1 Corinthians 7 – Marriage, Singleness, and Devotion to the Lord

1 Corinthias 7

Chapter with Audio

7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live as You Are Called

17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

The Unmarried and the Widowed

25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Chapter Analysis

1 Corinthians 7: Marriage, Singleness, And Serving The Lord Faithfully

Marriage And Mutual Responsibility

📖 1 Corinthians 7:1–7

¹ Paul now answers the matters the Corinthians had written about. It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ² But because of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. ³ The husband should give his wife the affection due her, and likewise the wife should give her husband the affection due him. ⁴ The wife does not have authority over her own body alone, but the husband also does; and likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body alone, but the wife also does. ⁵ Husband and wife must not deprive one another except by mutual agreement for a time, so they may give themselves to prayer, and then come together again so Satan does not tempt them because of lack of self-control. ⁶ Paul says this as a concession, not as a command. ⁷ He wishes all were as he himself was, but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way and another in that way.

🔹 The Truth

Marriage is God’s proper place for sexual intimacy.

Husbands and wives have mutual responsibilities toward one another.

Marriage is not to be marked by selfishness, control, or neglect.

Temporary abstinence in marriage should be by agreement and for spiritual purpose.

Both marriage and singleness can be gifts from God.

🔹 The Promise

God gives grace for each person’s calling, whether marriage or singleness.

✅ Conclusion

Paul begins by addressing marriage with practical wisdom. Marriage is to be honored, and husband and wife are to care for one another with faithfulness, affection, and mutual responsibility before the Lord.

The Unmarried, Widows, And The Married

📖 1 Corinthians 7:8–16

⁸ Paul says to the unmarried and widows that it is good for them to remain as he is. ⁹ But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, because it is better to marry than to burn with desire. ¹⁰ To the married, Paul gives this command, not merely from himself but from the Lord: a wife must not separate from her husband. ¹¹ But if she does separate, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband; and a husband must not divorce his wife. ¹² To the rest, Paul says that if a brother has an unbelieving wife who is willing to live with him, he should not divorce her. ¹³ If a woman has an unbelieving husband who is willing to live with her, she should not divorce him. ¹⁴ The unbelieving husband is set apart in relation to his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart in relation to her believing husband; otherwise their children would be unclean, but now they are set apart. ¹⁵ But if the unbelieving spouse departs, let him depart. The brother or sister is not bound in such cases, because God has called believers to peace. ¹⁶ For how does the wife know whether she will save her husband? Or how does the husband know whether he will save his wife?

🔹 The Truth

Singleness can be good and useful before the Lord.

Marriage is better than burning with uncontrolled desire.

God’s design is that marriage should not be broken by divorce.

A believer should not leave an unbelieving spouse who is willing to remain.

If an unbelieving spouse departs, the believer is called to peace.

A believing spouse may be used by God as a witness in the home.

🔹 The Promise

God calls His people to peace and can work through a believing husband or wife as a witness.

✅ Conclusion

Paul gives careful instruction for difficult marriage situations. He upholds the seriousness of marriage, gives wise counsel to the unmarried, and shows that believers should pursue peace and faithfulness before God.

Remain With God In Your Calling

📖 1 Corinthians 7:17–24

¹⁷ Each believer should walk as the Lord has assigned and as God has called him. This was Paul’s instruction in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was someone called while circumcised? He should not try to remove the mark of circumcision. Was someone called while uncircumcised? He should not seek circumcision. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God matters. ²⁰ Each one should remain in the calling in which he was called. ²¹ Was someone called while a servant? He should not be troubled by it; but if he can become free, he should use the opportunity. ²² The one called in the Lord while a servant is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise, the one called while free is Christ’s servant. ²³ Believers were bought with a price; therefore they must not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Each one should remain with God in the condition in which he was called.

🔹 The Truth

Believers should walk faithfully where God has placed them.

Outward status does not determine spiritual standing before God.

Circumcision and uncircumcision do not define life in Christ.

Believers belong to Christ because they were bought with a price.

A servant in Christ is the Lord’s freedman, and a free person is Christ’s servant.

🔹 The Promise

Those who belong to Christ can serve God faithfully in the place where He has called them.

