1 Corinthians 7

1
1 Corinthians 7 David Watts Jr. davidwattsjr_at_gmail
.com
2
1 Corinthians 7

• Approach
• Introduction
• Analysis of the text
• False teaching

3
1 Corinthians 7

• Sections
• 1 Cor. 71-9 Celibacy Marriage
• 1 Cor. 710-16 Marriage Divorce
• 1 Cor. 717-24 Remain in your original
  condition
• 1 Cor. 725-40 Advantages of remaining single
  the bond.

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1 Corinthians 7

• Introduction
• Great chapter, vital subjects
• Celibacy, sexual relationship, rights and
  responsibilities in marriage, what to do after an
  unlawful divorce, bond involved in marriage, etc.
• Greatly misused to prop up false doctrine.

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Introduction

• False Doctrines
• There are lawful non-fornication reasons for
  divorce.
• Abandonment allows one to remarry lawfully.
• A person can remain with their present spouse
  when they obey the Gospel, regardless of prior
  marriages and remarriages.

6
Introduction

• Inspired
• We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery 1 Cor.
  27
• God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.
  1 Cor. 210
• Now we have received, not the spirit of the
  world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we
  might know the things that have been freely given
  to us by God. 1 Cor. 212

7
Introduction

• Unique Elements
• Three now sections 71, 10, 25
• Some sections are clearly identified as personal
  judgement and not divine revelation.
• Usually includes 3 components
• Identification of best course of action.
• Identification of an alternative course of
  action.
• Statement that if the alternative course is
  taken, there is no sin.

8
Introduction

• Judgement Sections
• 1 Cor. 76
• But this I say as a concession, not as a
  commandment.
• 1 Cor. 725-26, 28
• I have no commandment from the Lord... if you do
  marry, you have not sinned.
• 1 Cor. 736
• He does not sin let them marry.

9
Introduction

• Frank discussion of the husband wife sexual
  relationship
• 1 Cor. 75
• 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.

10
Introduction

• Duties when Gods laws have been violated
• 1 Cor. 710-11
• We must not misconstrue commands that address
  what to do when law is broken, as authority to
  break the original law.

11
Introduction

• Contextual Considerations
• Toleration of sexual immorality.
• Misuse of the Lords Supper.
• Church that did not operate with love.
• Division after men and carnality.
• The present distress.

12
Body 1 Cor. 71-9

• Celibacy is acceptable before God.
• Touch is the NKJV, KJV, NASB, ASV translation
  of haptomai
• ESV renders it to have sexual relations.
• Vines to have carnal intercourse with a woman.

13
1 Cor. 71-9

• Paul is not forbidding marriage.
• 1 Cor. 72
• 1 Cor. 75
• 1 Cor. 79
• 1 Cor. 728
• Hebrews 134
• Rather, to choose celibacy is acceptable to God.

14
1 Cor. 71-9

• Challenges of remaining celibate
• 1 Cor. 76 concession not command
• Verse 2 explains that marriage is a guard against
  immorality.
• Verse 3-5 explain how marriage is a guard
  (parenthetical thought).
• Verse 6 relates to verse 1 2, not verses
  3-5.

15
1 Cor. 71-9

• Concession
• Best definition is to see how Paul used it.
• as concession, not as command.
• concession is used by NKJV, ASV, NASB, and ESV.
• This is not a command against marriage.
• 1 Tim. 514, 43

16
1 Cor. 71-9

• The goodness of remaining celibate is not a
  command.
• 1 Cor. 72
• ...let each man have his own wife, and let each
  woman have her own husband.
• 1 Cor. 79
• ...let them marry.

17
1 Cor. 71-9

• Sexual relationship a guard.
• due benevolence, affection due her, should
  give to his wife her conjugal rights.
• Context shows sexual relationship.
• Control over the body, deprivation, temptation by
  Satan.
• This all stands as hedge against immorality. 1
  Cor. 72

18
1 Cor. 71-9

• Marriage a change of focus
• 1 Cor. 74
• 1 Cor. 733
• 1 Cor. 734
• Many men? My needs/pleasure.
• Many women? My needs/pleasure.
• Bible her needs, his needs.

19
Next Section 1 Cor. 710-16

• Vocabulary
• marry is gameo or gamos.
• Put an a- in front means opposite.
• English typical, atypical. Moral, amoral.
• Accordingly unmarried is agamos.
• Words are used to describe both lawful marriages
  and unlawful marriages.
• Mt. 532, Mark 617

20
1 Cor. 710-16

• Some falsely claim
• If not lawful divorce, not real divorce.
• Wrong same word describes lawful divorce and
  unlawful divorce.
• If not lawful marriage, not real marriage.
• Wrong same word describes lawful marriage and
  unlawful marriage.

21
1 Cor. 710-16

• Usage
• Mt. 532
• Mark 617
• ...his brother Philips wife for he had married
  her.

22
1 Cor. 710-16

• Truth of the matter
• Unlawful divorces are still real events with real
  consequences even though they ought not to have
  taken place.
• Unlawful marriages are still real events with
  real consequences even though they ought not to
  have taken place.
• Abortion lawful or unlawful? Real or unreal?
  Consequences or not?

