- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 5
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 13
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 17
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 9
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 11
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 25
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 12
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 26
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 27
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 18
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 28
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Mark 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 22
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Mark 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 27
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 2
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 28
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 37
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 39
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 40
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 16
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 41
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 18
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 42
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 19
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 43
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 20
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 44
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 45
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 50
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 2
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 10
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 5
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 13
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 14
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 16
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 9
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 17
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 10
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 20
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 11
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 12
- Acts 1: The Ministry of the Gospel
- Exodus 13: Paying the Price
- Acts 2: Faith Founded on Fact
- Exodus 14–18: When Security Vanishes
- Acts 7: Eternal Glory
- Exodus 19: The Covenant to Come
- Acts 8: Counterfeit Gospels
- Exodus 20: The Holy Splendor of God
- Acts 9: From Persecutor to Proclaimer
- Exodus 32: God’s Inexpressible Glory
- Acts 10: The Gospel Goes to the Gentiles
- Leviticus 16: The Holiness of God
- Acts 13: Paul’s Missionary Journeys
- Numbers 13: The Book of Wanderings
- Acts 15: How Are We Saved?
- Numbers 14: The Faithfulness of God
- Acts 16: Interrupted Plans
- Deuteronomy 1: “Beware Lest You Forget”
- Acts 17: How to Spread the Good News
- Deuteronomy 2: Knowing God
- Acts 18: Encouragement through Fellow Believers
- Deuteronomy 3: Mercy and Judgment
- Acts 19–20: The Power and Word of God
- Acts 20–21: The Cost of Following Christ
- Deuteronomy 4: Leaving a Legacy
- Acts 22: Common Ground without Compromise
- Deuteronomy 5: The Purpose of the Law
- Acts 23: The Centrality of the Resurrection
- Deuteronomy 6: The Pitfalls of Prosperity
- Acts 24: Living in Light of the Resurrection
- Deuteronomy 7: Warnings about the World
- Acts 25: The Witness of Waiting
- Deuteronomy 8: Our Daily Bread
- Acts 26: Agents of Eternal Change
- Deuteronomy 27: A Covenant of Obedience
- Acts 27: Surviving the Storm
- Deuteronomy 28: Idolatry of the Heart
- Acts 28: Service and Encouragement
- Deuteronomy 29: Anticipating the New Covenant
- Romans 1: A Practical Theology
- Deuteronomy 30: God’s Merciful Covenant
- Romans 2: The Universal Moral Law
- Deuteronomy 32: Learning from the Past
- Romans 3: Righteousness in Christ
- Deuteronomy 34: The Death of Moses
- Romans 4: The Grace of Justification
- Joshua 1: Listening to the Lord
- Romans 5: Reconciliation with God
- Joshua 2: Rahab’s Faith
- Romans 6: Fighting the Flesh
- Joshua 3: Relying on God
- Romans 7: A Struggle with Sin
- Joshua 4: Setting Up Memorials
- Romans 8: Living in the Spirit
- Joshua 6: Obeying God
- Romans 12: Putting Faith into Practice
- Joshua 23: Remembering God’s Faithfulness
- Romans 13: Christians and Government
- Joshua 24: Reviewing God’s Purposes
- Romans 14: Harmony in Diversity
- Judges 2: A Pattern of Idolatry
- Romans 15: Who Are We?
