a price”, “price” refers to the price of the precious blood of
the Lord. “Buy”, in the slave market. The Lord bought us for the purpose of
making us unto Him.
“Do not become slaves of men”, we
believers are the Lord’s salves after we are saved, so we shall not be slaves
of men. However, this word can not be literally interpreted. Paul does not
encourage believers who were salves in the past not to honor his own masters or
even make revolutions. It is appropriate to interpret the meaning of this word
from spiritual angle ---- one will take serving the Lord as his career and
serve men like serving the Lord. Thus, we will not be slaves of men.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
We
believers are salves of Christ, so we should not be slaves of men with
eye-services, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Whatever we do, do as to the Lord, and not to men (see Col. 3:22-23).
2)
We
should neither be slaves of man, nor slaves of ourselves. Let no one seek his
own, but that of the other (see 1Cor. 10:24).
1Cor. 7:24 “Brethren, let each one
remain with God in that state in which he was called.”
YLT: “each, in that in which he was called,
brethren, in this let him remain with God.”
Literal
Meaning: “brethren
… that state in which he was called”, this verse is the conclusion of the above
fourteen verses (v.10-23). Paul explains that the marriage condition when we
are just saved has nothing to do with our faith through the examples of the
religious circumcision and the slaves in society, so we need not change the
present situation.
“Let each one remain with God in that state”, according to the view of
the above verses, if one had married when he was called, he would not have to
change the situation that he had married an unbeliever.
1Cor. 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.”
YLT: “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:”
Literal
Meaning: “Now
concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord”, “virgins” refer to
those who have not married.
“Yet …as one whom the Lord in His
mercy has made trustworthy”, “in His mercy”, he can know the will of the Lord
because of the Lord’s mercy. “Has made trustworthy”, it means that one can
maintain the profit of the Lord faithfully.
“I give judgment”, Paul’s “judgment”
is actually the Lord’s will, for the Lord’s mercy has made him trustworthy.
Enlightenment
in the Word: though
the one “whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy” has not the written
“commandment” of the Lord, his judgment is the Lord’s judgment. The Spirit of
God will prove his words (see v.40) and the words will be recorded as the
Scriptures. This is the surpassing condition of a minister of the words of God.
It also indicates that God so trusts in those who are faithful to God.
1Cor. 7:26 “I suppose therefore that
this is good because of the present distress--that it is good for a man to
remain as he is:”
YLT: “I suppose, therefore, this to be good
because of the present necessity, that good for a man that the matter be thus:
--”
Meaning of
Words:
“distress”: necessity, pressure, constraint;
Literal
Meaning: “because
of the present distress—”, it means that it is difficult to live in the world
in which there are many troubles. It also suggests that there is more distress
“That it is good for a man to remain
as he is”, “remain as he is”: abide in the calling in the past and keep the
present condition.
1Cor. 7:27 “Are you bound to a wife?
Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ”
YLT: “Hast thou been bound to a wife? seek
not to be loosed; hast thou been loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.”
Literal
Meaning: “are
you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed”. ---- Those who have married
should not desire to recover the single situation.
“Are you loosed from a wife? Do not
seek a wife.” ---- The single one needs not desire to marry.
1Cor. 7:28 “But even if you do marry,
you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless
such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you. ”
YLT: “But and if thou mayest marry, thou
didst not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such shall
have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.”
Literal
Meaning: “but
even if you do marry, you have not sinned”, marriage does not affect one’s
spiritual status before God, for it is not sin.
“And if a virgin marries, she has not
sinned”, “virgin” refers to the young girl who has not married.
“Nevertheless such will have trouble
in the flesh, but I would spare you.” ---- “Such” refers to those who have
married. “Will have trouble in the flesh”, those who have married have heavier
burden and harder life than those who have not. If those who have married are
persecuted, it is comparatively difficult for them to escape.
1Cor. 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, ”
YLT: “And this I say, brethren, the time
henceforth is having been shortened -- that both those having wives may be as
not having;”
Literal
Meaning: “but
this I say, brethren, the time is short”, “the time is short”, it means that
the day of the Lord’s second coming is near.
“So that from now on”, it refers to
the rest days.
