Paul now devotes the rest of this book to questions that the Corinthians posed. There are six major questions he answers; seven if you include Apollos.

• Issues Concerning Marriage and Sex (7:1-24)

• Issues Concerning Whether Engaged Couples Should Marry (7:25-38)

• Issues Concerning Whether Widows and Widowers Should Marry (7:39-40)

• Issues Concerning Giving Up the Right to Sacrificed Food (8:1-11:34)

• Issues Concerning Spiritual Activity (12:1-15:58)

• Issues Concerning the Collection for the Saints (16:1-16:11)

• The Issue Concerning Apollos's Visit (16:12-23)

Paul takes on these questions to stay with the theme of his book, resolving conflict, potential dissension, and division within the church.

In this chapter, Paul takes on two questions: the issue of marriage and its related subject, sex, and the issue of those engaged to be married.

Issues Concerning of Marriage and Sex (1-24) 

Sex in Marriage (1-5)

First, regarding marriage and sex, Paul is clear that a man should not be promiscuous but should marry. This is his leading piece of advice concerning sex. For a man to touch a woman who is not his wife is, in Paul's mind, never promoted as good. Sexual impulses are to be controlled, for uncontrolled impulses lead to devastating sins against one’s own body (1).

Paul recognized that in his day and especially in Rome, cultural immorality was prevalent and the temptation to indulge was no small challenge to deny. In light of all this, Paul encourages each man to take a wife and each woman a husband (2).

Further, those who marry are not to deny their spouse sexual privileges. They are not to exercise the kind of authority over their bodies that views their own personal right not to have sex when they don’t want to. A spouse's responsibility to have sex is to be a higher commitment than their want to not be bothered (3-4). Paul's advice in no way allows or permits abuse in either case, either from a demanding, forceful husband or an indifferent, denying wife. Sex is to be a mutual agreement between a husband and wife. 

Abstinence is in order when both the husband and wife agree, and that for one purpose, to devote themselves more earnestly to seasons of prayer. It’s important to note here that Paul considered times of prayer to be a part of the rhythm of marriage and a planned, necessary practice for marriages to be successful (5).

Celibacy (6-9) 

Paul asserts an opinion that he will pick up in greater detail later: he wishes all were as he, single. In stating his opinion, Paul makes it clear that his opinion is not something he had received from Jesus. It was smothered in wisdom but not something he had gleaned from Christ.  

Paul loved being single and celibate and wished all could have the same joy in life he experienced. 

Paul then admits that his condition was not a decision he made but his lifestyle of celibacy was a gift given to him by God. Paul also recognizes that those who married were given the gift to marry. Paul was telling the Corinthians that their gift should be so wonderful that they wished all were like themselves (6-7).

Paul then gives the unmarried the advice he had for them but not that he had received from Jesus. If they can, they should try to remain single. If their godly sexual appetites do not permit them to easily control their passions, however, then he counsels them to marry. Paul is making the case that all single people should not instantly assume they do not have the gift of celibacy, but should at least consider and ponder the possibility before Christ. 

It’s important to realize that this counsel was not founded upon revelation from Jesus but the witness of Paul's own life. He was extremely happy and fulfilled being unmarried and completely devoted to Christ. The reason this is likely in the text is not because the counsel is so perfectly right and universal, but because either state, married or single, is a gift from God. As a gift from God, it should create an amazing joy so deep that we should want others to experience the same thing. The Holy Spirit has put this in Scripture not to promote unprecedented celibacy, but to promote a joyous gratitude for whatever lifestyle we are called to—so joyous and fulfilling that we desire others to share in it with us. Paul was just convinced that his condition would be wonderful for all. 

In the end, Paul admits it is better to marry than to have the fire of lust raging through the soul (8-9).

Marriage and Divorce (10-16)

Paul then jumps into the issue of marriage and divorce. He handles three key issues:

• First, he explains what to do if two believers are married and decide to separate. 