✅ Conclusion

Paul teaches that believers do not need to change outward status in order to belong to Christ or serve Him faithfully. The greater issue is belonging to the Lord and walking with God where He has placed them.

Singleness And Present Distress

📖 1 Corinthians 7:25–31

²⁵ Concerning virgins, Paul says he has no command from the Lord, but he gives judgment as one who has received mercy from the Lord to be faithful. ²⁶ Because of the present distress, Paul thinks it is good for a person to remain as he is. ²⁷ If someone is bound to a wife, he should not seek to be released. If someone is not bound to a wife, he should not seek a wife. ²⁸ But if he marries, he has not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have trouble in the flesh, and Paul wants to spare them. ²⁹ The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live with eternal priorities. ³⁰ Those who weep, rejoice, buy, or use the world should not live as though these things are ultimate. ³¹ The form of this world is passing away.

🔹 The Truth

Paul gives wise counsel in light of present distress.

Marriage is not sin, and singleness is not sin.

Marriage brings real responsibilities and earthly concerns.

Believers must live with eternal priorities because the time is short.

This present world is passing away.

🔹 The Promise

God gives wisdom to live faithfully in temporary circumstances with eternal priorities.

✅ Conclusion

Paul does not condemn marriage or exalt singleness as more holy. He calls believers to weigh present circumstances carefully and live with eternity in view.

Undivided Devotion To The Lord

📖 1 Corinthians 7:32–35

³² Paul wants believers to be free from unnecessary anxiety. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. ³³ But the married man is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. ³⁴ There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵ Paul says this for their benefit, not to put a restraint on them, but to promote what is proper and to help them serve the Lord without distraction.

🔹 The Truth

Singleness can provide greater freedom for focused service to the Lord.

Marriage brings good but real responsibilities.

Paul’s concern is not restriction, but spiritual benefit.

The goal is proper conduct and undivided devotion to the Lord.

Believers should consider how their life situation affects service to Christ.

🔹 The Promise

God can use singleness or marriage for faithful service, but singleness may allow special freedom from distraction.

✅ Conclusion

Paul’s aim is not to burden believers, but to help them serve the Lord faithfully. The question is not which status appears better, but how each person can honor Christ with undivided devotion.

Marriage Decisions And Widows

📖 1 Corinthians 7:36–40

³⁶ If a man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin and she is past the bloom of youth, and it must be so, he may do what he desires; he does not sin. Let them marry. ³⁷ But the one who stands firm in his heart, having no necessity, and has control over his own will, and has decided in his heart to keep her unmarried, does well. ³⁸ So then, the one who gives in marriage does well, and the one who does not give in marriage does better. ³⁹ A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives, but if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ Yet Paul believes she is happier if she remains as she is, according to his judgment, and he thinks he also has the Spirit of God.

🔹 The Truth

Marriage is honorable and not sinful.

Remaining unmarried can also be wise and beneficial.

Decisions about marriage should be made with self-control, wisdom, and conviction before God.

A widow is free to remarry after her husband dies, but only in the Lord.

Paul again shows the value of singleness for serving the Lord.

🔹 The Promise

God gives freedom and wisdom for marriage decisions when believers seek to honor Him.

✅ Conclusion

Paul closes the chapter by affirming both marriage and singleness. Marriage is good, but remaining unmarried can be better in certain circumstances for focused service to the Lord.

Overall Conclusion

1 Corinthians 7 gives careful instruction about marriage, singleness, divorce, mixed marriages, calling, and devotion to the Lord.

Paul honors marriage and teaches husbands and wives to fulfill their responsibilities toward one another. He also values singleness because it can provide greater freedom for undistracted service to Christ.

The chapter does not teach that marriage is less holy or that singleness is automatically more spiritual. Instead, Paul shows that each believer must walk faithfully before God in the calling and situation where the Lord has placed him.

The main issue is not merely being married or unmarried, but belonging to Christ, living with eternal priorities, and serving the Lord faithfully.

Final Questions For You

  1. How does 1 Corinthians 7 show that both marriage and singleness can be gifts from God?
  2. What does it mean to remain with God in the calling where He has placed you?
  3. How can believers live with undivided devotion to the Lord in their present situation?