1 Corinthians 7

[Taestron]

This has always been a chapter with which I have no idea what to do. Paul specifically states that it his judgment and not the Lord’s command that unmarried people would do better to stay as they are. (7:12, 25) Again Paul highlights that this is his judgment in verse 40. On the other hand, Paul says that states that his judgment is given “as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy” (v. 25 ESV). How are we then to take these judgments? Paul is certainly trustworthy, so we would do well to follow his wisdom. Also, do Paul’s judgments not have the force of commands by virtue of his office of an Apostle? However, it also seems that many people in the Church disregard Paul and seek marriage, and they do so without seeming to sin.

Any thoughts? Comments?

 

[PaulfromIowa]

If you read Paul’s letters, he makes it clear that marriage is not a sin. His point is to emphasize that some are called to the single religious life.

 

[JRKH]

Why not take Paul at his word? it is not a command of God, but rather his “judgement” (Greek = Gnome = Considered opinion and advice) as a minister of God.

problem solved…

Peace
James

 

[prodigalson2011]

Everyone is unmarried at some point, so if every Catholic followed that suggestion, there would pretty quickly be no Catholics.

 

[Eufrosnia]

This has always been a chapter with which I have no idea what to do. Paul specifically states that it his judgment and not the Lord’s command that unmarried people would do better to stay as they are. (7:12, 25) Again Paul highlights that this is his judgment in verse 40. On the other hand, Paul says that states that his judgment is given “as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy” (v. 25 ESV). How are we then to take these judgments? Paul is certainly trustworthy, so we would do well to follow his wisdom. Also, do Paul’s judgments not have the force of commands by virtue of his office of an Apostle? However, it also seems that many people in the Church disregard Paul and seek marriage, and they do so without seeming to sin.

Any thoughts? Comments?

St. Paul is making a wise observation and then simply giving prudential advice given the times. No one opposes the idea that a married life is difficult compared to being single. If you are and married, you have lots of things to think about and do. In a traditional sense man would have to think and act to provide for the family, to think of ways to show his love for his wife and his children. A woman would have to attend to the needs of the children and her husband. These things are not easy.

At the time St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, it was a time where a Christian persecution was brewing up. He starts his advice as follows

*"I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to …" **

It seems wise to avoid marriage in such a time since this brings about more burdens to a husband and wife that can lead to its own set of anxieties. So St. Paul’s advice was correct and very valid at the time. I am sure many listened to his advice and took it to heart as well.

But times have changed today. There is no impending crisis. So there is no reason for the church to advice as such.

 

[TimothyH]

It is an example of moral theology.

Paul is using the teaching of the Hebrew Scriptures and of Christ to draw conclusions about something not explicit in the scriptures or in the teachings of Christ. Paul does not find direct teaching about whether it is better to marry or not in the Hebrew Scriptures nor in the teaching of Christ, yet he uses the teachings of the Hebrew Scriptures and of Christ to draw conclusions based on his own ability to reason.

Paul did not say, “That’s not in the Bible!” but instead used his ability to reason, informed by his training as a Rabbi of the Scriptures and revealed truths of Christ to draw conclusions. This is exactly what the Church does when it teaches us how to live moral lives, but we get told that all the rules are made up by man.

-Tim-

 

[pablope]

This has always been a chapter with which I have no idea what to do. Paul specifically states that it his judgment and not the Lord’s command

In V6…Paul says…“6 But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.”…He is saying that he is giving advise, as a bishop/apostle.

On the other hand, Paul says that states that his judgment is given “as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy” (v. 25 ESV).

 

[Taestron]

St. Paul is making a wise observation and then simply giving prudential advice given the times. No one opposes the idea that a married life is difficult compared to being single. If you are and married, you have lots of things to think about and do. In a traditional sense man would have to think and act to provide for the family, to think of ways to show his love for his wife and his children. A woman would have to attend to the needs of the children and her husband. These things are not easy.

At the time St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, it was a time where a Christian persecution was brewing up. He starts his advice as follows

*"I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to …" **

It seems wise to avoid marriage in such a time since this brings about more burdens to a husband and wife that can lead to its own set of anxieties. So St. Paul’s advice was correct and very valid at the time. I am sure many listened to his advice and took it to heart as well.

But times have changed today. There is no impending crisis. So there is no reason for the church to advice as such.

Perhaps, but I have reason to doubt this explanation. Paul is of the opinion that the Lord will come back in his lifetime (or so some say). “Impending Crisis” can simply mean the confusion that the parousia will necessarily bring. Also, there is no evidence to suggest that Christians were persecuted on a systemic level in Corinth.

It is an example of moral theology.

Paul is using the teaching of the Hebrew Scriptures and of Christ to draw conclusions about something not explicit in the scriptures or in the teachings of Christ. Paul does not find direct teaching about whether it is better to marry or not in the Hebrew Scriptures nor in the teaching of Christ, yet he uses the teachings of the Hebrew Scriptures and of Christ to draw conclusions based on his own ability to reason.

Paul did not say, “That’s not in the Bible!” but instead used his ability to reason, informed by his training as a Rabbi of the Scriptures and revealed truths of Christ to draw conclusions. This is exactly what the Church does when it teaches us how to live moral lives, but we get told that all the rules are made up by man.

-Tim-

Arguably, this is what Paul does in all his letters, so I am not sure why Paul marks this passage off in such a unique way.

In V6…Paul says…“6 But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.”…He is saying that he is giving advise, as a bishop/apostle.

