Those Who Are Married Should Live Like They're Not! Part 1

In 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Paul writes that married couples should live as if they are not married.  The following work includes the study and conclusions that I have come to regarding this stunning instruction by the Apostle.  For now let me bring you up to speed:

It is readily obvious that Paul is replying to a letter, written to him from the Corinthian Church (“Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman”” (1 Corinthians 7:1, ESV).  Singleness and celibacy are exalted as godliness; therefore these Christians are asking important questions:

• Is sexual intimacy sinful? Paul replies, “… each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:2b, ESV)
• Is marriage wrong and should I divorce my spouse? “To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:10–11, ESV)
• Is a marriage to an unbeliever wrong?  Should the believer divorce? “To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.” (1 Corinthians 7:12, ESV)
• If one is single, should they marry?  “If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin.” (1 Corinthians 7:36, ESV) 

Paul affirms the sanctity of marriage, the permanence of marriage and the value of singleness.  Nowhere does Paul communicate any denigration of marriage.  Indeed the unifying biblical principle is “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4, ESV)

Paul does, however, communicate the advantages of singleness; not by command, but through caring advice. “I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:35, ESV).  Paul’s bottom line is that marriage is good and singleness is good.  It all depends upon your “gift”. “Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.” (1 Corinthians 7:6–7, ESV)

So within the context of his discussion regarding the unmarried (7:25-40) Paul clarifies his position which leans towards the advice to remain single by stating the following:

²⁹ This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, ³⁰ 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 goods, ³¹ 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.

The problem is this: What does Paul mean when he writes that as of now, those who have wives should live as if they didn’t?    Has Paul forgotten all that he has stated elsewhere?  Is he suggesting that celibacy is more appropriate?  Is he proposing married-singles?  One could hardly think so.

Stick with me and in the next blog we will start unpacking this treasure.