• Second, he addresses what to do if married to an unbeliever who wants to remain married. 

• Third, he deals with what to do if married to an unbeliever who wishes to separate.

When Paul begins to give his perspective on marriage, he switches back so there is no confusion—he is speaking for Jesus on this issue. 

Next, I should note here that I am just making comments on these passages as I think they would have hit the Corinthians. I am not appealing to other passages on divorce and remarriage, nor seeking to provide a conclusive opinion on the subject. My goal here is to just try to hear what the Corinthians heard when they read this letter. 

1. Marriages in Conflict (10-11)

   First, Paul states that a wife should not separate from her husband. It should not be an option when the marriage becomes difficult. No doubt Paul is using the wife as an example and means the same for a husband as he makes clear at the end of verse 11. 

   Paul then recognized that a person may not be able to tolerate the marriage for reasons of infidelity. Paul realized that s/he might go against his counsel and divorce one’s spouse. In such an instance, Paul here calls for the divorced couple not to remarry someone else but to put their energies into reconciling with their mate (10-11).

2. The Consenting Spouse (12-14)

   Paul once again gives his own advice as a man of wisdom who follows and has spent time with Jesus.

   If a married believer was married to an unbeliever and the unbeliever wished to remain married, then they should not divorce. For the unbelieving spouse to agree to and approve of their marriage to a believing spouse, in Paul's mind, constituted justification for a marriage to remain held together in Christ's name. Even though Christ's name may not have been invoked at the marriage ceremony, Paul deemed the marriage to be joined in Christ (12-13).

   The reason Paul concluded the marriage should remain together in Christ is the biblical evidence he had of God's blessing coming on a family because of a person who was devoted to Yahweh. Laban's home was blessed because of Jacob (Genesis 30:27), Potiphar's house was blessed because of Joseph (Genesis 39:5), and even the Holy Spirit recognized the salvation of one led to the salvation of an entire family (Acts 11:14).

   Paul told the Corinthians that if an unbelieving spouse committed to being married to a devoted follower, then the one-flesh relationship would cause the sanctifying blessing of God to even fall upon their children. 

   In a divorce, the children could be given to the unbelieving spouse—in those days, usually, the father kept paternal rights. Paul imagined for the Corinthians what it would be like for the believing spouse to lose the blessing over their children to set them apart to Yahweh due to divorce. Due to this loss, Paul encouraged marriages to stay together if the unbelieving spouse approved of the believing spouse following Jesus (14).

3. The Non-Consenting Spouse (15-16) 

   When the unbelieving spouse did not agree or approve of the life of their mate and wanted a separation, Paul's principle was clear: the marriage could be dissolved. The believing mate need not be bound to the marriage relationship as if God had put it together (15).

   Paul then reminds the Corinthians that they were called to peace. They were at all times to seek to live in peace and harmony with all, especially with those to whom they were married. Those married to unbelieving spouses had no idea whether or not their sanctifying faith would end up saving their unbelieving spouse (16).

The Key Rule of Life (17-24)

Next, Paul defines clearly the key and core principle to life. All followers were to seek to live the life they were assigned to and to which they were called to live. This was a universal principle of following Jesus. 

They were not to seek to break free from the cultural life and condition they were in at the time of their being called (17).

• The circumcised were not to try to reverse circumcision.

• The uncircumcised were not to seek circumcision (18). 

  Paul's point was essential: it was not about seeking to be in another condition; what mattered was Jesus—following Jesus and obeying Jesus (19). Remaining in the condition where one was called by Jesus was more important than seeking to appear more religious or righteous (20).

• Those who were slaves were not to worry themselves with freedom but were merely to grasp it if it was offered to them (21). Paul's logic was tight; all who were called to Jesus when they were slaves were actually called to be free, whether they were slaves or not. In the same way, those who were free when they were called were actually called to be slaves. In Paul's mind, circumstance didn't matter; all were slaves and all were free. What Paul was saying was every profession ends up being a place where followers in their freedom in Christ become slaves to their Master, Jesus, and followers in their slavery become free and committed to doing His will (22). No matter what their state, the Corinthian followers were purchased by Christ and belonged to Him. No man could own them (23).

