1 Corinthians 7:1-24

(1 Corinthians 7:1-24)

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.  Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.  The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.  But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.  I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.  But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.  Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.  Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

 

Corinth, the capital of Agaya, located on the Peloponnese Peninsula, was the center of maritime trade and eastern and western culture. It was a city of various peoples, cultures, and gods. During the second evangelistic trip, Paul planted the Corinthian Church with Priscilla and Aquila and other co-workers, stayed for 18 months, and established the church with the Gospel. The grace from God is also very deep, and the Corinthian Church has an explosive revival. However, the Corinthian Church also suffered several pains. The Corinthian Church suffered numerous criticisms such as sectarianism, ethics and moral issues, and gifts.

 

The landmark of Corinth is the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, located in Acrogorindo. In this place, 1,000 priestesses performed all kinds of obscene acts in the name of rituals. Moreover, it was difficult to expect a proper sexual ritual for the Corinthians living in the port city surrounded by numerous brothels. The promiscuous sex culture of Corinth remained intact to the members of Corinth. Although the members of Corinthians experienced explosive revival and the power of the Gospel, they failed to challenge the values surrounding them and collapsed or had a distorted sexual consciousness in the form of asceticism in reaction.

 

They asked the criteria for sex, Paul says. 『Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.』 Paul teaches those who are single or who have lost their spouse and live alone if they can overcome their lusts, keep their place. He said that divorces should be forbidden if possible, and that marriages with unbelievers should not be prevented to spread the gospel. This is because love and the Gospel flow through the noblest marriage system that God has made. He told us to live by keeping the duty God gave us.

 

The Corinthian Church could not be separated from the current trend of the times represented by gender issues. The Corinthians took time to receive the Gospel and realize their wrong lives. It took an effort to cut the bones to correct the wrong behavior. Responsibility for what was done followed. Even if everyone does that, the one who walks the right path, the right path, and the path of truth is a Christian. Even if they are sick, sad, or lonely, they are Christians who go down the narrow path that God has called. 『Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 』(Matthew 7:13-14)