1Co 7:1
Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.
1Co 7:2
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.
1Co 7:3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.
1Co 7:4
The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.
I know of one teacher that uses the above, out of context with out fall. In that he teaches it to mean that no matter what a person must never say no to sex with their spouse. This shows a disrespect to both, and can not be backed by the proper application of Scripture.
However, Paul does tell us that to remain celibate can be a good idea as well. One may think this idea to be nuts, as it can lead to immoral thoughts, and actions. However, as has been seen in some marriages, even sex inside the marriage can distract a person form their study of the word.
1Co 7:5
Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1Co 7:6
I say this as a concession, not as a command.
1Co 7:7
But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.
1Co 7:8
So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am.
1Co 7:9
But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.
1Co 7:10
But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband.
1Co 7:11
But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.
One may wish to see this 1 of 2 ways. First that Paul sees divorce as being ok, so long as you remain single after words. If they most remarry then they must reconcile. To look at in this manner however, one must first reject the words of Yeshua, as well as Torah. Please see, Duet. 24:1-4, Mat. 9: 3-8
The other way to see this does follow the Word a bit more clearly. If a man and wife are having troubles, and need time apart to think things over, they should take that time. As we all know, to walk away from a disagreement is better than staying with the argument, and making things worse. When one has time to clear their head, they think more clearly, and are better able to find a workable solution.
1Co 7:12 Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a Christian man has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.
1Co 7:13
And if a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.
1Co 7:14
For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.
1Co 7:15
(But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the Christian husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.)
1Co 7:16
Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?
In most cases, Were one is a believer, and the other isn't, things can work well. As the one that is lost, will most likely give their spouse the space needed for prayer, worship, and study. Many times in life, the lost one does turn their life over at some point. This is due in part to the prayers of their spouse. Paul does however make it clear that if the non-believer wants out, then we as believers should let them go. I know of no passage in the Word that gives any commandment that backs or counters this teaching. As to if the believer is free to remarry a believer, their is nothing that addresses this. One should follow what they find in their own heart.
1Co 7:17 Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.
1Co 7:18
For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now.
1Co 7:19
For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.
1Co 7:20
Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.
Paul answers one of the oldest arguments made when one finds another that follows the Law. It seems that that when a person doesn't understand the Torah, they find it necessary to try and place commandments on others that are not theirs to follow. Circumcision has been the most popular answer for most. As sad as that seems, it is true. One should accept where they are, and work to better their walk in the Word. As we should all know, circumcision plays no part in true salvation, it has always a sign for the Jewish people, as reminder of the covenant HaShem made with them. Before any one ask, yes many gentiles are circumcised. This was done more for heath, and cleanliness more and no other reason.
1Co 7:21 Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it.
1Co 7:22
And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.
1Co 7:23
God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.
1Co 7:24
Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.
Further addressing the condition one was in when they came to Yeshua, Paul makes it clear that a slave should take freedom over slavery. However, one should not take their freedom by force. Even a slave can make a difference in the lives of them around him. Still, I thank HaShem that slavery has been done away with, at lest for the most part. Man kind should strive to remove it when ever it is found.
1Co 7:25 Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you.
1Co 7:26
Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you are.
1Co 7:27
If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married.
1Co 7:28
But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems.
Some have said that Paul was thinking of the percussion of believers, in this passage, and how it may affect a person should they loss a loved one. Or that a person may become involved in fight that leads to the death of others, in order to save their loved ones. Though both can seen as being harmful to ones walk, the first more so than the latter. This seems to miss the point. As one moves on to read this in context with the following, they find that Paul most likely thought the return of Yeshua was just a short time away.
1Co 7:29 But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage.
1Co 7:30
Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions.
1Co 7:31
Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.
1Co 7:32
I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him.
1Co 7:33
But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.
1Co 7:34
His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.
1Co 7:35
I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
Though Paul makes the point that a person can better serve HaShem if they don't have a spouse to think about, He also makes it clear that one must do what ever it takes to serve HaShem to the best of their ability. We all know a person that needs to prodded to study the Word, or to pray, or even to witness to others. To them, it may be wish to find a spouse that will help them to stay in study or what ever. Then I would say that anyone wishing to marry, should pray for a spouse that is strong where they are week, and needs help in the arias of life that you are strong.
1Co 7:36 But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin.
1Co 7:37
But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry.
1Co 7:38
So the person who marries his fiancé does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better.
1Co 7:39
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.
1Co 7:40
But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.
One would well to note the last passage. Paul does wish to claim he speaks for HaShem, as he makes clear that he thinks he is giving counsel from the Spirit. Their are some that say in this chapter, Paul is speaking to his own wishes, and not that of HaShem. Though he does wish to lead them in the path set for them by HaShem. I find this a sad why to look at any part of Scripture, as it shows a lack of trust, as well as diminishing the work of the Spirit, through man kind.