In light of the present crisis (1 Corinthians 7:26) some at the church at Corinth weren’t sure if it was ok or not to be married. So in Paul lays out the general rule. Look with me at the following verses...
Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. NIV
In light of the present crisis (v.26) Paul says it might be wise to choose not to marry at this time. It’s not sinful if you go ahead and get married, but you might be asking for trouble. It's important to understand that the only reason Paul is discouraging marriage is to spare them the hardship and suffering that accompanies times of trouble and persecution - not because he’s down on marriage. This is made clear by what he writes in vv.36-38
If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better. NIV
Paul’s saying: If the bride’s biological clock is ticking and she wants to chance it and get married, even in spite of the present crisis, it’s not wrong to do so - it’s just risky to do so. Let me illustrate it like this: Would it be wrong for a Jew to get married during the Holocaust? No! It wouldn't be wrong, but it would be risky. Would it be wrong for someone in Darfur to get married back in 2003 in the midst of mass genocide? No. It wouldn't be wrong, but it would be risky. In light of the present crisis it might be best to wait. This is Paul's point.
Would it be wrong for a college couple to go ahead and get married prior to finishing college? No, but it will be harder than if they wait. It's not wrong if they get married during college, but there may be wisdom in waiting until graduation.
Is it wrong for a man to get married to a woman? Absolutely not, but he might want to wait to get married until he has a job and can provide for his wife and future children (1 Timothy 5:8). I remember asking Kristin's dad for his blessing so I could ask Kristin to marry me. I told him that I loved his daughter and had secured a job. He gave me his blessing.
If you want to get married, that's a wonderful thing! As you seek divine guidance, the same God who provided the perfect person will reveal to you his perfect timing as well.
- v.2, “...each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.”
- v.28, “...if you do marry, you have not sinned...”
- v.36, “If anyone...feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.”
Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. NIV
In light of the present crisis (v.26) Paul says it might be wise to choose not to marry at this time. It’s not sinful if you go ahead and get married, but you might be asking for trouble. It's important to understand that the only reason Paul is discouraging marriage is to spare them the hardship and suffering that accompanies times of trouble and persecution - not because he’s down on marriage. This is made clear by what he writes in vv.36-38
If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better. NIV
Paul’s saying: If the bride’s biological clock is ticking and she wants to chance it and get married, even in spite of the present crisis, it’s not wrong to do so - it’s just risky to do so. Let me illustrate it like this: Would it be wrong for a Jew to get married during the Holocaust? No! It wouldn't be wrong, but it would be risky. Would it be wrong for someone in Darfur to get married back in 2003 in the midst of mass genocide? No. It wouldn't be wrong, but it would be risky. In light of the present crisis it might be best to wait. This is Paul's point.
Would it be wrong for a college couple to go ahead and get married prior to finishing college? No, but it will be harder than if they wait. It's not wrong if they get married during college, but there may be wisdom in waiting until graduation.
Is it wrong for a man to get married to a woman? Absolutely not, but he might want to wait to get married until he has a job and can provide for his wife and future children (1 Timothy 5:8). I remember asking Kristin's dad for his blessing so I could ask Kristin to marry me. I told him that I loved his daughter and had secured a job. He gave me his blessing.
If you want to get married, that's a wonderful thing! As you seek divine guidance, the same God who provided the perfect person will reveal to you his perfect timing as well.
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