23
1 Cor. 710-16

• In marriage, no divorce.
• This is a command from the Lord.
• The Lord had previously taught in marriage, no
  divorce.
• Perhaps in
• Mt. 196 - whoever
• Mt. 532 - whoever

24
1 Cor. 710-16

• The Lords Command
• A wife is not to depart from her husband.
• One of four parallel statements in this chapter
  that forbid divorce
• 1 Cor. 710
• 1 Cor. 711
• 1 Cor. 712
• 1 Cor. 713

25
1 Cor. 710-16

• Depart?
• Context proves its meaning
• The result of chorizo is found in 711
• Even if she does depart, let her remain
  unmarried.
• Even unlawful divorce leaves the parties
  unmarried.

26
1 Cor. 710-16

• What now?
• Two courses of action
• Remain unmarried.
• Or be reconciled.

27
1 Cor. 710-16

• Lets be clear
• The command not to depart is in fact a command.
• Violation of a command is sin.
• If one divorces their mate except for
  fornication it is sinful.
• Sin must be repented of.
• 2 Cor. 7 shows attributes of repentance.

28
1 Cor. 710-16

• Attributes of repentance
• sorrow in a godly manner
• diligence, clearing of yourself
• indignation, fear, vehement desire
• Zeal, vindication
• In all things you proved yourselves clear in
  this matter.

29
1 Cor. 710-16

• In accordance with all of Scripture
• When we violate what God says not to do, we
  sin.
• Repentance from sin is always required if we are
  to get right.
• If a man divorces his wife (not for fornication)
  surely he must repent.

30
1 Cor. 710-16

• However
• Reconciliation requires two.
• The one put away may not have the divorcer
  back.
• Thus, when the qualities of repentance of 2 Cor.
  7 have been displayed
• The divorcer has done all they can do.
• Option that remains remain unmarried.

31
1 Cor. 710-16

• In a spiritually mixed-marriage no divorce.
• If the unbeliever is willing to dwell with the
  believer do not divorce them. 1 Cor.
  712-13
• If the unbeliever is not willing to dwell with
  the believer let them go. 1 Cor.
  715
• Again The Christian does not divorce.

32
1 Cor. 710-16

• Sanctification by marriage
• Some difficulties.
• But clearly not teaching
• Mere marriage makes an unbeliever saved.
• Sanctification does not always mean saved but
  means clean, pure or pleasing to God. Mt. 2317

33
1 Cor. 710-16

• Sanctification by marriage
• What does a lawful marriage make clear and pure?
• The sexual relationship. Heb. 137
• The children in the sense they are not
  illegitimate, but legitimate.
• Point dont divorce your unbelieving mate. Your
  lawful marriage makes the sexual relationship
  pure, children pure.

34
1 Cor. 710-16

• Not under bondage
• bondage is douloo
• Makes us think about bond in Rom. 72-3 and 1
  Cor. 739.
• Not same word.
• bond is deo.
• douloo is to make a slave of
• deo is to bind, tie, fasten.

35
1 Cor. 710-16

• Not under bondage
• The bond deo of marriage is a legal binding,
  tieing, fastening.
• deo is not broken when one departs.
• However, a Christian is not in bondage that
  is slavery.
• Not required to follow them around like slave.
• ESV brother or sister not enslaved

36
1 Cor. 710-16

• Pauls point
• In a lawful marriage, the two parties are bound
  (deo) to each other.
• If one departs, the remaining is not enslaved
  (douloo) and does not have to act like a slave.

37
1 Cor. 710-16

• Claim 1 Cor. 710-11 deal with mere separation,
  not divorce.
• Fact after the action of 1 Cor. 710, the
  parties are described as unmarried.
• The Greek word is agamos, the exact opposite of
  gamos meaning unmarried.

38
1 Cor. 710-16

• Claim The divorce of 710-11 is completely
  devoid of any civil process.
• Fact when society regulates divorce and marriage
  they do so with the authority of God. Rom.
  131-5.
• Fact In the OT God regulated the process of
  divorce. Deut. 241

39
1 Cor. 710-16

• God's regulation under the OT involved at least
  four facets
• (1) Determination (she finds no favor in his
  eyes...
• (2) Declaration of divorce (he writes her a
  certificate of divorce.)
• (3) Notice of divorce (puts it in her hand...)
• (4) Severing of the marriage (sends her out of
  his house)

40
1 Cor. 710-16

• Fact
• When civil governments exercise their God-given
  right to regulate the divorce process, the are
  doing what God did with the physical nation of
  Israel.
• It is a mistake to presume that the divorce of
  710-11 is devoid of any civil procedure or
  process.

41
1 Cor. 710-16

• Claim Unlawful divorce leaves the parties still
  married in the sight of God.
• Fact God says otherwise, let he remain
  unmarried.
• Supposed be reconciled to her husband proves
  she is still married to him.

