Berean Study Bible Principles of MarriagePaul turns to questions the Corinthian believers had sent him, addressing practical concerns affecting their church life. Their appeal for instruction shows the need for apostolic guidance amid the moral pressures and confusion of Corinth. 1Co 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know… It is good to abstain from sexual relations. In a city marked by sexual immorality, Paul affirms celibacy as a good calling for those able to live faithfully in it. He does not forbid marriage or treat it as inferior; both marriage and singleness are legitimate gifts from God, to be lived in holiness and obedience. 1Co 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin… But because there is so much sexual immorality, Corinth’s pagan culture openly tolerated sexual sin, creating pressure on believers to abandon God’s standards. Paul recognizes marriage as God’s appointed setting for sexual relations and calls Christians to live differently from the surrounding world. 1Th 4:3-5 For it is God’s will that you should be holy:… each man should have his own wife, Marriage joins one man and one woman in an exclusive, faithful covenant. A husband is to give himself to his wife rather than seek sexual fulfillment outside marriage. Gen 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother… and each woman her own husband. The same command applies equally to wives. Both husband and wife bear responsibility for faithfulness, honor, and sexual purity within the marriage covenant. Rom 7:2-3 For instance, a married woman is bound by law… The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, Paul addresses married believers in Corinth, where immorality was common and some Christians were questioning whether marriage should include sexual relations. Marriage joins husband and wife in a covenant of faithful, exclusive intimacy. A husband is to care for his wife’s needs with love, consideration, and self-giving faithfulness. Exo 21:10 If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food,… and likewise the wife to her husband. The same obligation belongs to the wife. Paul gives neither spouse greater privilege over the other but presents marriage as a shared union marked by mutual devotion. Husband and wife are to honor one another, guarding their marriage from neglect, temptation, and unfaithfulness. Eph 5:22-24 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.… The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Marriage establishes a mutual covenant in which husband and wife belong to one another in exclusive sexual faithfulness. Paul corrects selfishness and neglect within marriage by affirming that neither spouse may treat intimacy as a private matter detached from the other. This does not permit coercion or abuse; marital relations are to be governed by love, faithfulness, and mutual consent. Eph 5:22-24 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.… Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. In a culture where husbands commonly held greater social power, Paul places the same obligation on the husband. He must consider his wife’s needs and cannot claim unilateral control in the marriage. Both are called to serve one another with the self-giving commitment that belongs to the one-flesh union. Eph 5:28-29 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives… Do not deprive each other, Marriage involves mutual responsibility and care, including the physical union that expresses the one-flesh bond established by God. In Corinth’s immoral culture, believers were called to honor marriage through faithfulness and consideration for one another. Exo 21:10 If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food,… except by mutual consent Abstinence within marriage was not to be imposed by one spouse upon the other. Both husband and wife were to agree, reflecting their shared standing and partnership in the marriage covenant. Amo 3:3 Can two walk together without agreeing where to go? and for a time, Such abstinence was to be limited rather than becoming a lasting separation. Marriage ordinarily includes regular marital intimacy, and temporary abstention required a clear purpose. 1Sa 21:4-5 “There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied,… so you may devote yourselves to prayer. A couple could set aside this time to give undivided attention to prayer, seeking God together in a focused manner. Col 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, Then come together again, When the agreed period ended, husband and wife were to resume normal marital relations and preserve the unity of their marriage. Gen 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother… so that Satan will not tempt you Satan seeks opportunities to exploit human weakness and disrupt faithfulness within marriage. 1Th 3:5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer,… through your lack of self-control. Because sexual desire can become a source of temptation, marital intimacy serves as God’s provision for guarding husband and wife from sexual sin. Pro 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down… I say this as a concession, Paul permits temporary abstinence within marriage when husband and wife agree to devote themselves to prayer, but as a concession—advice rather than a divine mandate—he does not require it. Marriage normally includes mutual sexual responsibility, and such abstinence must be limited so that temptation does not gain an advantage. Mat 19:8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives… not as a command. His instruction allows for differing circumstances among believers. Paul gives wise apostolic counsel without making temporary abstinence or singleness a requirement for all Christians. 