reserved. by R. L. Tyler This file, in its entirety, may be posted on or copied off of computer networks like Internet or WWW by anyone so inclined AS LONG AS IT IS NOT CHANGED. If you find any errors in this document, please let me know athttp://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=173388623721 http://biblicalmaturity.yuku.com/forums/66 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Best_Way_to_Live/ http://groups.google.com/group/PGChristianLivingIssues - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christian_Life_Issues_Today
+++It amazes me that some people respond to the
commands of King Jesus in the same way they respond in the grocery or Wal*Mart store. They seem to feel free to pick and choose the commands they want to obey like they choose the food or sale items they want to buy, leaving unobeyed or neglected the commands they don't want to honoror obey, like they leave unselected the food or sale items they don't want. We are the purchased servant/slaves of King Jesus, and our obedience to His commands is the our "birthmark", the evidence that we are of Him.***Heb 5:8 though he were Son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered; 9 and having been perfected, became to all them that obey him, author of eternal salvation;***1 John 2: 3 ¶ And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him verily the love of God is perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him.In the OT the command to marry was straight forward and clearly stated.***Dt. 22:28 If a man find a damsel, a virgin, who is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found, 29* then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he hath humbled her; he may not put her away all his days. ***Dt. 25:5 ¶ If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not marry a stranger abroad: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him as wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her.***Ex 22:16* ¶ And if a man seduce a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall certainly endow her, to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall weigh money according to the dowry of virgins. 1 Cor 7 is a case in point of commands to be obeyed as an expression of our Love for Jesus (Jn14:15,21). First of all, what is a command?Strong's Greek Lexicon:5794 Mood - ImperativeThe imperative mood corresponds to the English imperative, andexpresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain actionby the order and authority of the one commanding. Thus,Jesus' phrase, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mk.1:15)is not at all an "invitation," but an absolute commandrequiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.1 Cor 7:2* but on account of fornications, each man >>>>>>>>>is commanded to be having<Tense - Present,Voice - Active, Mood - Imperative, See 5794><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< his own wife, and each [woman >>>>>>>is commanded to be] having<Tense - Present,Voice - Active, Mood - Imperative, See 5794><<<< <<<<<<<<<<<<her own husband.3 The husband >>>>>>>>is commanded to be rendering<Tense - Present,Voice - Active, Mood - Imperative, See 5794><<<< her due to the wife, and in like manner the wife >>>>>>>[is commanded to be rendering his due] to the husband.9* But if they have not control over themselves, they are >>>commanded to marry<5657 Tense - Aorist, Voice - Active, Mood - ImperativeSee 5794>; <<<<<<<<<<<for it is better to marry than to burn.+++We, His servant/slaves, are to obey all of His commands, not just the ones we take a fancy to, or are fond of. Consider the following commands from King Jesus, ALL OF WHICH we are expected to obey willingly: **** LUKE 6:27 ¶ But to you that hear I say, Love [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] your enemies; do good [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] to those that hate you; 28 bless [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] those that curse you; pray [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] for those who use you despitefully. . . . . 35 But love [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] your enemies, and do good [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] , and lend [PRESENT IMPERATIVE], . . . 36 Be ye [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] therefore merciful, . . . ****ROMANS 12:14 Bless [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] them which persecute you: bless [PRESENT IMPERATIVE], and curse [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] not. 15 Rejoice [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] with them that do rejoice, and weep [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] with them that weep. 16 . . . Mind [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] not high things, but condescend [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] to men of low estate. Be[PRESENT IMPERATIVE] not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense [PRESENT IMPERATIVE]to no man evil for evil. Provide [PRESENT IMPERATIVE] things honest in the sight of all men.