1 Corinthians Chapter 7

vs 15

Now this is a slippery one. It may be reasonable to read that if you are married to an unbeliever, and that unbeliever leaves, then you are entitled to remarry.

It's not actually what it says though. What it actually says is that the believer in this case is not bound, or enslaved in this matter, because God has called us to live in peace. Paul has earlier in the chapter stressed that the Lord commands that a wife must not separate from her husband, and a husband must not divorce his wife. It's strong language, and it could indicate that this verse merely means that although a Christian cannot be an instigator of divorce, they can be divorced by an unbelieving party.

The simple fact, I guess, is that lots of people, Christians, will do it anyway (divorce and remarry), and no small number will probably use this verse as their escape clause for remarriage. I can imagine situations where both sides use it of the other! Because that's what happens with laws - we fudge them to suit ourselves.

vs 16

You can never be sure, just because you're married, that you will save your husband or wife if they are unbelievers. That probably goes double if you are a woman, and triple in an arranged marriage.

This verse is in stark contrast to the last one about sanctifying your unbelieving spouse. You just don't know if they will be saved through your work, and so therefore you shouldn't try and make it hard for them to leave if that's what they want to do. Giving them grief through the divorce courts isn't going to enamour them to Christianity either.

vs 17

The very important principle behind this "rule" that Paul lays down is that there is no social or religious situation that leaves you better off spiritually as a Christian than any other. Remember, in the pre-Christianised Roman empire, large scale social upheaval caused by Christian work could result in Christians becoming dead.

Now there are some situations that Christians would say "Oh, you should change that if you're becoming a Christian" - like if you are a prostitute, you would be counselled in changing your occupation, or if you are the high-priest witch doctor in your village, changing your social position is probably recommended.

vs 18-19

Now I'd be interested if someone can claim to know what Paul means by becoming uncircumcised. Does it involve a sewing kit? Anyway, Paul here is showing that there is no need to do some ritual to be better spiritually - therefore, just stay the way you were.

vs 20

Remember, when you can't underline words or put them in bold or italics, repeating them is the best way of making sure they get attention.

vs 21

Now, see, Paul doesn't want someone's slavery to trouble them, as if being a slave makes you a worse Christian. But he does give them the opportunity to get their freedom. So this rule is a bit more of a guideline than a rule.

vs 22

Paul shows that whether you are slave or free, it doesn't matter to God, because he is the Great Emancipator, and also the Master of all. So if you're one, you are also the other.

vs 23

But here is his call to the free - you should not now become a slave if you are free. So Christians should seek to remain free rather than turn to slavery when things get bad. Because remember, in Roman times, you could sell yourself into slavery to get out of debt or if you needed to support yourself and family. But God doesn't want his people to all be slaves (probably too reminiscent of Egypt).

vs 24

And a third time we have it repeated again.

vs 25

See, now we are talking about people who have not yet married. It's a different issue in this culture, because along with marrying someone off there is the question of bride-price, dowry, family and social arrangements and so on. Paul has no hard and fast rule for this situation, but instead offers his opinion. You see that he is making these delineations a fair bit, and probably because the Corinthians are trumping themselves up as being super wise, so he offers opinions for their consideration instead of just telling them what to do (where they might disagree and argue about it).

vs 26-27

But this whole issue is linked up with his previous issue of remaining as you are. Married? Don't divorce because you've become a Christian. Unmarried? Don't marry just because you've become a Christian. The present crisis, I assume, is either something specific to Corinth at the time, or the general crisis of humanity, which means we still see it today. But it isn't specified, so it's not worth really concentrating on.

vs 28

Marriage is troublesome, sure. But it's also wonderful. This might be Paul showing his own pain at his wife's death (or possibly a divorce?). But Paul wants to make it clear that marriage is fine as part of the Christian life, and that it doesn't change your relationship with Christ.