Exposition on 1 Corinthians

Contents

Only the comment on 1 Corinthians 7 is staged so far.

1. 7.1Paul turns from unlawful unions to lawful marriage.
2. 7.2Lemma of 1 Cor 7:2.
3. 7.3Marriage is a concession to the incontinent; continence is to be preached first, and marriage is for children, not lust.
4. 7.4Lemma of 1 Cor 7:4.
5. 7.5Spouses may abstain by consent for prayer; continence sanctifies, as at Sinai and with the priestly bread.
6. 7.6Lemma of 1 Cor 7:6.
7. 7.7Paul wishes all were celibate like him, which shows it is possible; each receives according to his own will.
8. 7.8It is good for the unmarried and widows to remain as Paul is.
9. 7.9Marriage is granted to the unmarried and widows who cannot contain, as better than immorality punished by fire.
10. 7.10Marriages are not to be dissolved; the Lord forbade putting away a wife and marrying another.
11. 7.11A wife who separates must stay unmarried or be reconciled; the husband must not put away his wife.
12. 7.12A believer whose unbelieving wife consents to stay must not put her away.
13. 7.13Paul speaks of a marriage where one spouse came to faith, not of a believer marrying an unbeliever.
14. 7.14The unbelieving spouse may be won by the believer's changed life and by the children's example.
15. 7.15If an unbelieving spouse leaves, the believer is not bound to perish with him, but believers must not leave of their own accord.
16. 7.16The believer may save the unbelieving spouse; doubtful outcomes should be hoped for the best.
17. 7.17Each should walk in the state in which God called him.
18. 7.18The circumcised need not regret it; the apostles let some keep the law's works for a time.
19. 7.19Circumcision now neither helps nor harms.
20. 7.20Lemma of 1 Cor 7:20.
21. 7.21God looks at the will, not one's social condition; the slave should rather make use of slavery.
22. 7.22Slave and free are equal before God.
23. 7.23Lemma of 1 Cor 7:23.
24. 7.24Bought by Christ's blood, Christians should act for God, not to please men.
25. 7.25Virginity is counsel, not command; fulfilling a command only escapes punishment.
26. 7.26Paul's 'I think' is certain; the unmarried are free of worldly anxiety and await virginity's reward.
27. 7.27The married must not seek release by separation; the unmarried should not seek a wife.
28. 7.28Marriage is no sin, except for one who has vowed chastity; virgins are spared the cares of marriage.
29. 7.29Life is short; even the married should live as if unmarried, and the unmarried should not marry.
30. 7.30Lemma of 1 Cor 7:30.
31. 7.31This world passes like a shadow, an image of the world to come; the wise learn from the deaths of others.
32. 7.32The unmarried man cares for the Lord's things; we should want what Paul wants.
33. 7.33Worldly anxiety, like the thorns and the excuses in the parable, keeps the married from God.
34. 7.34The unmarried woman is holy in body and spirit; an unmarried woman with worldly cares is worse than a wife.
35. 7.35Paul advises, not compels; his counsel is more useful than their wishes.
36. 7.36A father should not stop a daughter who wishes to marry, lest she fall into immorality.
37. 7.37A father whose daughter agrees to virginity does well to keep her so.
38. 7.38Giving a virgin in marriage is good, keeping her a virgin better.
39. 7.39A widow is free from the marriage bond and may marry a second time, but only a believer.
40. 7.40Wife, widow and virgin are happy, happier and happiest; Paul's advice is from the Spirit.