“Even those who have wives should be
as though they had none”, it is because the situation that one is separated
from his wife and children may appear at any moment, and is also because one
loves the Lord more than his wife.
1Cor. 7:30 “those who weep as though
they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who
buy as though they did not possess, ”
YLT: “and those weeping, as not weeping; and
those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;”
Literal
Meaning: “those
who weep as though they did not weep”, because the distress of this age will
pass and we shall be comforted when we see the Lord.
“Those who rejoice as though they did
not rejoice”, the joy in this age is transient and vain.
“Those who buy as though they did not
possess”, because all that in the world shall be corrupt, and it is also
because that we are stewards of God ---- all that we have possessed are entrusted
by God, not of us.
Enlightenment
in the Word: sorrow
and joy may often be interwoven in our life. Sadness and gladness succeed one
another. Christians should surpass the environment and be seated with Christ in
the heaven so that we shall not be disappointed because of vicissitude in our
life. Moreover, we can even bear good witness to those around us.
1Cor. 7:31 “and those who use this
world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. ”
YLT: “and those using this world, as not
using up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.”
Literal
Meaning: “and
those who use this world as not misusing it”. The elements, burning with heat,
shall be dissolved (see 2Pet. 3:10) and cannot be brought to the eternal world.
“For the form of this world is passing
away”, “form” refers to the pattern and fashion. The form of the world is
transient and shall pass away soon.
1Cor. 7:32 “But I want you to be
without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may
please the Lord. ”
YLT: “And I wish you to be without anxiety;
the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the
Lord;”
Literal
Meaning: “but
I want you to be without care”. ---- “Care” refers to things that distract
man’s heart. “Be without care”: have few things that distract our heart.
“He who is unmarried cares for the
things of the Lord—”, it means that the single one can have more cares for
things of the Lord.
“How he may please the Lord”, what we
mind shall please the Lord.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Paul
asks believers to remain as they are so that they can care more for the things
of the Lord. However, today, many bachelors prefer not to marry for fear that
the family will decrease their pleasure. Are we really living in the world for
the Lord, or for ourselves?
2)
The
crowd pressing on me daily, the burden of all the assemblies (2Cor. 11:28). He
himself had had the heart and attitude of caring for things of the Lord, so he
advised believers to remain as they were. He was really a good worker who
matched his words with deeds.
1Cor. 7:33 “But he who is married
cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife.”
YLT: “and the married is anxious for the
things of the world, how he shall please the wife.”
1Cor. 7:34 “There is a difference
between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the
Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married
cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband. ”
YLT: “The wife and the virgin have been
distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she
may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the
things of the world, how she shall please the husband.”
Literal Meaning:
“be holy
both in body and in spirit”, “holy”: be hallowed and be separated for the Lord.
Since the bodies and hearts of those who have not married can be separated for
the Lord, their bodies and spirits are thus hallowed.
1Cor. 7:35 “And this I say for your
own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that
you may serve the Lord without distraction. ”
YLT: “And this for your own profit I say:
not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to
the Lord, undistractedly,”
Meaning of
Words:
“distraction”: cares;
Literal
Meaning: “not
that I may put a leash on you”, it means that I am not entangling you or
forcing you to hear my words.
“But for what is proper”, “what is
proper” refers to honorable and noble things.
“Without distraction”,
Enlightenment
in the Word: Paul
himself had not married. And he showed the advantages of not marrying for the
profit of others (v.26-34). Though he clearly knew what was right, he still
perfectly honored the Lord’s guidance on everyone and had not violated the
Lord’s sovereignty on everyone.
1Cor. 7:36 “But if any man thinks he
is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth,
and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them
marry. ”
YLT: “and if any one doth think to be
unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought so
to be, what he willeth let him do; he doth not sin -- let him marry.”
Literal
Meaning: “but
if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin”, there are three
explanations for the word “virgin” from verse 36 to 38:
1)
It
refers to the virgin under the power of her parents. At that time, parents had
the right to decide the children’s marriage. It means so as it is translated as
“daughter” in Chinese Union Version. This explanation is fit for parents in old
age.
