CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Corinthians 7
Chapter 7 of 16
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Corinthians 7
Responding to the Corinthians' written questions, Paul provides extensive teaching on marriage, singleness, divorce, and remaining in one's calling. He affirms both marriage and celibacy as gifts from God while emphasizing the urgency of living in light of the shortness of time.
Scripture
1 Corinthians 7
Marriage and Marital Duties
Study note
Paul addresses the Corinthians' questions about sexual relations, affirming that while singleness is good, marriage is the appropriate context for sexual expression due to the temptation toward immorality. Husbands and wives have mutual obligations to each other and should not deprive one another except by agreement for a limited time of prayer and fasting. Paul expresses his personal preference for the unmarried life while acknowledging that each person has their own gift from God.
1 Now let me answer the questions you wrote to me about. You said, 'It is good for a man not to have a physical relationship with a woman.' Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 But since sexual temptation is everywhere, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 A husband should meet his wife's physical needs, and a wife should do the same for her husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4 A wife's body does not belong to her alone -- her husband shares in it. And a husband's body does not belong to him alone -- his wife shares in it. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Do not refuse each other, unless you both agree to take a break for a specific time so you can focus on fasting and prayer. Then come back together, so that your lack of self-control does not give Satan an opening to tempt you. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6 I am offering this as a suggestion, not a requirement. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7 Part of me wishes everyone could be single like I am. But each person has their own gift from God -- one person has one gift, and another person has a different gift. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 To those who are not married and to widows, I say: it is perfectly fine to stay single the way I am. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot manage their desires, they should go ahead and get married. Getting married is far better than being consumed by passion. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Instructions on Divorce
Study note
Paul relays the Lord's command that a wife should not separate from her husband, and a husband should not divorce his wife. If separation occurs, the person should remain unmarried or be reconciled. For mixed marriages where one spouse is an unbeliever, the believing partner should not initiate divorce if the unbeliever is willing to remain, because the unbelieving spouse is sanctified through the believer. However, if the unbelieving partner leaves, the believer is not bound.
10 For married couples, I have a command -- and this one comes from the Lord himself, not just from me: a wife should not leave her husband. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11 But if she does leave, she needs to either stay single or go back and work things out with her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
12 For everyone else, I have this to say — and this is from me, not a direct command from the Lord. If a believing man has a wife who does not believe, but she is happy to stay with him, he should not divorce her. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 And if a believing woman has a husband who does not believe, but he is happy to stay with her, she should not leave him. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 Here is why: the husband who does not believe is set apart because of his wife, and the wife who does not believe is set apart because of her husband. If that were not the case, your children would not be set apart. But they are. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15 However, if the spouse who does not believe wants to leave, let them leave. The believing husband or wife is not chained in those situations. God called you to live at peace. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
16 Think about it, wife: how do you know whether you might end up saving your husband? And husband: how do you know whether you might end up saving your wife? For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
Remain in Your Calling
Study note
Paul establishes a general principle he teaches in all the churches: each person should remain in the situation in which God called them. Circumcision or uncircumcision does not matter; what matters is keeping God's commandments. Slaves should not be troubled by their status, though they may take freedom if offered. All believers were bought with a price and should not become enslaved to human standards.
17 Beyond that, each person should keep living in whatever situation God placed them in when he called them. That is the guideline I give to every church. But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18 Were you circumcised when God called you? Do not try to reverse it. Were you not circumcised when God called you? Do not go get circumcised. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19 Being circumcised does not count for anything, and not being circumcised does not count for anything. What counts is doing what God says. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Stay in the situation you were in when God called you. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21 Were you a slave when God called you? Do not let that bother you. But if you get a chance at freedom, take it. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22 If you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now the Lord's free person. If you were free when the Lord called you, you are now Christ's servant. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
23 God paid a high price for you. Do not become slaves to other people. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24 Friends, each person should stay close to God in whatever situation they were in when he called them. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
Counsel to the Unmarried and Widows
Study note
Addressing virgins and the unmarried, Paul offers his judgment, not a direct command from the Lord, that in the present distress it may be better to remain single. Marriage is not sinful, but it brings worldly troubles. Paul emphasizes the shortness of time: this world in its present form is passing away. The unmarried person can give undivided devotion to the Lord, while the married person must also consider their spouse. A widow is free to remarry but only in the Lord, and Paul believes she may be happier remaining as she is.
25 About people who have never been married: the Lord did not give me a specific command about them. But I will give you my best advice, as someone the Lord has been gracious enough to make trustworthy. Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
26 Given the hard times we are facing right now, I think it is best for a person to stay the way they are. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Are you married? Do not look for a way out. Are you single? Do not go looking for a spouse. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28 But if you do get married, you have not done anything wrong. And if an unmarried woman gets married, she has not done anything wrong either. I am trying to spare you the extra difficulties that married people face in times like these. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
29 I say this: friends: time is running short. From now on, those who are married should not let marriage be their whole focus. But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30 Those who cry should not let sadness consume them. Those who are happy should not let happiness be everything. Those who buy things should hold them loosely. And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 Those who use the things of this world should not get wrapped up in them. Because the world as we know it is fading away. And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32 I want to spare you from worry. A single man can focus on the Lord's work and how to make the Lord happy. But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But a married man has to think about worldly things and how to make his wife happy. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 This creates a divided focus. An unmarried woman or a young woman who has never married can focus on the Lord's work, wanting to be set apart in body and spirit. But a married woman has to think about worldly things and how to make her husband happy. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to hold you back. I want you to live in a way that is right and that lets you serve the Lord without being pulled in different directions. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 If a man feels he is not treating his engaged partner fairly, and she is getting older, and he feels strongly that they should marry -- then he should go ahead and do it. There is no sin in that. Let them get married. But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37 But a man may have made up his mind firmly. He feels no pressure. He is in full control. He has chosen to stay as things are with his bride-to-be. He is making a good choice. Nevertheless he that standeth steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38 So the man who marries his fiancee does a good thing, and the man who does not marry does an even better thing. So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39 A wife is committed to her husband for as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whoever she wants -- as long as the man follows the Lord. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But in my opinion, she will be happier if she stays the way she is. And I believe the Spirit of God is guiding my thinking on this. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Corinthians 7
Marriage as a gift from GodSingleness as a gift from GodMutual obligation in marriageThe principle of remaining in one's callingThe urgency of the present timeFreedom and contentment in Christ
Apply This Today
Living 1 Corinthians 7
Whether married or single, view your current situation as a place of service where God has placed you. Marriage is honorable and should be marked by mutual self-giving; singleness offers unique freedom for focused devotion to God. In all circumstances, remember that the form of this world is temporary, and invest your time and energy in what has eternal significance rather than being consumed by anxious striving to change your circumstances.
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