+++The IMPERATIVE indicates a command, or a prohibition if "not" is used. A command is not a wish, a preference or a statement of hope. A command is an order, and if it is a command of King Jesus, it is an order He expects us to obey.We have little problem seeing the imperative commands of the preceding paragraph for what they are, commands, orders and instructions from King Jesus, which we are to obey. There are many commands in the Bible that have been obscured andweakened by poor translation and instruction as to the Bible and its Greek. Many of us misread and misunderstood the commands in 1 Cor 7 for this reason: 1 Cor 7:" let each have his own wife, . . . . . 3 Let the husband render her due to the wife, . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . . . , let them marry; . . . ". In our unenlightened and/or untaught thinking, we took those "let" passages to mean the following: You saints let each have his own wife, . . . . . 3 You church let the husband render her due to the wife, . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . . . , you saints of the church let them marry; . . . We didn't know any better and we were not taught better.+++We didn't know that "the English language has . . . no imperative of the third person. Hence in translating the Greek imperative of the third person we have to use the helping verb 'let', so that the noun or pronoun that is the subject of the imperative in Greek becomes the object of the helping verb 'let' in English."#1 [#1. P. 180, New Testament Greek; by J. G. Machen; Macmillan Co.]+++Some modern translations have more correctly rendered such "let" passages. Consider the following:7:2. let each have his own wife, . . . . . (KJV, NKJV, Darby)---"every man should have a wife of his own" (Williams)---"each man is to have his own wife" (NASB)---"each man should have his own wife" (NIV. NLT, NCV)---"every man should have his own wife" (NAB) 7:3 Let the husband render her due to the wife, . . . . (KJV, NKJV, Darby)---"The husband should give his wife what she is entitled to in the marriage . . . . (CompleteJewishBible) ---"The husband must always give his wife what is due her" (Williams)---"The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife" (NASB)---"The husband should fulfill his marital duty y to his wife" (NIV)---"The husband should not deprive his wife of sexual intimacy" (NLT) ---"The husband should give his wife all that he owes her as his wife" (NCV)---"The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights" (RSV, AB)---"The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife" (NAB)---"The husband must give the wife what is due to her" (NEB)7:9 . . . . , let them marry; . . .(KJV, NKJV, Darby)---"they should get married." (Complete Jewish Bible)---"they should marry" (NIV, NCV, NAB, NEB, AB)---"they should go ahead and marry" (NLT) ---"go ahead and get married" (CEV,---"they should by all means go ahead and get married" (Message---"get married" (Beck+++So the passage is much more correctly understood as saying "2 but because of cases of immorality every man should be having his own wife, . . . . .3. The husband should be fulfilling his duty towards his wife . . . 8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain even as I. 9. But if they are not exercising self-control, they should marry. . . ." Recognizing the present tense of the Greek, the fuller and more exact meaning is as follows: "2 but because of cases of immorality every man SHOULD BE HAVING his own wife, . . . . .3. The husband SHOULD BE FULFILLING his duty toward his wife . . ." +++The active aorist of verse nine really expands the meaning of the command. "The aorist is like the imperfect in that it refers to past time. But the imperfect refers to continuous action in past time (I was loosing), while the aorist is the simple past tense (I loosed). . . . But in past time the distinction is very carefully made; the Greek language shows no tendency whatever to confuse the aorist with the imperfect" (pp.81ff; New Testament Greek; by J. G. Machen; Macmillan Co.). This means that the fuller meaning of the verse is as follows: "9. but if they are not exercising self-control they should already be married. . . . " This means that those unmarried or widows who were not exercising self-control successfully should already have remedied the situation by marrying. The precedent for this in Sinai Law, the Law that Jesus commanded be kept while He was walking on earth (Mat 23:1-3), is found in Deut 22: 28 "If a man find a damsel, a virgin, who is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found, 29 then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has humbled her; he may not put her away all his days."