2)
It
refers to a special monasticism prevailing in Corinth at that time ---- male
and female practiced together and dwelt in a house together and slept together
in a bed, but they had not any sexual relationship and kept virginity. Here,
“virgin” refers to such partners. Such explanation is of no avail, and we can
regard it as only a tale.
3)
It
refers to the virginity of anyone who has not married. This explanation is the
most suitable one for the present believers, so it is better to be translated
as “virginity”.
“If she is past the flower of youth,
and thus it must be”, “she is past the flower of youth”, she is past the age of
keeping virginity.
“Let him do what he wishes. He does
not sin”, he can marry as he wishes, and it is not sin.
“Let them marry”, “them” relates to
oneself and the one he loves. Since the sentence inserted here was not very
coherent, some Bible exegetes thought it referred to the male and female
partners who practiced together.
1Cor. 7:37 “Nevertheless he who
stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own
will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does
well. ”
YLT: “And he who hath stood stedfast in the
heart -- not having necessity -- and hath authority over his own will, and this
he hath determined in his heart -- to keep his own virgin -- doth well;”
Literal
Meaning: “nevertheless
he who stands steadfast in his heart”, “he who stands steadfast in his heart”,
it means that one has no doubt about the will of God.
“Having no necessity”, there is no
difficulty in environment.
“But has power over his own will”,
whether one will marry or not is decided by himself, and his family has not any
objection to his decision.
“And has so determined in his heart
that he will keep his virgin, does well”, if one is unwilling to marry and has
decided to keep virginity, he has done well.
Note that this verse can also be
interpreted as that a father decides the marriage of his daughter.
1Cor. 7:38 “So then he who gives her
in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better. ”
YLT: “so that both he who is giving in
marriage doth well, and he who is not giving in marriage doth better.”
Literal
Meaning: “so
then”, here it is the conclusion of verse 37 and 38.
“He who gives her in marriage does
well”, it means that he who does not withdraw his virginity does well.
“But he who does not give her in
marriage does better”, it means that he who keeps his virginity and does not
marry does better.
1Cor. 7:39 “A wife is bound by law as
long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be
married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. ”
YLT: “A wife hath been bound by law as long
time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be
married to whom she will -- only in the Lord;”
Literal
Meaning: “a
wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives”, when the husband lives, the
wife is bound by the covenant of the marriage and cannot devoice and marry
again.
“But if her husband dies, she is at
liberty to be married to whom she wishes, once the husband had died, the wife
has the right to decide by herself to marry anyone again.
“Only in the Lord”, the wife must
marry a believer.
Enlightenment
in the Word: Christians
should marry “those who are in the Lord”, namely, those who have been saved,
for believers should not diversely yoked with unbelievers (2Cor. 6:14). We
should not ignore this principle.
1Cor. 7:40 “But she is happier if she
remains as she is, according to my judgment--and I think I also have the Spirit
of God.”
YLT: “and she is happier if she may so
remain -- according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.”
Literal
Meaning: “but
she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—”, though
Paul says the wife can marry again, according to his judgment, he still holds
that it is more blessed to remain as she is.
“And I think I also have the Spirit of
God”, Paul believes that this judgment of him is inspired by the Holy Spirit,
so he can be sure that God also agrees with him.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The
Ways of Avoiding Sexual Immorality
A.
Positively
---- It is good for a man not to touch a woman (v.1);
B.
Passively
---- let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband
(v.2).
The
Principles for the Husband and the Wife
A.
Let
one render to the other one the affection due her (him) (v.3).
B.
Do
not deprive one another (v.4
C.
Decide
certain things after mutual fellowship (v.5b);
The
Conditions for Keeping Virginity
A.
One
shall have the gift of God (v.7).
B.
One
stands steadfast in his heart (v.37).
C.
One
has no necessity (v.37).
D.
One
has power over his own will (v.37).
The
Reasons for Keeping Virginity (Remaining Singlehood)
A.
It
is better to keep virginity for the sake of the present distress (v.25-28).
B.
It
is better to keep virginity for the sake of the vanity of things in the world
(v.29-31).
C.
It
is better to keep virginity for the sake of serving the Lord without
distraction (v.32-35).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou