Dealing with a Dysfunctional Church
St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians

Marriage in Ancient Roman Society

Marriage in Ancient Roman Society (Cont’d)

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Discussion Question #1

 In 1 Cor 7:1, Paul quotes from the Corinthian letter, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” In the subsequent verses, does Paul seem to agree or disagree with this statement?

7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is well for a man not to touch a woman.”

But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

[a wife] will journey to the confines of Egypt . . . to sprinkle the Temple of Isis . . . [where Anubis] obtains pardon for wives who break the law of purity on days that should be kept holy . . . his tears and carefully-studied mutterings make sure that Osiris will not refuse a pardon for the fault, bribed, no doubt, by a fat goose and a slice of sacrificial cake. (Juvenal, Satires 6.535-37)

Discussion Question #2

 In v. 4, Paul makes an interesting claim about the relationship between husband and wife with respect to their bodies. What implications does this claim carry for married Christians?

7: 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Discussion Question #3

 With respect to sex within a marriage, what commands does Paul issue to the Corinthians in vv. 2-5a?
What concession does he make in 5b?

7:2b each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. This I say by way of concession, not of command.

One spouse may rob and withdraw himself or herself from the other and refuse to grant the conjugal due or to associate with the other. One may find a woman so stubborn and thick-headed that it means nothing to her though her husband fall into unchasteness ten times.

Then it is time for the man to say: If you are not willing, another woman is; if the wife is not willing, bring on the maid. But this only after the husband has told his wife once or twice, warned her, and let it be known to other people that her stubborn refusal may be publicly known and rebuked before the congregation. If she still does not want to comply, then dismiss her; let an Esther be given you and allow Vashti to go, as did King Ahasuerus (Esther 2:17).

—Martin Luther (Sermon, 1522)

Discussion Question #4

 In vv. 7–9 and 25–28, although he does not oppose their entering into marriage, Paul seems to express a preference for life-long celibacy for those Corinthians who were single. What was Paul’s rationale for this (hint, see vv. 29–35), and is it as applicable now as it was in 52 AD?

7:7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.

To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am.

But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.

7:25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to remain as you are.

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who marry will experience distress in this life, and I would spare you that.

7:29 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife,
and his interests are divided.

And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

Divorce in Ancient Roman Society

Discussion Question #5

What does Paul say about Christians and divorce in vv. 10–11? What about the case of mixed marriages (vv. 12–16)? How might these passages inform Christians today?

7:10 To the married I give this command-- not I but the Lord-- that the wife should not separate from her husband

(but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.

7:12 To the rest I say--I and not the Lord--that if any believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.

For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called you. Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.

Discussion Question #6

Paul lays down a general principle for the Corinthians in vv 17-24. What is this principle, and do you think it is still applicable today?

7:17 However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.

Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything. Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.

Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever. For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ.
 
You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters. In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God.