++ +This makes 1 Cor 7:8,9 more than just a command for the unmarried or widows who are failing to exercise self- control. This means that not only are they sinning by failing to control themselves, it means that they failed to marry when they failed to exercise self-control, and are continuing in the double sin of failing to exercise self- control as well as failing to marry because of their self- control. Their sin has two aspects, failure to be self- controlled and failure to have married because of their self-control. We know that the correct response to such failure and sin is to agree with Jesus about the sin and forsake it (1 John 1:7-9; Prov 28:13). We know that forsaking of the sin is to take the form of the godly sorrow of 2 Cor 7:11 "For, behold, this same thing, your being grieved according to God, how much diligence it wrought in *you*, but what excusing of yourselves, but what indignation, but what fear, but what ardent desire, but what zeal, but what vengeance: in every way ye have proved yourselves to be pure in the matter."+++Jesus, by His Spirit in Paul, indicated how He wants us grieve over such sin, so that with diligence, indignation, fear, ardent desire, zeal, vengeance, and on account of and to avoid sexual immorality each man would be having his own wife and each woman would be having her own husband (1 Cor 7:2; 1 Thess 4:3-8). "9. but if they are not exercising self-control they should already be married. . . . ". Jesus solution for avoiding sexual immorality is not cold showers, fasting, exercising and praying alone. Jesus ultimate solution for avoiding sexual immorality is marriage, each man having his own woman and each woman having her own man. So we see that the widows and unmarried of 1 Cor 7:8,9 who are failing to exercise self-control are under command to grieve and repent with diligence, indignation, fear, ardent desire, zeal, and vengeance by finally getting married.+++What does it mean to not be having self-control, to not be exercising self-control?9* But if they are not having<5736> control<1467> over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.>>>But if they are not having<5736><<<<<[<5736> Tense - Present, Voice - Middle or Passive Deponent, Mood - Indicative, See 5791]///This signifies an act or condition that is continuing on in thepresent moment, e.g. she is breathing, she is having fun>>>>>>>control<1467> over themselves<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<1467 egkrateuomai, middle voice; v1) to be self-controlled, continent1a) to exhibit self-government, conduct, one's self temperately1b) in a figure drawn from athletes, who in preparing themselvesfor the games abstained from unwholesome food, wine, andsexual indulgenceBut if they are not having<5736> control<1467> over themselves, . . . ---------------- being continent . . . . -----------------exhibiting self-government . . . . . ---------------- abstaining from sex . . . . . . ///Having control over oneself is continuing in union with Jesus, keeping on in practicing and living in His will, continuing to act righteously. Not having control over oneself is failing to continue in union with Jesus, failing to keep on practicing and living in His will, failing to continue to act righteously.This is the point where one knows he/she is not having control over oneself, and must call on Jesus (Rm 10:17) to be saved from the sin, agreeing with Jesus about one's sin (1Jn1:9), and yielding oneself to Jesus for Him to work and will Godly sorrow and repentance of the sin (Ph 2:13;4:13;Heb 13:20,21; Prov 28:13; 2 Cor 7). Part of the repentance and godly sorrow (2Cor7) is to obey the command to get married to deal with the problem. Why is such repentance so important? One has lost control of oneself and is snared (2Tim2:22-26) in sin when one habitually falls out of union with Jesus, practicing and living sin.1 John 3:6 No one who continues in union with Him keeps on practicing and living in sin: no one who keeps on living in sin has seen Him or knows Him. 7 Dear children, let no one lead you astray. The man who continues acting righteously, practicing righteousness, is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who is habitually practicing and living in sin is a child of the Devil, . . . . 9 No one who is a child of God habitually practices and lives in sin. A God-given germ of life remains in him, and he cannot habitually sin-- because he is a child of God. 10 By this we can distinguish God’s children and the Devil’s children: no one who keeps on failing to act righteously is a child of God, nor he who does not keep on loving his brother man. 1 John 3 WEY+TCNT+DBYThere is Scriptural precedent for widows being commandedto remarry in the Lord.***Dt 25:5 ¶ If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not marry a stranger abroad: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him as wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her.So is it any surprise that we find in the New Covenant theexpression of God's will that younger widows remarry.***1Cor 7:8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows<5503>, It is good for them that they remain even as I. 9. 9. but if they do not exercise self-control they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.1 Tim 5:11 But the younger <3501> widows <5503> you must not enrol; for as soon as they begin to chafe against the yoke of Christ, they want to marry, 12 and they incur disapproval for having broken their original vow. 13 And at the same time they also learn to be idle as they go round from house to house; and they are not only idle, but are gossips also and busybodies, speaking of things that ought not to be spoken of. 14 I will <1014> therefore that the younger<3501> [widows] marry, bear children, rule in domestic matters, and furnish the Adversary with no excuse for slander. 