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First Corinthians 7:25-31

Before we move on to the Corinthians second question to Paul in this letter, lets take a moment to review
what their first question would have been. Paul cites it in the first verse of chapter 7: It is good for a man
not to touch a woman - not to have sexual relations with her.
This was a question coming from the ascetic camp in the Corinthian assembly. They bought into a Greek
philosophy which viewed the body as unimportant - and therefore, its needs must be denied, in order to
attain a higher level of spirituality.
Thats asceticism - deprivation of the body for the sake of the spirit. So we can tell from Pauls opening
remark that these believers had inquired of Paul about celibacy - abstaining from all sexual relations - for
the purpose of being more spiritual. And it would seem from verse 7 that they may have even used Paul,
who was celibate, to support their case.
We can understand why some of the believers in Corinth may have begun to think this way. They came out
of a very promiscuous culture, and they still had to proceed with their daily lives right in the midst of that
culture.
And there were even other members of their assembly who were reconsidering the necessity of sexual
restraint. They, too, viewed the body as unimportant - but drew from it a different conclusion- that the
bodys desires were to be indulged. Such things would have reinforced the extreme stance of the ascetic
camp.
So in chapter 7, Paul addresses this question of celibacy. Paul clarifies that celibacy is a grace of the Spirit
- and therefore it is only for those whom God has so graced. Others have been graced by the Spirit for
marriage - the only right context for sexual relations. And whatever the status of each one when they
believed into the Lord, Paul urges over and over - remain there.
Remain there, because that is where the Lord called them; and therefore, where the Lord intends to use
them - as His ministers of reconciliation, in all their various walks of life. For believers, it is not to matter
what that walk of life is - that is the walk the Lord chose for them.
Single. Married. Jew. Gentile. Slave. Free. That walk is the course upon which they will practice
walking in the spirit of life, that they have received from their Lord - His eternal life, which empowers their
bodies to obey the will of God, in their lives - as they make the choice to live by that life.
And there is further reason why they should remain as they are. Changing their earthly circumstances will
never make them more spiritual. Why not? Because they already have every spiritual blessing they could
possibly have, and have had it from the moment they believed into Christ. What they need is to understand
and to utilize what theyve already been blessed with - through believing and obeying God.
As Paul said in verse 19, keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Not some religious practice like circumcision - or asceticism. Not whether they are bound - either to a master, or to a marriage. It is
through obedience that they will experience the fullness of what they have already been blessed with. Its
the way we all experience our blessings.
Having first addressed those who are married, or have been married, Paul now moves on to the case of
those who have never been married. We begin in verse 25.

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[First Corinthians 7:25-31]

We see that verse 25 begins with the same wording as verse 1: Now concerning. This marks the
beginning of another of the questions that the Corinthians have posed to Paul in their letter to him. What
does this question concern? Virgins.
This word in the Greek is in the feminine, speaking of women who have never been married - generally,
young women. So their question was about the young women in their assembly who had never been
married, and as we peek ahead in the passage to verses 35-38, it would seem that this may have been
particularly a parental question, concerning their daughters.
But what was the actual question? We can glean from Pauls response that it would have been something
like, Wouldnt it be good if the young virgin women in our assembly - our daughters - remain unmarried?
The thought was to choose a celibate life for their daughters, a kind of dedicating of them to God. A
celibate lifestyle; what could be more spiritual? So an ascetic would think.
Now, Paul knows that celibacy does not make one spiritual. But he also knows there is value to both
celibacy and marriage. He has already affirmed the value of marriage in this chapter, as a God-given
spiritual grace, as well as the only proper context for sexual relations and for having children. Now Paul
proceeds to affirm the value of celibacy.
To do this, Paul opens up the question of the Corinthians to include never-married men, as well as virgin
women. Paul gives his counsel to the church, all the while making it clear that celibacy or marriage
involves personal choice on the part of each believer.
Lets read verse 25 once more.
v. 25 This is similar to the case we have seen previously of a believer married to an unbelieving spouse
(7:12-16); the Lord Jesus did not speak directly to that case, nor did He speak specifically about virgin
women. So Paul gives his judgment of the issue, meaning his counsel based on his own discernment.
But notice how he qualifies his judgment. It is the judgment of one whom the Lord in His mercy has made
trustworthy. Trustworthy means faithful; Paul had used this term back in chapter 4 to describe his service
as a steward of the mysteries of God (4:1-2).
In His mercy, the Lord had saved Paul and entrusted him to share the truths of the gospel with those of the
Lords household; those who had been born again, as children of God. You can see that Paul regarded this
as a precious trust, which the Lord had given him; and Paul constantly labored to prove himself worthy of
that trust.
Therefore, the judgment that Paul was giving to the Corinthians would have been carefully considered by
Paul in the light of the Holy Spirit, within him - to ensure that it reflected his Masters counsel.
And this was the counsel.
v. 26-27 Once again, we see the repeating theme in this passage - remain as you are. Now, the question of
the Corinthians was specifically concerning virgins - the young virgin women in their assembly.

