1 Corinthians Chapter 7

In chapters 1-6, Paul discusses his concerns regarding what was happening in Corinth. Moving forward, in chapters 7-16, Paul answers specific questions they needed guidance on, for instance, marriage and singlehood. Thus, Paul often begins with “now concerning” ( 7:1,25; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1). 

There were two extreme positions in the Corinthian church. One group was hedonistic, claiming that sin had to do with the physical body and that believers could sin in their bodies without consequences to their spiritual life. The other group believed that all things physical are bad and that believers had to suppress every physical desire to be truly spiritual. Proponents of this claim that celibacy was the only proper lifestyle. Paul corrects both groups in chapters 6 and 7 respectively. 

 Paul recognizes that not everyone is like him, embracing celibacy for the purpose of serving God ( 7:35). Not all can choose celibacy yet remain holy. “For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.” (7:7). Therefore, Paul adds in verse 9 “but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”. Paul proceeds to discuss how marriage covenants are binding. For one to depart from their spouse, they must either remain unmarried or be reconciled (7:10-11). God recognizes a divorce when an unbeliever departs from a believer due to sexual immorality (7:39).  

In this chapter, Paul often makes the disclaimer that his instructions or guidelines are what he says, and not the Lord (7:12, 25). He also clarifies that his advice is “not as a commandment” (7:6) and that it may not apply to everyone in the same manner (7:7, 9, 38). However, it is interesting how he concludes in verse 40 that “I think I also have the Spirit of God”. Even if he has not received any explicit command from the Lord and what he has said may be according to his judgement, Paul has the Spirit of God when he wrote them. Therefore, his judgements and opinions were moulded by what God revealed to him and inspired by the Spirit of God.

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