I Corinthians 7:25-40
Today is one of the longer readings that we’ve had of late, but it seems to me that it can all be summarized in this one verse: This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord. (v. 35, NASB) I think Paul’s “this” at the beginning of this verse reflects back to verses 32-34a, But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife and his interests are divided. The next verse reflects the same sentiment to the wife, so that Paul is gender-neutral in his advice. So, back to my first statement – in giving his advice Paul is not limiting the Corinthians’ choices; his concern is that they seek the Lord more fully and behave appropriately in their marriage and in the world. It’s good advice for today!
One item of confusion appears in verse 29: But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened… I’ve always been of the mind that Paul thought that Jesus’ return was nearby, especially earlier in his ministry. His letters to the Thessalonians (among the earliest of his epistles) where he discusses the end times seem to support this claim, as do other statements that he makes in other letters. However, even though my Study Bible suggests this as a possibility, it seems to suggest more strongly that Paul is speaking about the persecutions that the Corinthians are suffering. For my part, I think that in the whole of our reading today Paul is expecting that Jesus’ return is coming soon.
Slava Bohu!
I like your summary verse, Fred!
Regarding v. 29, it seems to be talking about Christ’s return. But in v. 26, the “impending crisis” seems to be Roman persecution.