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But look at how Paul opens up the issue, to include men who have never married. And he begins with the
men, because in that day they were always the initiators for a marriage relationship.
The language of being bound or loosed has to do with the marriage bond. As Paul has been saying earlier
in this passage, if a man was married, he should remain so; and if he was loosed from a wife - that is,
unmarried, and more specifically in this context, never married - he should remain so. In verse 28, we can
see that Paul intends this counsel for virgin women, as well.
So to an extent, Paul is answering this question of the Corinthians with a yes - but it is a qualified yes.
It is counsel, not command; and Paul is only agreeing with the Corinthians because of what he calls the
present distress. He does not explain that phrase, which indicates to us that the Corinthians would well
know what he means.
But it is a little less clear to us, isnt it? The word distress can mean affliction, or persecution, or it can
also mean calamity or crisis. There did not appear to be significant persecution in Corinth, at this time;
remember how Paul had contrasted the mistreatment of himself and the other apostles, the ministers of the
gospel, with the well-regarded church of Corinth (4:8-13).
On the other hand, there was certainly a crisis at present. What was the crisis in the Corinthian church?
Division. The church there was being torn apart. Why? Because they were all compromising the gospel
with various Greek philosophies. Due to the mixture of thinking, the church in Corinth was unstable - they
were not well-established on the foundation of the faith - and the eyes of the believers were just about
everywhere but on the Lord.
So now we can better understand Pauls counsel - to remain as they are, because of the present distress.
They are consumed with issues - in this case, issues of sexual relations. So Paul counsels that they stay as
they are, which will get their eyes off of these issues, and onto the Lord, where they belong.
Until this present crisis of division is resolved, the church was indeed better off having their young people and everyone - remain as they are. And when they are willing to turn to the Lord for direction, He can
show them if any changes would be to their benefit.
But Paul wants them to understand that, even though he is suggesting that it would be good for them to
remain as they are, they certainly have the freedom with marriage to choose for themselves.
v. 28 Look at how Paul begins this: But even if you do marry Because of the way he says this, we
understand that he does not intend verse 27 with the force of a command; it is a suggestion. His suggestion
is for them to remain as they are; but if those who have never married - male or female - choose to marry,
thats okay. Paul doesnt say it here, but of course, he means marry another believer; its okay if they
choose to do that.
Actually, Paul doesnt say its okay, or good, does he? He says if they do marry, its not - what? Sin. Now,
why would Paul say such a thing? Everyone knows that marriage was given by God, and therefore not sin.
And Paul certainly never would have seen it as sin, not from his knowledge of the Scriptures, nor from his
former religion of Judaism, nor from his cultural perspective, as a Jew; all of these affirmed marriage, and
even promoted it.