2Co 8:8 I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity… I wish that all men were as I am. Paul commends singleness because it can free a believer for undivided service to Christ. At the time he wrote, Paul was unmarried and devoted wholly to the work of the gospel. He does not command all believers to remain single, but speaks from his own calling and circumstances. Act 26:29 “Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God… But each man has his own gift from God; Marriage and singleness are both ordered by God and suited to different callings. Neither condition is presented as spiritually inferior when received and lived in obedience to the Lord. Mat 19:11 “Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, …… one has this gift, another has that. God gives differing responsibilities and capacities within the church. Some are called to marriage and family life, while others are enabled to remain unmarried for focused service. Each believer is to recognize God’s provision and live faithfully within it. 1Co 12:4-6 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.… Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: Paul turns to believers who are single, including widows and those not presently married. In Corinth, widows could face economic hardship and social vulnerability, while unmarried adults often lived outside the usual household structure. The church was to recognize and care for them as full members of God’s people. 1Ti 5:3-5 Honor the widows who are truly widows.… It is good for them to remain unmarried, In view of the pressures facing the Corinthian believers, Paul commends singleness as a good and honorable state. Those without marital and family obligations could often serve the Lord with greater freedom and mobility. Mat 19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way… as I am. Paul presents his own unmarried life as an example. His freedom from marriage enabled him to travel widely, endure hardship, and give sustained attention to preaching the gospel and strengthening churches. 1Co 9:5 Have we no right to take along a believing wife… But if they cannot control themselves, Paul recognizes that not every believer has the gift or calling to remain unmarried. In Corinth’s sexually corrupt culture, persistent desire could become a source of temptation and lead to immorality. 1Co 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games trains… let them marry. Marriage is God’s ordained covenant for the faithful expression of sexual desire. It provides a lawful, honorable setting for husband and wife to fulfill their responsibilities to one another. 1Ti 5:14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children… For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. Unrestrained desire can become consuming and draw a person toward sin. Paul therefore gives practical counsel: those unable to live chastely in singleness should marry rather than expose themselves to ongoing temptation. Pro 6:27-29 Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?… To the married I give this command Paul addresses believers already bound in marriage, treating their union as a lasting covenant rather than a temporary arrangement. Rom 7:2-3 For instance, a married woman is bound by law… (not I, but the Lord): The instruction rests on Christ’s own teaching concerning the permanence of marriage. Mat 5:31-32 It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife…’… A wife must not separate from her husband. A wife was not to leave the marriage relationship, and the same obligation of faithfulness applied to the husband in the following instruction. Mat 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh.… But if she does, Separation may occur because of sin, conflict, or hardness of heart, though it falls short of God’s design for marriage. Mrk 10:12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries… she must remain unmarried She is not free to enter another marriage while her husband lives, preserving the bond of the original covenant. Mat 19:9 Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife,… or else be reconciled to her husband. Restoration of the marriage is the proper aim where possible, requiring repentance, forgiveness, and renewed faithfulness. Jer 3:1 If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him… And a husband must not divorce his wife. The same standard applies to the husband. Neither spouse is to treat marriage as a temporary arrangement or seek divorce for ordinary marital difficulties. Mal 2:16 “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel.… To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): Jesus gave no recorded instruction during His earthly ministry concerning marriages in which one spouse later became a believer. Paul therefore addresses this circumstance as Christ’s apostle, giving Spirit-guided instruction for the churches. 1Co 14:37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person,… If a brother has an unbelieving wife Converts in Corinth often remained married to spouses who continued in pagan beliefs and practices. Their conversion did not cancel the marriage covenant or require separation from an unbelieving husband or wife. 2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.… and she is willing to live with him, The unbelieving wife’s willingness to remain in the marriage establishes that the household can continue without abandonment or forced separation. Differing beliefs did not by themselves make the marriage invalid. 1Pe 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives… he must not divorce her. The Christian husband was not to initiate divorce merely because his wife had not received the gospel. Remaining faithful to the marriage preserved peace in the home and allowed the believer’s life to bear witness to Christ. Mrk 10:11-12 So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife… And if a woman has an unbelieving husband Christian women in Corinth sometimes came to faith while their husbands remained pagan. Their conversion did not dissolve the marriage covenant or remove their responsibilities within the home. A believing wife could bear faithful witness to Christ through a godly life while honoring her marriage. 