1 Corinthians 7

A. Marriage and related matters ch. 7

The first subject with which Paul dealt was marriage. He began with some general comments (1 Corinthians 7:1-7) and then dealt with specific situations.

"The transition from chapter 6 to chapter 7 illustrates the necessity Paul was under of waging a campaign on two fronts. In chapter 6 he dealt with libertines who argued that everything was permissible, and in particular that sexual licence [sic] was a matter of ethical indifference. In chapter 7 he deals with ascetics who, partly perhaps in reaction against the libertines, argued that sexual relations of every kind were to be deprecated, that Christians who were married should henceforth live as though they were unmarried, and those who were unmarried should remain so, even if they were already engaged to be married." [Note: Bruce, 1 and 2 Corinthians, p. 66.]

". . . the controlling motif of Paul’s answer is: ’Do not seek a change in status.’ This occurs in every subsection (1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 7:10-16; 1 Corinthians 7:26-27; 1 Corinthians 7:37; 1 Corinthians 7:40) and is the singular theme of the paragraph that ties the . . . sections together (1 Corinthians 7:17-24) - although in each case an exception is allowed." [Note: Fee, The First . . ., p. 268.]

"Two other features about the nature of the argument need to be noted: First, along with 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, this is one of the least combative sections of the letter. Indeed, after the argumentation of 1 Corinthians 1:10 to 1 Corinthians 6:20, this section is altogether placid. Furthermore, also along with 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, this is one of the least ’authority-conscious’ sections in all of his letters. Phrases like ’I say this by way of concession, not of command’ (1 Corinthians 7:6), ’it is good for them’ (1 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 7:26), ’I have no command, but I give my opinion’ (1 Corinthians 7:25; cf. 1 Corinthians 7:40) are not your standard Paul. Second, in a way quite unlike anything else in all his letters, the argument alternates between men and women (12 times in all). And in every case there is complete mutuality between the two sexes." [Note: Ibid., pp. 269-70.]