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The Gentile cultures promoted marriage over singleness, as well. So why would Paul be emphasizing to
the Corinthians that marriage was not sin, and spell it out for both unmarried men and women - virgins?
Could it be that some Corinthians were indicating it was sin - or at least, less spiritual than remaining
single? With their ascetic tendencies, this camp of Corinthian believers might have been doing just that.
Paul wants the never-married, mostly young people to know that they are free; free to marry, or free to
remain single. It is a personal choice that each makes, hopefully with the Lord. And even though parents,
and particularly fathers in that day exerted more authority with their families than today, young men and
even young women were normally given a voice in their own marriage plans. Paul is affirming their voice
- and their freedom to choose.
But he does so with a warning to them. Those who choose to marry will have trouble in the flesh. We will
see more of that trouble next week, but for now, we just need to understand what Paul means, here. Here
he is not referring to the flesh body, but to life carried on in the flesh body; life on earth.
Unquestionably, marriage brings blessings - such as intimacy and companionship - but it also brings its
own set of troubles into a persons life. The word trouble literally means under pressure. Marriage
presses two people into an intimate, shared life, and that leads to inevitable trouble. Even for believers?
Even for believers!
Two people means two wills. And even when husband and wife are both believers, there are times when a
husband does not submit to God; when he has a will in a matter. Or his wife has a will in a matter. Or both
have a will in a matter. And then they have conflict. They make demands. They experience difficulties.
I like what J. Vernon McGee said about marriage: The sea of matrimony is rough under the most
favorable of circumstances.
Paul would spare them that rough sea, if he could. Here we observe the heart of the pastor in Paul, filled
with tender concern for their welfare. But this also serves to emphasize that ultimately, Paul sees marriage
as their own personal choice.
Now Paul endeavors to put the whole discussion into a proper perspective for them.
v. 29-31 This is a passage that is frequently misunderstood, perhaps because of the English translations,
the time is short. What does that mean to us? That theres not much time left, correct? We only have a
little time left - before what? The thought that easily follows that would be before the Lord returns.
And so those who are married should be as if theyre not - okay, maybe that means forsake family ties for
the sake of pursuing ministry - the time is short, we have to get people reconciled to God before its too
late. And so, we dont have time for tears, or to even be happy, and we dont have time to use the things we
possess, etc. - theres no time for any of that.
But there are two significant problems with this chain of thought. First of all, Paul was writing two
thousand years ago - by most peoples measure, thats not a short time; Jesus has not yet returned. And if
Paul was saying there wasnt much time left, he would have certainly suggested they do not marry and start
families - which he instead presents here as a viable option.
So what is Paul saying? The key is in how the passage begins, and how it ends. brethren, the time is
short; the form of this world is passing away.

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The Greek word for short literally means to contract together; to shrink together. Paul is saying that time
has been contracted, or shrunken.
Think of a time line like a stretched rubber band. If you let go of one end, what happens? The band snaps
back, and now the two ends are closer together than when the band was stretched out. If the present time
was at one end of that band - which is where you are, in time, the present; and a future time was at the
other end of that band - suddenly, the future would be much closer to you.
Thats what Paul means by the time is short. And who is the time short for? For the brethren; for
believers.
For those who have believed into the Lord Jesus Christ, time has contracted. They are living here on earth,
in the present time; but as they walk by faith, the future realities are so near to them now, its as if they
could reach out and touch them. And in a sense, they have already laid hold of them - by faith.
By faith, the things they hope for already have substance (Heb 11:1); they are even now in their possession.
Believers already possess the life of the age that is to come, when the kingdom of God is established - in
heaven and on earth (Eph 2:7).
They have received eternal life for the body - the spirit of life, the life of their future glorified body - which,
through this contraction of time, they can live in the here and now - in the present time.
And as believers live by that new life that they have received, they are enabled to live in this world, without
being of it. The spirit of life empowers them to transcend all the circumstances of this life - still
experiencing those circumstances, as they go through their earthly course, but all the while viewing those
circumstances from the perspective of eternity - a view they can constantly maintain, by faith. And it is
practice which brings this constancy.
All of the things that Paul mentions are elements the believer can encounter in his earthly course. Perhaps
the believer will marry in this life - or remain single. But in either case, it is just for this life - in this world,
which Paul says, is passing away.
Meanwhile, the believer is already part of the age to come. He is seated with Christ in the heavenlies where he is joined to Christ for eternity. That relationship with the Lord has primacy in the believers life
even here and now, so that any other relationships are subordinate to it.
A believer can be married, but in the Lord; a believer can be single, but in the Lord. Married or single
doesnt matter, for they are passing away; but being in the Lord, thats forever.
And so, too, the sorrows and the joys of this life. They are also passing away. Does the believer experience
sorrows and joys? Of course - like everyone else, under time. But because eternity is so near to the
believer, sorrows do not cause him to descend into the pit of despair - or at least, not to remain there - for he
remembers his hope.
And although he rejoices in the happy moments of this life, he does not pursue happiness in this world,
thinking it can be his constant experience, here. But the joy of the Lord can be his constant experience and it will give him strength to endure his course.