1Pe 3:1-2 Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands,… and he is willing to live with her, If the husband chose to remain with his Christian wife, the differing beliefs did not require separation. His willingness showed that the marriage could continue in peace despite spiritual division. 1Pe 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives… she must not divorce him. The wife was not to initiate divorce merely because her husband was an unbeliever. Marriage remains a binding union, and her continued faithfulness could provide an opportunity for him to see the reality of the gospel through her life. Mat 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh.… For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, The unbelieving spouse is set apart by the marriage relationship and brought under the influence of a Christian home. Paul does not mean that the unbeliever is saved apart from personal faith in Christ, but that the believing spouse’s presence brings the household into contact with the truth of the gospel. 1Pe 3:1-2 Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands,… and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. The same is true when the husband believes and the wife does not. Neither spouse is to regard the marriage as defiling or invalid because the other has not believed. The believer remains a witness within the home while honoring the marriage covenant. Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved… Otherwise your children would be unclean, Without this assurance, Corinthian believers might have feared that children born into such marriages were excluded from the people of God or disadvantaged because one parent was an unbeliever. Ezr 9:2 Indeed, the Israelites have taken some… but now they are holy. The children are holy, set apart for God within the sphere of the believing parent’s faith and instruction. They are not automatically saved, but they belong in the Christian household, where they may be taught the Scriptures and called to trust Christ. Rom 11:16 If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the batch… But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. Paul recognizes that an unbelieving spouse may choose to abandon the marriage after the other spouse comes to faith in Christ. The believer is not commanded to prevent the departure or to preserve the union through conflict or coercion. 2Co 6:14-17 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.… The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. When the unbelieving spouse departs, the Christian is released from the obligation to maintain a marriage the other person has rejected. The abandonment is the unbeliever’s decision, not permission for the believer to seek separation. Rom 7:2-3 For instance, a married woman is bound by law… God has called you to live in peace. The believer is to respond without striving, bitterness, or endless conflict. Faithfulness to God does not require remaining under the turmoil created by an unbelieving spouse who refuses the marriage. Rom 12:18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? A believing wife who remains with an unbelieving husband may bear witness to Christ through faithful conduct and devotion to God. Yet she cannot know whether he will repent and believe. Salvation belongs to God, and her responsibility is faithfulness within the marriage, not control over her husband’s response. 1Pe 3:1-2 Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands,… Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? The same truth applies to a believing husband. His faith and manner of life may be used by God to draw his wife to Christ, but conversion is never guaranteed by marriage or by the influence of a spouse. Each person must answer to God in faith. 1Pe 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives…
Live Your CallingGod’s providence governs the circumstances in which believers are placed. Paul directs converts not to treat faith in Christ as a requirement to abandon every lawful social position, occupation, or family circumstance. They were to serve God faithfully where they were, without seeking spiritual status through outward changes. Psa 37:23 The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD… and to which God has called him. God calls people to Himself from varied backgrounds and conditions. Their identity and standing before Him rest on that call, not on social rank, ethnicity, marriage status, or personal advantage. The instruction does not approve sinful situations, but it establishes that obedience to Christ is possible in ordinary life. 2Ti 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling… This is what I prescribe in all the churches. Paul presents this as a consistent apostolic rule for the churches, not a local concession for Corinth. The same standard guarded believers from confusion and preserved unity among congregations shaped by different cultures and circumstances. 