Scripture Help ! 1Cor 25-40

[MichelleTherese]

I just finished reading 1 Corintians 25-40. (I can’t post it because it’s too long.) Is Paul saying that folks should’nt get married because it’s a big hassle?? Why would Saint Paul advise us not to marry when God has told us to go forth and multiply? Why is the single life looked upon as “better” then the married life? I know he says you aren’t a sinner if you get married but his tone seems to imply that you do your best to stay single. Why?? This section of Scripture is deffinately confusing!

You can read the verses on-line at:

scriptours.com/bible/bible.cgi?book=53&chapter=7

 

[awalt]

From one of my Catholic commentaries…

Paul now considers the relative freedom of the unmarried (7:17–35). He regards virginity as preferable since the “time is short” and marriage tends to scatter one’s energies. Paul’s thinking is shaped by his conviction that the Christian has already begun to live a heavenly existence and therefore should not become more ensconced in this world. In heaven there is no marriage, so marriage is not necessary for Christians. It is irrelevant to inheriting the kingdom of God (see 15:50).

The Corinthians, in their enthusiastic extremism, seemed to even suspect that marriage is sinful (see 1 Tim 4:1–5). On the contrary, Paul responds, marriage is the chosen life-style of the majority and its obligations cannot be avoided on the pretext that now one is Christian. Marriage is not sinful. Indeed, it is better to marry than to ignore the needs of the flesh. Since Paul’s society considered women the property of men, the Apostle addresses men when he advocates marriage rather than irresponsible and promiscuous sexual behavior.

Paul is against change in marital status, not only for virgins but also for widows. This represents another departure from Jewish tradition which advocated remarriage after the death of a spouse. Paul reinforces this opinion by expressing the belief that he is guided in this by the Spirit of God.

 

[SMHW]

I just finished reading 1 Corintians 25-40. (I can’t post it because it’s too long.) Is Paul saying that folks should’nt get married because it’s a big hassle?? Why would Saint Paul advise us not to marry when God has told us to go forth and multiply? Why is the single life looked upon as “better” then the married life? I know he says you aren’t a sinner if you get married but his tone seems to imply that you do your best to stay single. Why?? This section of Scripture is deffinately confusing!

You can read the verses on-line at:

scriptours.com/bible/bible.cgi?book=53&chapter=7

Here are a couple of thoughts. At the time Paul wrote this it was still common to believe that Jesus could return at any time. No one thought the future of the human race was in danger of becoming extinct.

But remaining unmarried allows a person to dedicate more time to the service of the Church. That is why Catholic bishops do not marry and it is why Latin rite Catholic priests are (as a general rule) unmarried. Religious brothers and sisters would be other examples of people who set aside marriage in order to serve the Church.

A single person, whether they are in direct service to the Church or not, is free to serve the greater needs of the Church.

The point is that spouses, having become one flesh, are expected to spend their time and energy to love their spouse. That is their primary responsibility. In fact, a spouse who spends too much time ‘serving the greater church’ is guilty of taking that which rightfully belongs to the spouse.

Paul is not saying that marriage is bad. But he is saying that the Church needs people who are willing to remain unmarried.