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Being in this world, the believer has to live here. He needs food; he needs a place to live. For that, he
needs to buy things for himself and his family, if he has one. That means additionally that the believer will
need a job - in order to buy lifes necessities and even those things that are not necessities.
Thats how the world system works - through merchandizing - buying and selling. But even though its
necessary for the believer to use the system in that way, he recognizes that all the things he is buying are
not really his possessions.
Those things have no place in eternity; they are not needed there. And further, they will be left behind, and
will pass away with the world system, one day - quite soon, I think. Moth and rust will destroy any
treasure on earth. And if we are busy storing up that, how much time does that leave for storing up the
treasure that counts - the heavenly treasure, which will endure forever?
Still, for the time that the believer remains on earth, it is necessary for him to use the world - the Lord
provides through it, to meet his needs. Nonetheless, the believer is not to misuse the world. The word Paul
uses here means to an excessive extent. The believer is not to indulge himself in the world, seeking to draw
satisfaction from it - for it will never satisfy anybody.
Turn to First John chapter 2. Remember that John wrote this letter to refute false teachers that were
promoting Gnosticism in the assemblies, an attempt to undermine the very foundation of the gospel. Johns
letter was designed to equip believers with discernment concerning the lies of the false teachers, by
reinforcing the truth of what they know.
In this passage, John distinguishes between those who are of the world - such as the false teachers - with
those who are of the Father. John makes it clear that a person is either of one or the other - and which they
are of is seen by what they are devoted to.
[First John 2:15-17]
v. 15 John is using the word love here to signify affection and devotion. One who continually,
repeatedly loves the world demonstrates that he has never received the love of the Father, through Christ.
For the one who has received the Fathers love in Christ, that love will draw his affections and his devotion
to God, and away from the world.
v. 16 Notice how John sums up all that is in the world. The entire world system can be categorized as one
of these three things.
There is the lust of the flesh - things that the body craves, and tries to draw satisfaction from. These are the
sensual, tactile, physical pleasures.
Then there is the lust of the eyes. It is predominantly the eye which allows the mind to take in the world
and all that it projects - lusts for the mind. These lusts fill the mind with corrupting attractions and with
desires for self.
And finally, the pride of life built into the world system - things that cause men to think more highly of
themselves than they ought - education; prestige; power; wealth - which fill men with false ambitions and
vain imaginings - by which the world system is puffed up to its monstrous size.
None of this is of the Father; it is all of the evil one; its his world system. And if it is not of the Father,
what part should the Fathers little born ones have in it? No part.

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The world is to be used by believers, but not misused by them - taking it in to excess, beyond what is
needed - in a vain attempt to draw satisfaction from it. The world cannot satisfy anybody; man was
designed to find his satisfaction - his fulfillment - in the Lord.
v. 17 John uses the same words as Paul here, for the world system. It means the world system, with all of
its allures, is disappearing; it is perishing. Does it look like that to us? No; it seems like it is flourishing.
But things are not always as they seem. The world system has already been condemned at the cross: Now
is the judgment of this world; it is slated for destruction.
And from the time of the cross until now, the Lord has been adding to His church daily those who are being
saved (Acts 2:47). What are they being saved out of? Out of the world system, and this contributes to its
disintegration. By the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, the world has been crucified to us, and we have been
crucified to the world (Gal 6:14). We have already been delivered from this present evil age (Gal 1:4).
The world is passing away, and the lust of it - even though it may not seem that way. And meanwhile, the
Fathers children, filled with His love, are learning to love Him back - with an affection and a devotion that
they used to have for that world system.
It is the love of God that creates in them the heart to do His will - demonstrating that they are truly His born
ones, who will abide with Him, forever. And so we see the temporal overcome by the eternal - through the
victory of Christ, by which He has overcome the world (1 Jn 5:4-5). The darkness is passing away, and the
true light is already shining (1 Jn 1:8).
[Return to First Corinthians 7]
In verse 31, Paul wrote that the form of this world is passing away. Form refers to external form;
appearance. It can also mean fashion. The only thing that is constant in this world is change.
Like clothing fashions, the fashions of the world are here today, gone tomorrow. At first, theres a new
look; its flashy, it catches your eye, it draws you - theres some new fad, some new idea, some new way of
doing things - its in. And wait just a little while . and ever so soon, its out. That which was flashy now
looks gaudy; that which caught your eye, now you despise. What you had to have, you cast aside. And you
move on - to the next thing.
Thats the fashion of the world - always changing. That very quality - its changeableness - tells us
something, if we will listen. It tells us that it is unstable; undependable; that everything offered is only
temporary.
Can temporary things ever satisfy forever? No. But having believed into Christ, God has shortened time
for us, so that the eternal realities are within the reach of our lives, here and now. And in choosing to live
by those eternal realities, we will not attach our affections to anything in this world - to no thing, to no one.
Our affection and devotion is reserved for the Lord Jesus, alone. The world may be passing away - but
were just passing through.
Reading: Matt 6:25-34, 13:1-23.