1014 boulomai, middle voice; v1) to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded2) of willing as an affection, to desireSo v. 14 means----------14. therefore I deliberately will that the younger widows marry14. therefore I desire that the younger widows marryIs this Paul speaking for himself, speaking only his own personal desire?We know that ALL Scripture is inspired by God, and that 1 Tim 5:14 IS SCRIPTURE INSPIRED BY GOD.***2Tim3:16 Every scripture is divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;***2Sa 23:2 The Spirit of Jehovah spoke by me, And his word was on my tongue.***Mt 22:31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read what was spoken to you by God, . .***Mr 12:36 for David himself said speaking in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand until I put thine enemies as footstool of thy feet.***Ac 1:16 Brethren, it was necessary that the scripture should have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before, by the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus;***Ac 28:25 And being disagreed among themselves they left; Paul having spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Spirit through Esaias the prophet to our fathers,We know that ALL Scripture is inspired by God, and that 1 Tim 5:14 IS SCRIPTURE INSPIRED BY GOD,NOT BY THE WILL OF PAUL. Paul uttered His Spirit filled and led desire and deliberate will that the younger widows marry, uttering his will under the power of the Holy Spirit.***2Pe 1:21 for prophecy was not ever uttered by the will of man, but holy men of God spake under the power of the Holy Spirit.Paul made it clear that his word, written under the power of the Holy Spirit, was to be obeyed. Surely this includes all his inspried words, including those of that he deliberately willed that younger widows remarry.***2Th 3:14* But if any one obey not our word by the letter, mark that man, and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed of himself;Under the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote that as Jesus messenger, he was to be voluntarily obeyed. That would include his inspired deliberate will that younger widows marry.***Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders, and be submissive; for *they* watch over your souls as those that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you.When Paul wrote 1 Tim 5:14, he and the other Apostles were all obeying Jesus' command (Mt 23:2,3) to keep the Sinai Law (not for salvation but to honor the covenant of their ancestors at Sinai, to obey Jesus' command [Matt23:2,3], and to be walking orderly [Acts 15 & 21:17-24---- only the nonJews were freed from having to keep the Law of Sinai]).That means that when 1 Timothy and Acts were written, if a reborn in Jesus daughter of Israel became a widow, she and the brother of her former husband were under the command of King Jesus to marry.Deut 25:5 ¶ If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not marry a stranger abroad: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him as wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her.///What does it mean to not be having godly self-control over myself?1 Cor 7:9* But if they are not having control over themselves, they are >>>commanded to marry<5657 Tense - Aorist, Voice - Active, Mood - Imperative See 5794>;<<<<<<<<<<<for it is better to marry than to burn.///Sure the Bible tells us of the beauty of Godly sexual relations in marriage in the Song of Solomon, but does the Bible tell us today what sex sin is?Carefully and prayerfully read Prov. ch. 5, ch. 6, ch 7;Ezekiel ch 16, ch 23; Romans 1; 1 Cor ch. 5, ch. 6, ch. 7;1 Tim 1. Also see Lev 18 and 20.///It is foreign and alien to the Scriptures that a man must have the financial resources to take one wife. There is no Scripture that requires this. Yes there is the injunction of 1 Tim 5 and 2 Th 3- - - - - - - - - "8 But if a man makes no provision for those dependent on him, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is behaving worse than an unbeliever." WEY" 6* ¶ Now we enjoin you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the instruction which he received from us. 7 For ye know yourselves how ye ought to imitate us, because we have not walked disorderly among you; 8 nor have we eaten bread from any one without cost; . . . 10 For also when we were with you we enjoined you this, that if any man does not like to work, neither let him eat. 11 For we hear that there are some walking among you disorderly, not working at all, but busybodies. 12 Now such we enjoin and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that working quietly they eat their own bread.