Paul was seeking to make the point that their condition in this life was not important—it was their ability to remain with and in Christ in all situations. Jesus, not circumstance, was the Source of their life (24). Paul was clear that the Corinthians were to learn the art of contentment in their circumstances. They were not called to appear less Gentile or less Jewish or less slave or any other state. Paul was concerned that they all knew freedom was in Christ regardless of their external circumstances. 

Issues Concerning Whether Engaged Couples Should Marry (25-38)

Paul’s Advice to Singles (25-38)

Paul now tackles the second question of those engaged to be married and makes his remarks in view of the present distress (the famine and harsh conditions they were under at that moment). 

In Paul's wisdom, not by revelation or directive from Jesus, Paul lends his advice. 

Paul considered it better not to marry in such impending, difficult times staring them in the face (25-26).

• If married, he encouraged them not to seek release. 

• If unmarried, they were encouraged not to seek a spouse (27).

Paul then assures the Corinthians that to marry was not a sin, but due to the trouble and tribulation about to fall on the world, marriage could make it difficult for a couple to endure through the unanticipated difficulties they will encounter (28).

Paul was aware that the time was short, and great difficulty was going to cover the world for a season. He advised those with wives to live as though they had none. They were going to need to work hard and long hours due to the coming famine. They would need to shift into survival mode, not allowing themselves to overly give themselves to marriage the way one could in times of prosperity (29).

It was not only advice he gave to those married but also to those grieving loss, those experiencing amazing victory, those in an economic boom, and those of enterprise—they were to all live as though the present forms and structures of this world were not going to last. They were to view the future as temporary (30-31).

Paul wanted those going through tough times to be free from worrying about how to support their entire family and focus on how to please Yahweh. Those married had to worry about so many things, especially when life was thrown into the revolutions of trouble. Their interests were often divided between how they could please their spouses, how they could please Jesus, and finally, how they could make a living in tough times.

Paul deemed the unmarried more fit in tough times to give themselves completely to Yahweh in body and spirit, and not be divided with how to please their mate when life was so ruthlessly filled with work and long, demanding hours (32-34).

Paul's greatest concern was undivided devotion to the Lord, even during times of immense stress. Remember, all this advice was given in the light of a huge and impending famine coming to the earth and the pressure of labor it would put on everyone. Paul's advice was not meant to constrain but to create complete and undivided devotion to Christ, which Paul viewed as the main ambition of every follower (35).

Paul again reminds the Corinthians that if passions were strong, marriage was not a sin. All his advice was aimed at getting them through a coming distress with faith and devotion intact and seeking to save them anxiety and turmoil. 

If a young man or woman feared falling into sexual sin because of their desire, Paul encouraged them at once to marry (36). If, on the other hand, passions could be controlled, then Paul, in view of the coming difficulties, told the Corinthians they would do well not to marry (37). Either way, Paul admits that people do well, but Paul's point was that those who don't marry during times of intense difficulty will do even better (38).

Issues Concerning Whether Widows and Widowers Should Marry (39-40) 

Paul’s Thoughts About Remarriage (39-40)

Paul then ends with those who have lost their mates. The rule is that once a mate dies, the law of marriage is also broken and no longer binding. The living mate is free to remarry whomever they wish, as long as the person they marry loves Jesus (39).

Paul then gives his opinion, not that of Jesus—it’s best to stay single (40).

Again, Paul was looking at coming hard times and considered it wise not to marry and to bring children into such poverty, leading to heightened anxiety and the potential of lack. While there was no sin in marrying, Paul was indicating there might be some wisdom in waiting until the future crisis had passed. He reminds everyone that marriage is a lifelong commitment, so once the decision has been made, it should never be undone.