First Corinthians 7:1-14
In 7:26 the “present crisis”
may refer to the sexual immorality among the believers in
Marriage is normal. Sex in marriage is an expectation.
7:1
“Now Concerning”
is “peri de” and is a formula used to introduce a new
topic.
7:25 8:1 12:1 16:1 16:12
Paul is now going to address
the things they wrote about.
Since the time of Origen (200’s AD) this first line “It is not good to touch
a woman” was considered to be a Corinthian quote. This is what some of them were teaching.
“Not Marry” in the NIV is “touch”
in the Greek and refers to sexual intercourse.
This is also seen in Gen.
20:6 and Prov. 6:29
7:2
The verbs are Imperative
which make them a command.
“Immorality” is plural or “immoralities”
in the Greek referring to many acts.
In a society filled with
temptations Paul says to marry.
“Should have” is imperative
and so is a command. Anything other than
having a wife is an exception (see 7:7)
Sex is not the only reason
for marriage (also companionship, family, love, stability, purpose, etc.) but
sex is the focus of these verses. Paul
makes it clear that sex is one of the reasons for marriage.
7:3
Each partner has:
These rights and dues of
marriage go both ways according to God’s word.
Even in a male dominated
culture Paul says both the husband and the wife have rights and dues in
marriage.
”Habitual duty” is the interpretation of the present imperative verb.
The focus of sex in these
verses is the giving of oneself to your partner
7:4
“Exercise Authority” is a
type of paradox since it first says “Her/His own body” then says she/he does “Not
have authority” her/his own body.
Male and female are equal in
sexual relationship. Men do not control
sex within marriage nor do women. Both
are to share responsibility.
Sex is indispensable in marriage
according to the Word of God.
Sex is not an option but is
expected and normal.
Sex is not bad nor is it
spiritually defiling.
A person can have a prayer
life and a sex life in a marriage relationship.
Paul is telling the
Corinthians that this is part of the normal life.
Sex is not a non-spiritual
activity.
7:5
“devote
yourself” is scolashte and means “you may have leisure” for prayer.
Notice “mutual consent”. This means before a husband or a wife turns
to a time of prayer and takes time away from sexual intercourse there should be
mutual consent or agreement from the other partner.
“Do not Deprive” in the
Greek indicates that depriving is occurring.
The Greek says “Stop depriving”
7:6
“As a concession” can not be
Paul referring to the imperative verbs of 7:2-4 where he just finished saying
you must be having sex in a married relationship.
The concession he makes is
in 7:5.
Here he states his concession or his half way point for those who want to pray
and not be interrupted with sex. Paul
says that if both partners agree there can be a time set aside for prayer with
no sexual relationship. The criteria are:
So if both do not agree to
the time of prayer the other partner can not say no to sex.
Also, it can only be for a
set time. In other words one partner can
not devote themselves to prayer for the rest of their life and refrain from
sex.
7:7
Jewish men were required to
be married and have children
In the Talmud: “Any man who
has no wife is no proper man”
Rabbis taught men should be
married by age 20 or else upset God
Was Paul married before his
conversion? Had his wife left him when
he became a believer? Had his wife
died? Had Paul always been single?