Category: Study of 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians: Directives For Christians Married to Non-Christians

It’s possible that the Jewish Christians in Corinth wondered if marriage to non-Christians was permitted by God, considering that Jews marrying Gentiles was condemned under the Old Law (Deut. 7:1-4).  Paul answers their question by saying that Christians with unbelieving spouses were not to divorce them (7:12-13), a directive different than God’s dictate to remedy unscriptural Jewish marriages with Gentiles by divorcing them (Ezra 9-10; Neh. 13:23ff).  He even gives his hope that the Christian would convert their unbelieving spouse to Christ (7:16).  This shows that his command for widows to remarry “only in the Lord” (7:39) and his later teaching to “not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6:14ff) does not mean that marriages between Christians and non-Christians are inherently sinful.… Read More 1 Corinthians: Directives For Christians Married to Non-Christians

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1 Corinthians: Divorce and Separation

God does not want couples to separate or divorce (Mal. 2:16), but also recognizes that such does occur (and may even need to occur, as in cases when a battered wife needs to separate from her abusive husband for her and her children’s safety).  If separation or divorce does occur, there are only two options available for those who are married: to either “remain unmarried or else be reconciled” to their spouse (7:11a).  The only exception to this is if divorce occurred because of the spouse’s fornication, in which case the innocent party could remarry without committing adultery in God’s sight (Matt. 19:9; 5:32).  While many understandably find this a high standard which is hard to accept, it is also understandable why God holds to it since he creates the marital union and considers that commitment (and all commitments and vows) sacrosanct (Matt. 19:4-6; cf. Eccl. 5:4-5).… Read More 1 Corinthians: Divorce and Separation

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1 Corinthians: Paul’s Advice to the Unmarried and Widows

Overall, this passage teaches us that being either married or single is a providential gift from God and that he expects us to serve and obey him in whatever state we find ourselves.  Towards that end, we must discipline ourselves to resist all temptations to sin and take whatever “way of escape” the Lord provides us (10:13).… Read More 1 Corinthians: Paul’s Advice to the Unmarried and Widows

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