42
1 Cor. 710-16

• Scripture often refers to a person with their
  prominent trait, even if no longer true.
• This is done for accommodative purposes and ease
  of identification of parties.
• Ananias Sapphira Acts 57, 9
• Rahab the harlot Heb. 1131
• Blind man John 917
• Bathsheba 2 Sam. 1126, 129-10

43
1 Cor. 710-16

• Suggestion
• Such accommodative usage for identification
  purposes (e.g. be reconciled to her husband...)
  should not be misconstrued as carrying greater
  weight than the divine explanation of her
  condition and divine direction as to her future
  choices (remain unmarried.)

44
1 Cor. 710-16

• Claim If a husband or wife violates 1 Cor.
  710-11, it is not sin and it is perfectly
  acceptable that they remain single.
• Is not 1 Cor. 710 law?
• Unless clearly indicated as judgement, all of
  Pauls writing is law.
• His writing is the standard for us
• Gal. 18
• 2 Thess. 36

45
1 Cor. 710-16

• Claim 1 Cor. 712-13 gives authority for a
  Christian to lawfully divorce an unbelieving
  mate.
• Argument Paul says, if willing to live with
  him, let him not divorce her - therefore if she
  is unwilling to live with him he may divorce her.
• But verse 15 deals with this situation too. If
  unbeliever is unwilling to live with the
  believer, let them depart you are not enslaved.
  Still no divorce authorized!

46
1 Cor. 717-24

• Remain in your original condition.
• Verses 17, 20 and 24.
• Called must equate to 2 Thess. 213-14
• Rest of the Scriptures A change is required.
• E.g. Col. 110, 26, 31-11, Gal. 516-26
• What does all this in 717-24 mean?
• Paul teaches it in all the churches.
• Must of necessity fit teaching at Galatia,
  Colosse, etc.

47
1 Cor. 717-24

• Paul is teaching
• Remain in certain physical conditions which have
  no spiritual significance after obedience to the
  Gospel
• Circumcised, uncircumcised
• Slave, free

48
1 Cor. 717-24

• Claim These passages allow a person to remain
  married (lawfully so) to their current spouse
  when the obey the gospel, without regard for
  prior divorces and remarriages.
• Fact Christ addressed his teaching to all
  people.
• Fact The adultery described by Christ is a Greek
  tense that describes continuous action or state,
  i.e. Adultery is not in the marrying, but is
  ongoing.

49
1 Cor. 717-24

• Reasonable questions
• Two homosexuals remain together?
• Two heterosexuals remain together before
  marriage?
• How do we take examples of attributes with no
  spiritual significance, and translate it into the
  realm of immorality?

50
Next Section 1 Cor. 725-40

• Advantages of remaining single
• Context present distress.
• Are you bound? deo
• Paul saying Dont seek a release from your bond.
• Not implying there is one (save in case of
  putting away fornicator, or death).
• Purpose vs. 28 - spare you trouble in the
  flesh.

51
1 Cor. 725-40

• Trouble to come
• Interesting statements in 29-31
• Purpose vs. 35 for your profit... serve the
  Lord without distraction.
• Key as though...
• Not arguing for literal change in condition or
  else in contradiction with vs. 27.
• Not justification for divorce.

52
1 Cor. 725-40

• Suggestion
• Paul is describing terrible difficulties that
  were about to come.
• Those with wives as though did not have wives.
• Perhaps involuntary separation (imprisonment,
  fleeing persecution, etc.)
• Reason serve the Lord without distraction.

53
1 Cor. 725-40

• But if they want to marry... let them marry.
• Perhaps vs. 36a is continuing the thoughts in vs.
  2, 9, and 37.
• vs. 36b points to age.
• Perhaps after a betrothment, man feels its unfair
  to cancel marriage as his betrothed is now
  older and future marriage to another might be
  harder.

54
1 Cor. 725-40

• The bond in lawful marriage
• deo
• In Rom. 72-3 - bond of law.
• Connects with Mt. 196, what God has joined
  together...
• As noted in Rom. 72-3, the bond lasts until
  death.

55
1 Cor. 725-40

• Remarriage, only in the Lord.
• Sometimes in the Lord refers to a realm that
  belongs to God.
• 1 Cor. 91
• 1 Thess. 512
• Current understanding God is restricting her
  choice in remarriage to that which is lawful.
• Context One who has a right to be married,
  fulfilling needs, focus, submission Col. 318

56
1 Corinthians 7

• Lessons for Us
• Marital affection is not just for reproduction
  but is an important defense against immorality.
• The husband must focus on the needs of his wife.
• The wife must focus on the needs of her husband.
• Remaining single has certain advantages in
  certain conditions.

57
1 Corinthians 7

• Lessons for Us
• Sometimes rights and privileges should be put on
  hold because of problems around us.
• There is to be no divorce except for the one
  reason granted by Christ fornication.
• If one does divorce, it is sin.
• In a divorce, repentance demands efforts to
  reconcile. If not possible, remain unmarried.

58
1 Corinthians 7

• Lessons for Us
• Certain physical circumstances must be remained
  in after obedience to the Gospel.
• Lawful marriage involves a bond that remains
  until death.

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