1Co 4:17 That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved… Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Jewish believers were not to regard their circumcision as an obstacle to belonging fully to Christ. Circumcision marked Israel’s covenant identity and remained part of their ancestral heritage, but it did not determine a person’s standing before God in the church. Rom 4:11-12 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal… He should not become uncircumcised. Some Jews in the Greek world concealed the marks of circumcision in order to avoid ridicule or gain acceptance in Gentile society. Paul forbids rejecting one’s heritage for social advantage. Faith in Christ did not require Jewish believers to erase their past. Jer 9:25-26 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD,… Was a man still uncircumcised when called? Gentile converts came to Christ without the covenant sign given to Abraham. The early church had faced serious disputes over whether such believers must adopt Jewish customs in order to be accepted. Act 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, … He should not be circumcised. Gentiles were not to submit to circumcision as a requirement for salvation or full fellowship. Neither Jewish customs nor Gentile background could add to Christ’s saving work. Gal 5:2-6 Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves… Circumcision is nothing Circumcision marked Israel’s covenant identity under the law given through Abraham, but it does not determine salvation or standing before God in Christ. Gal 6:15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything.… and uncircumcision is nothing. Gentile believers do not need to become Jews or adopt Israel’s covenant sign in order to belong to God’s people. Rom 2:26-29 If a man who is not circumcised keeps the law,… Keeping God’s commandments is what counts. Faith in Christ produces obedience to God’s will, shown in a life that follows Christ rather than relying on outward religious marks. 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.… Each one should remain Believers were not required to alter their marital, social, or vocational standing simply because they had come to faith. Faithfulness to Christ could be lived out within ordinary responsibilities and relationships. 1Th 4:11-12 and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters… in the situation Whether married or unmarried, circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free, each person was to serve the Lord where he had been placed rather than treating a change in status as necessary for spiritual acceptance. Jas 1:9-10 The brother in humble circumstances should exult… he was in Present circumstances did not determine a believer’s standing before God. The gospel brought inward renewal without requiring immediate outward reordering of every social condition. 1Co 1:26-29 Brothers, consider the time of your calling:… when he was called. The call refers to God’s saving summons through the gospel. Conversion gave believers a new allegiance to Christ, while their existing circumstances often remained the setting in which they would obey and serve Him. Gal 1:15-16 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb… Were you a slave when you were called? Slavery was widespread in the Roman world and could result from war, debt, birth, or sale. Paul addresses believers who came to Christ while enslaved, reminding them that their standing before God was not determined by their social position. Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free… Do not let it concern you— Their condition was often difficult and unjust, yet it did not prevent them from belonging fully to Christ or serving Him faithfully. Their earthly circumstances did not lessen their spiritual inheritance. Jas 1:9-10 The brother in humble circumstances should exult… but if you can gain your freedom, Freedom was a desirable opportunity and could come through manumission, payment, or a master’s decision. Paul does not require believers to remain in bondage when a lawful path to freedom is available. Phm 1:15-16 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you… take the opportunity. A Christian slave could seek freedom without abandoning contentment or faithfulness. Whether free or enslaved, the believer’s deepest identity rests in Christ, who delivers His people from slavery to sin. Eph 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord Slavery was widespread in the Roman Empire, and slaves possessed few legal rights under earthly masters. Yet conversion to Christ gave believers a new and lasting identity. The Lord’s call brought the slave into God’s kingdom as a full member of His people, regardless of social standing. Phm 1:15-16 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you… is the Lord’s freedman. Though still subject to human authority in daily life, the believing slave had been released from slavery to sin, condemnation, and death. His true liberty came from belonging to Christ and receiving the inheritance promised to all God’s children. Jhn 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called Those with legal freedom, social position, or personal independence were not spiritually self-sufficient. Their calling reminded them that earthly privilege does not establish standing before God. In Christ, free and enslaved believers stood on equal ground. 1Pe 2:16 Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up… is Christ’s slave. The free believer had become Christ’s possession, redeemed by His blood and bound to obey Him as Lord. This service was not degrading bondage but wholehearted submission to the One who gave Himself for His people. Gal 1:10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God?… You were bought at a price; Jesus Christ redeemed believers through His sacrificial death, paying the full cost of their deliverance from sin. The image reflects the familiar buying and selling of slaves in Corinth’s Roman world, yet it declares that Christians belong to Christ, whose blood secured their freedom and reconciliation with God. 1Pe 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things… do not become slaves of men. Believers must not surrender their obedience or identity to human masters, social pressures, or religious systems that rival Christ’s authority. Though some Christians remained literal slaves, their highest allegiance belonged to the Lord who had purchased them. Col 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being,… Brothers, Paul addresses fellow Christians as members of God’s household, united through faith in Christ. Jas 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials… each one should remain Believers were not required to alter their outward condition in order to serve the Lord faithfully. Eph 6:5-8 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear… in the situation he was in Whether married, unmarried, free, enslaved, wealthy, or poor, each Christian was to live obediently before God within the responsibilities already assigned to him. The gospel changed a person’s standing before God without requiring immediate changes to every social circumstance. Php 4:11-12 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned… when God called him. God’s call brings salvation and a new life of obedience. Each believer was to recognize that the Lord could be honored in ordinary duties and difficult conditions alike. Rom 8:30 And those He predestined, He also called;…
