One Not Two

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

ONE NOT TWO

1 Cor 7:8-11

8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

NIV

Why would Paul say that it is good for a person to remain single and not to marry? By his own confession, He is a single man, at least at the time he wrote this letter. There is some controversy regarding whether Paul was ever married or whether he was always single. This disagreement arises from the context of his statement about those who are unmarried and widows. Because he uses windows in reference to women and does make a specific reference to a widower in regards to men, it is thought because of the context the Greek word translated as unmarried could apply to widower because he uses in connection with widows. So then if either a man or woman who lost their spouse through death, should not remarry, especially in those times where persecution and troubles were so prevalent. Having to be concerned about family in times of hardship and trouble was an extra burden and Paul thought it best not to be encumbered with family. We will see later that Paul makes the point that many of the other apostles who traveled to spread the gospel brought their wives with them, but he and Barnabas did not. Nevertheless, Paul is not opposing the divine ordinance of marriage or saying that he is against marriage in opposition to the fact God ordained that a man and a woman should be joined together, to be one. This suggestion by Paul was due to the extreme situation the existed in Corinth, and the church was in trouble of being infiltrated by the ideologies of the world and it was under persecution by the world. Again, it makes sense that he first takes to the widowers and widows, then addresses those that are still married. He makes sure he is not speaking against the ordinance of God, by his statement that it is not he, but the Lord that says a wife must not separate from her husband, but if she does, she must remain unmarried, or get back with her husband, reconcile herself to him. A man must also not divorce his wife, or put her out. This is a God-ordained institution and divorce is not permitted among believers. There are extenuating circumstances, but this is not the time or place to deal with that. Here, it is about talking about those who were married and their spouse has died, and those who are still living with their spouses. Paul had just given the duties of each in marriage regarding not withholding their bodies from their spouses, which is making sure to meet the sensual needs of each other. This is a continuation of those instructions to the married, but that if anyone found themselves to be a widower and widow it would be best to stay that way unless they were unable to control their sensual nature. The point is God created us with this sensual or sexual nation for the purpose of wanting to have that intimacy to fill the earth. Again, if God did not create us with that kind of desire, mankind would have been extinct thousands of years ago. So it is in our nature and it requires marriage to fulfill those desires. Paul is not against married for God is for it. Paul is saying the same as the Lord is saying except that it seems at the time in Corinth it would be more difficult for those believers with families. Nevertheless, today we face many temptations and distractions that can cause hardships or trouble in the family, but that does not mean we should not have families, spouses, and children. It does mean we have to be traveling in the same direction, with the same purpose, to serve the Lord. If the family is divided, it becomes more difficult for the believing member. We need to make sure we are in this as one, and not as two.