1Cor 7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 7:1: 7:1–16:4 Paul now addresses the questions the Corinthians had asked him by letter , beginning with the question of marriage (cp. 7:25 ; 8:1 ; 12:1 ; 16:1 ). Summary for 1Cor 7:1-40: 7:1-40 Paul consistently states his strong conviction that true Christians, as slaves of Christ, are wholly claimed by Christ the Lord for his own service. Because of this, he recommends that Christians remain single, but concedes that getting married is no sin. 7:1 it is good to abstain from sexual relations: Both Paul and Jesus encouraged the ideal of a celibate life for God’s sake (cp. Matt 19:10-12 ). Paul’s emphasis on celibacy is shaped by his expectation that the end of the age is near (see 1 Cor 7:29-31 ).

Summary for 1Cor 7:1: 7:1–16:4 ^a Paul now addresses the questions the Corinthians had asked him by letter, beginning with the question of marriage (cp. 7:25 ^b; 8:1 ^c; 12:1 ^d; 16:1 ^e).
Summary for 1Cor 7:1-40: 7:1-40 ^f Paul consistently states his strong conviction that true Christians, as slaves of Christ, are wholly claimed by Christ the Lord for his own service. Because of this, he recommends that Christians remain single, but concedes that getting married is no sin. 7:1 ^g it is good to abstain from sexual relations: Both Paul and Jesus encouraged the ideal of a celibate life for God’s sake (cp. Matt 19:10-12 ^h). Paul’s emphasis on celibacy is shaped by his expectation that the end of the age is near (see 1 Cor 7:29-31 ⁱ).
7:2 ^j Because of widespread sexual immorality, Paul encourages most Christians to get married (7:9 ^k). He tempers the ideal of the celibate life with awareness of physical realities.
Summary for 1Cor 7:3-4: 7:3-4 ^l Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, married Christians must always be considerate of the sexual needs of their spouses. Sexual intimacy is a mutual right for both spouses in a marriage and must not be withheld. Marriage includes yielding the authority over one’s body to one’s spouse, though such authority is clearly not to be abused.
Summary for 1Cor 7:6-7: 7:6-7 ^m Paul’s preference is singleness, but he recognizes that both marriage and the single life are among the gifts that God gives to various people.
Summary for 1Cor 7:8-9: 7:8-9 ⁿ Paul’s general advice is that it’s better to stay unmarried because of the opportunities it provides to serve Christ without distraction (7:32-35 ^o). But even with its distractions, an honorable marriage is much better than living a life dominated by unsatisfied sexual desire.
Summary for 1Cor 7:10-11: 7:10-11 ^p Paul advises Christian couples contemplating divorce.

• a command that comes ... from the Lord: This doesn’t mean that Paul’s other instructions (see 7:12 ^q, 25 ^r, 40 ^s) have less authority. It means this particular counsel is grounded in known sayings of Jesus (see Matt 5:32 ^t; 19:9 ^u; Mark 10:11-12 ^v; Luke 16:18 ^w).

• But if she does leave him: Paul acknowledges that some couples have great difficulty in living together, but even in that case they must honor their marriage vows to be faithful to their spouse alone (see 1 Cor 7:27 ^x; Rom 7:2 ^y).
Summary for 1Cor 7:12-13: 7:12-13 ^z Paul now turns to the case of a Christian married to an unbeliever.

• I do not have a direct command from the Lord: Paul knew of no saying of Jesus that was directly applicable, but his counsel is consistent: Believers must be faithful and honor their marriage commitment.
7:14 ^aa By remaining committed to the marriage, the Christian brings holiness to the unbelieving spouse. Such holiness extends to the children, who also benefit from the holiness of a Christian parent (cp. Mal 2:15 ^ab).
7:15 ^ac If the unbeliever breaks up the marriage, the believing husband or wife is free to let them go.

• has called you: God’s desire is that his people live in peace, rather than in the intolerable conflict of a mixed marriage no longer desired by the non-Christian spouse.
7:16 ^ad There is always the hope that the believing spouse will win the unbelieving mate to faith in Christ. However, the Greek text is ambiguous and could also be interpreted as saying that there is no guarantee that the believing mate will ever win over the unbelieving spouse.
Summary for 1Cor 7:17-24: 7:17-24 ^ae Paul states as a general principle that Christians should accept their God-given lot in life. 7:17 ^af As a general rule, Christians should continue in the social situation in which they first became believers (see 7:20 ^ag, 24 ^ah).
Summary for 1Cor 7:18-19: 7:18-19 ^ai Circumcision illustrates the general principle just stated (7:17 ^aj). All Jewish males were circumcised. Some, seeking acceptance in Gentile society, attempted to reverse the procedure surgically (see 1 Maccabees 1:14-15; Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.1), a practice Paul discourages. Circumcision has little importance (see also Rom 2:28-29 ^ak; 4:9-12 ^al; Gal 5:2-6 ^am; 6:12-15 ^an; Phil 3:2-3 ^ao) compared with keeping God’s commandments, such as the commands to love God and others.
Summary for 1Cor 7:21-23: 7:21-23 ^ap Slavery illustrates the general principle stated in 7:17 ^aq, 20 ^ar, 24 ^as. Slavery was widespread in the Greco-Roman world, and many Christian converts were slaves serving rich families. Like circumcision, one’s own slavery is, according to Paul, a relatively unimportant issue for the Christian. Even as a slave, the Christian is spiritually free from the power of sin, death, and the law (see Rom 6:14 ^at; 7:4-6 ^au; 8:2 ^av). And as a freeman, the believer is still a slave of Christ (see Eph 6:5-6 ^aw; 1 Pet 2:16 ^ax).

• As one who has been purchased at a high price (see 1 Cor 6:20 ^ay), the free Christian ought not to be enslaved by the world.
Summary for 1Cor 7:25-35: 7:25-35 ^az Paul gives three reasons why it is generally preferable for single people to remain unmarried. First, single people have fewer everyday problems than married people. Second, because the end is near, Christians ought not let marriage and the things of the world be their dominant concerns. Their primary concern should be Christ and eternity. Third, because marriage brings earthly responsibilities and divided interests, those who choose to remain single can devote their lives more fully to serving Christ.
Summary for 1Cor 7:36-38: 7:36-38 ^ba Paul recommends celibate life in preference to marriage, but he allows for marriage if a person’s sexual desires prove too much of a temptation. Those in firm control of their sexual desires are encouraged to choose the celibate life.
7:39 ^bb A widow may marry another man, but only if he loves the Lord. Paul strongly discouraged the marriage of Christians to unbelievers (cp. 2 Cor 6:14-16 ^bc).