The Unmarried and WidowedPaul turns to unmarried believers, especially young women of marriageable age, whose families faced decisions about marriage during a time of hardship and uncertainty. Mat 25:1 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins… I have no command from the Lord, Jesus had given no recorded instruction addressing this particular situation. 2Co 8:8 I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity… but I give a judgment Paul therefore offers Spirit-guided apostolic counsel suited to the Corinthians’ circumstances, distinguishing it from a direct command. Act 15:19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not… as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. The Lord had shown Paul mercy and entrusted him with ministry, making him a reliable guide for the church. 1Ti 1:12-13 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me… Because of the present crisis, Paul addresses a real and pressing hardship affecting the Corinthian believers, possibly involving economic distress, social unrest, or persecution. Such conditions made marriage and family responsibilities more difficult to undertake. Jer 16:2-4 You must not marry or have sons or daughters… I think it is good Paul offers apostolic counsel suited to their circumstances. His judgment is practical and pastoral, not a rejection of marriage, which he has already affirmed as honorable. Php 4:11-12 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned… for a man to remain as he is. Believers were not to make unnecessary changes to their marital condition during the crisis. Whether married or single, they were to serve the Lord faithfully in the situation where they had been called. 1Th 4:11-12 and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters… Are you committed to a wife? Paul addresses believers who are bound in marriage. In a culture where divorce was common, marriage was not to be treated as a temporary arrangement. Mal 2:14 Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness… Do not seek to be released. Husband and wife were not to pursue separation or divorce. Marriage is a covenantal union established by God and requires faithful perseverance. Mat 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh.… Are you free of commitment? Paul turns to those who are not presently bound in marriage. Their freedom allowed greater flexibility during the hardships facing the church. Mat 19:10-12 His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case”… Do not look for a wife. In view of the present crisis, Paul counsels contentment rather than actively pursuing marriage. He does not forbid marriage, but gives practical guidance for circumstances that could bring added burdens to married households. Jer 16:2 You must not marry or have sons or daughters… But if you do marry, you have not sinned. Marriage remains a good and lawful calling established by God. Paul’s preference for singleness in light of the present distress does not make marriage spiritually inferior or morally wrong. Heb 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed… And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. An unmarried woman was free to marry without guilt. Believers were not required to remain single because of spiritual pressure, uncertain times, or expectations about Christ’s return. 1Ti 5:14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children… But those who marry will face troubles in this life, Marriage brings added responsibilities and pressures, including the care of a spouse, household needs, children, and the strains of hardship or persecution. These difficulties do not diminish marriage’s goodness, but they are real. Jhn 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me… and I want to spare you this. Paul writes as a pastor concerned for their welfare. His counsel aims to help believers remain free to serve the Lord faithfully during a season of distress, not to forbid marriage. 2Co 1:23-24 I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you… What I am saying, brothers, Paul speaks warmly to fellow believers as members of God’s household, calling them to receive his instruction as family rather than as detached hearers. 1Th 4:1-2 Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you… is that the time is short. Life in the present world is temporary, and the Lord’s return and final judgment remain near in God’s plan. Earthly circumstances must therefore be viewed in light of what is eternal. Rom 13:11-12 And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come… From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; Married believers were not to abandon their spouses or neglect their duties, but neither were family concerns to become their controlling devotion. Loyalty to Christ and readiness to serve Him must remain above every earthly attachment. Luk 18:29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left… those who weep, as if they did not; Sorrow is real, yet it does not define the believer’s final condition. Paul calls Christians to endure loss and hardship without becoming consumed by them, since the present order is passing away and God’s promised future is secure. Jhn 16:20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail… those who are joyful, as if they were not; Earthly happiness, success, and celebration are also temporary. Believers may receive such gifts with gratitude, but they must not make them the center of life or allow prosperity to weaken their devotion to the Lord. Luk 6:25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger.