1 Corinthians 7:1-16

Some people at the Corinthian church seemed to hold different views with different standpoints and reasoning's regarding marriage. In this chapter, Paul addresses these issues.

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."

(v1, ESV)

Paul has already addressed sexual immorality in the last chapter, so this first point is regarding marriage. It is good for someone to remain single and celibate. However, people should get married because of the temptation to sexual immorality (v2). Then Paul goes on to explain how wife and husband should give to each other their conjugal rights. Also, their bodies are not their own but belong to their spouse. However, there is an exception to this. There arise cases where both husband and wife can agree to refrain from that for a time being in order to devote themselves to prayer (v5). In doing this, it is only a short time because Satan will tempt them if they do not come back together in conjugal rights and that sort of stuff (v5).

We can see what Paul's state is. He is unmarried and this is his wish for everyone. However, he recognizes that both are good and only certain people can remain unmarried. So, his suggestion to the unmarried is to remain unmarried unless you "burn with passion" (v9, NIV). Clearly if you desire a wife and I guess you can't hold it in so much that you are burning with passion, then I guess you'd better get a spouse so you can satisfy your passion. Clearly if we desire sinful things we shouldn't just go ahead and satisfy our sinful desires. However, with regards to burning with passion, this is the appropriate way to deal with it. Clearly we shouldn't indulge in sexual immorality as Paul mentions in chapter 6.

In many of these cases Paul is addressing, he seems to address a lot of different people's situations. Some of these situations people are in were a result of sinful choices. So, just because Paul gives advices to a situation doesn't mean they are a situation you should allow yourself to be in. It seems more like if you happen to find yourself in that situation, this is Paul's advice.

So, married people should not divorce or leave one another. However, if they are divorced or separated, they shouldn't go about marrying someone else. They are only allowed to remain unmarried or get back together with their spouse.

The next big question he is addressing is a believer married to a non-believer. All of these previous cases are for a believer with another believer. Some people are married when they accept Jesus as their Lord and savoir. Unless both husband and wife accept at the same time, this results in a marriage of one believer and one non-believer. Only until the other spouse becomes a believer (if they ever do accept Jesus) is it a marriage between two believers. So this is what was happening back then and it does also happen nowadays. So, if this happens, the believing spouse should remain married if the unbelieving spouse wants to remain married.

For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

(v14, ESV)

Some may think they should divorce because they aren't a believer. However, they are already married, two have become one flesh. This is a commitment made that shouldn't be broken just because one is a non-believer. Sure, there are problems and issues that will arise, but if you've already made that commitment then you shouldn't leave. It's reassuring to hear that the unbelieving spouse and children are made holy because of the believing spouse. All this only applies to marriage and not dating. Dating is not recognized in the bible, it's something new for the 20th and the 21st century. In marriage, the two will become one flesh (gen 2:24). This is not the same for dating. If you are a believer, you shouldn't date a non-believer.

14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

17"Therefore come out from them

and be separate, says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,

and I will receive you."

18"I will be a Father to you,

and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

(2 Cor 6:14-18, NIV)

But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

(v15-16, NIV)

So, don't get married to a non-believer. If dating leads to marriage, then you shouldn't date a non-believer. However, if you are married to a non-believer or if you convert while you are married, you should remain married. But, if the unbelieving spouse leaves, you can let him or her leave. Verse 16 seems to address people who use marriage or dating as evangelism. Some probably arguing that remaining married can bring the unbelieving spouse to Christ. However, this verse addresses that.

If you can, remain unmarried. However, being married is normal as well and it helps if you cannot control your desires. It is a proper way to deal with those passions. Also, do not divorce or leave your spouse. Also, if you happen to be married to a non-believer, remain with them. But if they leave, you can let them leave.