- - - - - - - - - but as long as he/she is able to work and is working, that provision may only be a large cardboard box, two sleeping bags, second hand charity clothing, with only rice, beans and eggs to eat. That is provision, for the Spirit declares" 6 ¶ But piety with contentment *is* great gain. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world: it is manifest that neither can we carry anything out. 8 But having sustenance and covering, we will be content with these." 1 Tim 6///Surely in Ex 21:7-11 Jesus makes it clear that before a man voluntarily took a second wife in polygyny, he must have been able to provide certain things for his second wife, or she was free to leave him for failing to be husband to her. It is quite different in the case of a single man, or in the case of mandatory marriage.Dt. 22:28 If a man find a damsel, a virgin, who is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found, 29* then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he hath humbled her; he may not put her away all his days. ***Dt. 25:5 ¶ If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not marry a stranger abroad: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him as wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her.///There is no requirement that he have the financial resources before he can claim her as his wife. Even if he doesn't have the 50 shekels at the time, it stands against him as a legitimate debt until paid.Ex 22:16* ¶ And if a man seduce a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall certainly endow her, to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall weigh money according to the dowry of virgins. ///There is no requirement that he have the financial resources before he can claim her as his wife. Even if he doesn't have the dowry at the time, it stands against him as a legitimate debt until paid.///If they were as poor as church mice and maritally covenanted/betrothed like Mary and Joseph in Matt 1, then as in Matt 1 they are considered husband and wife according to the SpiritMatt 1: 18* ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: His mother, Mary, that is, having been BETROTHED to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 But Joseph, her HUSBAND, being a righteous man, and unwilling to expose her publicly, purposed to have put her away secretly; 20 but while he pondered on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary, thy WIFE, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit.///Even in the case of mandatory marriage (1 Cor 7:9) in the Church age, when one comes under command to marry, one must marry no matter what may be the financial capabilities of those marrying.1Cor 7:8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain [unmarried] even as I. 9 But if they are not having [enough] control over themselves [to keep from sinning sexually once in a while], THEY ARE UNDER COMMAND TO MARRY; for it is better to marry than to burn.Jas 4:17 To him therefore who knows how to do good [BY MARRYING], and does it not, to him it is sin. ///OKAY, OKAY, OKAY!!!! I GET IT!!!!! OKAY????!!! So I'm under command to get married? Alright already I WANT to getmarried and I'm willing to get married, BUT TO WHOM??????????!!!!!!!!! THERE'S NO LINE OF CANDIDATES AT MYDOOR TRYING TO BREAK IT DOWN TO MARRY ME!!!!! ///Calmate niño, por favor. Believers are not to marry unbelievers (2Cor 6 & Malachi 2). Believers are not to marrypeople who call themselves believers, or who are called believers, who are living in sin, habitually sinning, continuing on in disobedience to Jesus (1 Cor 5; 2 Thes 3). Believers are to marry people who continue acting righteously according to the Word of God, continually and habitually practice righteousness, even though they screw up and stumble once in a while.Jesus has promised to meet the need for a marital partner since He has commanded it (Ph 4:19), but for Jesus to meet that need a believer in need of marriage must come to the place that Jesus was in in the Garden, and say "Not my will in this matter, but Your will in this matter be done", "Not the one I want, but the one You want, Lord." Like I told the prisoners in chapel, until you are ready to accept WHOEVER HE GIVES to be your marital partner ---- whether she/he be 350 lbs overweight, so skinny you can see where each of her ribs are, blind, deaf, cerebral palsied, quadraplegic, toothless, bald, scarred, tattoed, missing body parts, poor and living in a card board box, on welfare, an excon, of the "wrong" race, of the "wrong" ethnicity, of the "wrong" social class, uneducated, unacceptable to your folks, undereducated, under employed -------- you aren't ready to receive the one He may give to you. If He really is your Lord/King, then you will want the one He wants for you, not the one you want for yourself. When you are really ready to receive ------ ASK AND KEEP ON ASKING HIM FOR THAT ONE --- "22 And whatsoever we may [ habitually, continually and presently keep on] asking for, we receive of him, because we [habitually, continually and presently keep on] observing his commandments, and [habitually, continually and presently keep on] doing those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 JN 3