… those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing; Corinth’s commercial prosperity made possessions and trade an important part of daily life. Christians could buy, sell, and own property, but were not to live as though material goods were permanent or belonged to them absolutely. Their resources were to remain subject to God and His purposes. Mat 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… and those who use the things of this world, Believers may rightly engage in work, commerce, family responsibilities, and the ordinary provisions of life. Corinth was a prosperous port city where wealth, status, and business shaped daily life, yet these things were not to define the church or govern its priorities. 1Jn 2:15-16 Do not love the world or anything in the world.… as if not dependent on them. Material goods are to be used as gifts entrusted by God, not treated as a source of security or identity. Christians remain responsible stewards of what they possess while recognizing that their lives and future rest in God rather than in wealth, comfort, or social standing. Php 4:11-12 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned… For this world in its present form is passing away. The present order, marked by sin, death, and earthly distinctions, will not endure. Paul directs believers to live faithfully in their current circumstances while remembering that Christ will establish the lasting kingdom of God. 1Jn 2:17 The world is passing away, along with its desires;… I want you to be free from concern. Paul seeks to spare believers the divided pressures that often accompany marriage and household responsibilities, especially during the hardships then facing the Corinthian church. Php 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer… The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, An unmarried believer can often give more time, energy, and freedom of movement to serving Christ. Paul’s own ministry showed the usefulness of such availability, though he did not command singleness for every believer. Jhn 4:34 “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me”… how he can please the Lord. His attention can be directed more fully toward obedience to Christ and the work of His kingdom, without the added responsibilities of caring for a wife and family. 2Co 5:9 So we aspire to please Him, whether we are at home… But the married man Marriage joins a man to his wife in a lasting covenant and gives him responsibilities that rightly demand his attention. His decisions affect not only himself but also the welfare of his household. Gen 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother… is concerned about the affairs of this world, He must provide, manage daily needs, and address the ordinary demands of family life. These earthly responsibilities are proper duties, though they limit the freedom he has to devote himself exclusively to the Lord’s work. Mrk 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness… how he can please his wife, A husband is accountable to care for his wife’s well-being and to live with her in faithful, self-giving love. His concern for her is part of the calling he accepted in marriage. Pro 5:18-19 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice… and his interests are divided. Marriage brings rightful responsibilities that require time, care, and attention. A husband must provide for and care for his wife, so his service to the Lord is shared with the duties of his household. Mat 6:24 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one… The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, An unmarried woman has greater freedom to devote her time and strength to the Lord’s service. Paul recognizes that some women are able to serve in this way without the obligations that accompany marriage and family life. 2Ti 2:4 A soldier refrains from entangling himself… how she can be holy in both body and spirit. Her devotion is to involve her whole life, including her conduct, choices, and inward commitment to God. Holiness is not merely private belief but a life set apart for the Lord. 1Co 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple… But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, A married woman properly bears responsibilities within her home and marriage. These concerns are not worldly in the sense of sinful, but they are the necessary duties of caring for her household. Mat 13:22 The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word,… how she can please her husband. She seeks the good of her husband and the well-being of their marriage. Paul presents these responsibilities as honorable while explaining why marriage can limit a person’s freedom for undivided service to the Lord. Eph 5:22-24 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.… I am saying this for your own good, Paul’s counsel regarding marriage and singleness is intended to serve the spiritual welfare of the Corinthians, not merely to settle practical questions. He writes as one responsible for their growth and stability amid the pressures and temptations of life in Corinth. 