These two responses get to the meat of what I was asking. I don’t know how to take Paul’s sound advice considering his trustworthy and authoritative status as an Apostle. If it is not a command, then we are under no moral obligation to follow. However, given Paul’s apostleship and the codification of Corinthians as Scripture, we must at minimum take this advice seriously. This I don’t think is objectionable. However, I always have felt that given Paul’s status, advice become a bit more morally obligatory. In the same way, would not advice given by your bishop be slightly more obligatory than advice given by someone else?

Just to be clear, I never though marriage was a sin, but I do have trouble reconciling the pervasiveness of marriage among Christians with Paul’s advice in this passage.

 

[JRKH]

These two responses get to the meat of what I was asking. I don’t know how to take Paul’s sound advice considering his trustworthy and authoritative status as an Apostle. If it is not a command, then we are under no moral obligation to follow. However, given Paul’s apostleship and the codification of Corinthians as Scripture, we must at minimum take this advice seriously. This I don’t think is objectionable. However, I always have felt that given Paul’s status, advice become a bit more morally obligatory. In the same way, would not advice given by your bishop be slightly more obligatory than advice given by someone else?

Just to be clear, I never though marriage was a sin, but I do have trouble reconciling the pervasiveness of marriage among Christians with Paul’s advice in this passage.

Forgive me here as I am not a great “Chapter and verse” quoter, but I am sure that you are aware that Paul believes one should marry if the alternative is that they will sin. So this has to be factored into the equation.
Also, Paul makes the statement somewhere that "All things are Lawful, but not all things build up…So one must make distinction whether married or single is better, more “building up” in their particular circumstance.

Everything that is presented in the NT should be taken seriously, as you say,“a bit more obligatory”, but there are various aspects to be considered…

Peace
James

 

[Eufrosnia]

Perhaps, but I have reason to doubt this explanation. Paul is of the opinion that the Lord will come back in his lifetime (or so some say). “Impending Crisis” can simply mean the confusion that the parousia will necessarily bring. Also, there is no evidence to suggest that Christians were persecuted on a systemic level in Corinth.

Arguably, this is what Paul does in all his letters, so I am not sure why Paul marks this passage off in such a unique way.

By noting that your belief system is Protestant, your doubt is quiet understandable. You will always have a necessary amount of doubt when it comes to interpreting scripture as a Protestant.

The Catholic however gives assent to the interpretation of the Church.

So for an example, let us say there is a passage that maybe interpreted in two ways that contradict/inconsistent with each other. Then the Catholic chooses the interpretation of the church. This would be the only thing that is reasonable to do.

The protestant would arbitrarily choose whichever one seems most likely to him/her. This might be based on the evaluation of the likelihood of what is meant or a mere result of a prayerful meditation on the passage. Hence, the protestant will always be in doubt and will only have a best guess.

Now to answer directly to your point about what is the “impending crisis”, tradition and the church has always seen it as the impending persecutions. Christianity was persecuted. Whether Corinth was specifically affected or not is to miss the point. St. Paul could have just as well been referring to the impending general persecution.

As to whether there is an actual moral/doctrinal opposition to marriage, the Church has spoken. There is none. The church consists of the apostolic successors. We must respect that authority. You must keep in mind that this authority means that the Church at various times can enforce laws and suggestions as binding on the faithful as prudent measures or best way to uphold moral and doctrinal truths. St. Paul’s advise would be in this category. These would remain binding till the church decides them not relevant/necessary.

Now this of course doesn’t mean you cannot follow even those teachings/suggestions of St. Paul. You are free to do so. In fact, given the time and place you live in, St. Paul’s advise might be very prudent and relevant to you. But, it is simply not binding on everyone and is left to the best judgement of the individual (at times the local churches). If you feel that St. Paul’s words are applicable to you today in light of the impending crisis you are living in, you can choose to remain single and dedicate your life to doing the work of God. If your current conditions calls for it, then that would be necessary for you since you are always called to act prudently. You would be doing well to follow St. Paul’s suggestion.

 

[R_C]

“Vocation”: from the Latin “vocare”, “to call”.

St. Paul in 1 Cor 7 speaks of vocations: some will be “called” to married life, some others will be called to life of celibacy.

Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk …] Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.

St. Paul is clearly stating, though, that on this most delicate issue he is only giving his advice:

de virginibus autem praeceptum Domini non habeo **consilium **autem do

There is no sin whatsoever in refusing his advice. He actually says this in the letter:

But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned

Particularly because the “call” requires discernment. The actual “advice” that sounds more difficult to accept is:

they also who have wives, be as if they had none

Yet he is not talking about rejecting the spouse (“Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed.”): he is referring to the necessity of not focusing on the world, but on the kingdom:

But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided. …] But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

He is trying to move people, even married ones who are called to take care of their family above all else, “to attend upon the Lord, without impediment”. This is simply a practical advice on what Christ Himself had teached:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

 

[GLORIFYINGOD]

I too am a Protestant and have a clear understanding of the scripture in question. Pauls advice is to be taken serious indeed, but not every person is able to do that without ending in greater sins. Just like several priests have done by unappropriate acts towards boys. It would have been better to simply marry. Most people seek marriage because they already know how strong their desire is for a mate. Therefore, it is better for them to marry than to burn in lust.

God does not see Catholic, Protestant, or Jew; He sees those who chooses to believe Him with their whole heart. Not leaning to your own understanding or MANS or YOUR CHURCHES, but His Holy Word uncut. Praying that He reveals it to you.