- Judges: In Need of a King
- 1 Corinthians 1: The Foolishness of God
- Judges 6–7: Severe Mercy
- 1 Corinthians 2: Relying on the Spirit
- Judges 14: Resisting Our Flesh Signature
- 1 Corinthians 3: Only One Foundation
- Judges 15: The Power of the Spirit
- 1 Corinthians 6: A Call to Imitate Christ
- Judges 16: The Consequences of Disobedience
- 1 Corinthians 7: Marriage and Celibacy
- Ruth 1: A Faithful Remnant
- 1 Corinthians 8–10: Tempering Knowledge with Love
- Ruth 2: A Cameo of Grace and Goodness
- 1 Corinthians 9: Surrendering Our Rights
- Ruth 3: Behind the Scenes
- 1 Corinthians 13: The Love of Christ in Us
- Ruth 4: The Backstory of a King
- 1 Corinthians 15: Resurrection of the Dead
- 1 Samuel 1: Presenting Our Prayers to God
- 2 Corinthians 1: A Ministry of Comfort
- 1 Samuel 2: A Humble Honor
- 2 Corinthians 4: Living Letters
- 1 Samuel 3: When God Speaks
- 2 Corinthians 5: Groaning for Glory
- 1 Samuel 8: Hope for the Future
- 2 Corinthians 8: The Generosity of Christ
- 1 Samuel 9: Trusting the True King
- 2 Corinthians 9: Radical Generosity
- 1 Samuel 10: Our Gracious King
- 2 Corinthians 12: Evidence of the Faith
- 1 Samuel 15: A Rebellious Redefinition
- Galatians 5: Freedom from the Law
- 1 Samuel 16: The Deception of Appearances
- Galatians 6: What Is Salvation?
- 1 Samuel 17: Spiritual Excellence
- Ephesians 1: The Blessing of the Father
- 2 Samuel 5: Hidden Sins
- Ephesians 2: Peace in Uncertainty
- 2 Samuel 7: Honor God in Your Work
- Ephesians 3: In Christ
- 2 Samuel 11: Midlife Crisis
- Ephesians 4: A Worthy Walk
- 2 Samuel 12: The Discipline of the Father
- Ephesians 5: Being Imitators of God
- 1 Kings 1: Our Transient Yet Purposeful Life
- Ephesians 6: The Armor of God
- 1 Kings 2
- Philippians 1
- 1 Kings 3
First Corinthians is an immensely practical book. In it Paul addresses several specific questions the Corinthian church had about Christian behavior. Not only do many of these questions still arise frequently today, but many of Paul’s answers also run counter to our culture. In chapter 7, Paul addresses the topics of marriage, divorce, celibacy, and remarriage.
The Goodness of Marriage
First, Paul affirms the goodness of marriage. The Corinthians had apparently asked Paul if they were required to pursue celibacy (1 Corinthians 7:1). But Paul tells them that it depends on the gifts God grants to each person. He reminds them that God ordained marriage as both a deterrent to sexual immorality (v. 2) and as a context for unique intimacy between a man and a woman (vv. 3–5).
The Sacredness of Marriage
Second, Paul addresses the question of whether a believer should divorce an unbelieving spouse. While he recognizes that such a marriage is not an ideal situation, he nevertheless instructs that a believer should not seek a divorce in such a scenario—”God has called you to peace” (1 Corinthians 7:15 ESV).
Thus, the sacredness of the marriage bond is not nullified by an unbelieving spouse. That is why Paul says that the unbelieving spouse is “made holy” on account of the believing spouse. Further, he urges a believer in this situation to seek the salvation of the unbelieving spouse (v. 16). Nevertheless, Paul stipulates that if the unbelieving spouse leaves of his or her own accord, the believing spouse is no longer bound to them (v. 15).
These instructions fall under the general principle that “each one should remain in the condition in which he was called” (v. 20). God is sovereign over both the opportunities and the outcomes in our lives and is able to sanctify every circumstance for His glory.
The Gift of Celibacy
Finally, contrary to the culture in many churches today, Paul affirms that celibacy (i.e., singleness) is a gift.
God distributes gifts that are uniquely appropriate to each person in His church. This means that while some will best serve the Lord in marriage, others will do so in singleness. “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him” (1 Corinthians 7:17).
Unfortunately, many churches today focus so much on the calling of marriage that people in the church begin to feel embarrassed if they are still single. While it is right to affirm the goodness of marriage, Paul actually views celibacy as an advantage in light of Christ’s imminent return. Singleness allows a person to lay aside worldly things and commit themselves to pursuing the Lord in a way a married person cannot (1 Corinthians 7:32–34).
If you are single right now, don’t waste the time. Whether God will call you to marriage in the future or not, He has granted you the present time to spend pursuing His pleasure (v. 32) and holiness in body and in spirit (v. 34).
This teaching is based on Ken’s Handbook to Scripture.
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