2Co 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we were… not to restrict you, He does not seek to bind consciences beyond God’s commands or impose singleness as a universal requirement. Marriage remains honorable, and believers may rightly marry according to their circumstances and responsibilities. Act 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us… but in order to promote proper decorum Paul seeks conduct that is fitting for those who belong to Christ. The church’s life and individual choices should reflect order, purity, and freedom from avoidable distractions. 1Co 14:40 But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner. and undivided devotion to the Lord. Singleness may provide greater freedom for concentrated service to Christ, while marriage brings legitimate obligations to one’s spouse and household. Paul’s concern is that every believer live faithfully before the Lord with a heart not divided by competing demands. 2Co 11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived… However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, Betrothal was a binding commitment in the first-century world, normally leading to marriage. If remaining unmarried created improper pressure, temptation, or dishonor within that commitment, marriage was the fitting course. Deu 22:23-24 If there is a virgin pledged in marriage to a man… and if she is beyond her youth A woman beyond her youth, the customary age when marriage was culturally expected, could face increased concern about an extended engagement. Paul recognizes the practical realities surrounding such a situation. 1Ti 5:14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children… and they ought to marry, Marriage was God’s established covenant for a man and woman and the proper setting for marital intimacy, companionship, and family life; “ought to marry” suggests a moral or practical obligation. Gen 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother… let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; Choosing marriage in these circumstances was not a failure of spiritual devotion or obedience to God. The decision could be made rightly and responsibly. Rom 14:5 One person regards a certain day above the others… they should get married. Marriage was the appropriate resolution when the couple’s circumstances and commitments called for it. Gen 24:67 And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah… But the man who is firmly established in his heart Paul describes a father or guardian who has reached a settled decision regarding his virgin daughter. His judgment is not impulsive or uncertain but rests on a clear conviction before God. Act 11:23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced… and under no constraint, No necessity requires him to give her in marriage, whether from poverty, family pressure, or moral obligation. 2Co 9:7 Each one should give what he has decided… with control over his will He is free to act according to his own responsible judgment and is able to govern his desires and circumstances. Gal 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things… and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, He has determined not to give his daughter in marriage, likely because continued singleness would better serve present circumstances and undivided devotion to the Lord. Dan 1:8 But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself… he will do well. Such a decision is honorable when made freely and wisely; marriage remains good, but remaining unmarried may be better in the situation Paul addresses. Act 15:29 You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols,… So then, he who marries the virgin does well, Marriage is good, honorable, and consistent with God’s design. In a time of present distress, Paul does not forbid marriage or treat it as spiritually inferior. Pro 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing… but he who does not marry her does even better. Remaining unmarried may better enable devoted service to the Lord without the added responsibilities and concerns of family life. Paul gives wise counsel for the circumstances rather than a command binding every believer. Mat 19:11-12 “Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, …… A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. Marriage is a lifelong covenant, binding husband and wife in a union God established. Its obligations remain in force throughout the husband’s life. Rom 7:2 For instance, a married woman is bound by law… But if her husband dies, Death ends the marriage bond. A widow was often left economically and socially vulnerable in the ancient world, yet she was no longer under the obligations of her former marriage. Rut 1:3-5 Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left… she is free to marry anyone she wishes, She may remarry without violating her first covenant. Her freedom includes the choice of a new husband. Rom 7:3 So then, if she is joined to another man… as long as he belongs to the Lord. Her new marriage must be to a fellow believer, so that husband and wife share allegiance to Christ and can live together under His authority. 2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.… In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. Paul concludes that a widow is free to remarry but may be better served by remaining unmarried. His counsel reflects the hardships and instability facing believers in Corinth, as well as the practical freedom singleness provides for devoted service to Christ. Marriage is honorable, yet widowhood can allow a woman to live without the added responsibilities and concerns of a household. Mat 19:11-12 “Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, …… And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. Though Paul distinguishes this counsel from a direct command of the Lord, he speaks with apostolic authority and confidence that the Holy Spirit guides his judgment. His instruction is therefore trustworthy and consistent with God’s will for the church. Rom 8:9-11 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh,… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
    |