SCRIPTURAL PERSPECTIVE ON MARRIAGE

MEMORY VERSE: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

The first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians was written to correct some anomalies and answer some questions in their fellowship. In the first six chapters, he had dealt with the reports he received on issues of contentions, divisions, immorality and litigation among the brethren. In our text, he began to address the issue of marriage and to offer proper Christian perspective on it in this corrupt world.

One major problem of the Corinthian church was the negative influence of their environment. The general attitudes and opinions of people were putting pressure on their convictions. They also had many unanswered questions on the relatively new Christian faith which they had just received.

On marriage principles, practice and procedures, the scriptures must be the guide, and everything must be done decently and in order. In our text, Paul the apostle, by the Spirit of God sets forth the scriptural perspective on the issues of marriage, celibacy, separation, divorce and remarriage of widows.

1.DIVINE PRECEPTS CONCERNING MARRIAGE

(1 Corinthians 7:1-9, 25-39; Genesis 2:20-25; Matthew 19:3-12; 5:31,32; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

The Corinthian believers had obviously written to the apostle on marriage and other issues. In answering their questions, the apostle stated the basic precepts and guidelines on marriage for believers. These scriptural guidelines need to be reiterated especially in our present day when the marriage institution is undergoing intense pressure from the secular society.

Question 1: State some basic scriptural precepts on marriage.

To begin with, Paul pointed out that marriage is good and proper for Christians because God ordained it (Genesis 2:18-25). It is His solution to man’s problem of loneliness and lack of a suitable help meet. It is also designed to be a means of procreation, ensuring purity, and deriving pleasure for both husband and wife. In our text, the Apostle emphasises both the purity and pleasure benefits of the marriage union: “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” (1 Corinthians 7:2,3).

While emphasising the benefits of marriage, the apostle also hints that heterosexual monogamy is the scriptural standard in marriage. That is, marriage should be between a man and a woman, and it should be one-man-one-wife. This prohibits the sharing of a marriage partner, as it happens in polygamy; and also the abominable practice of homosexual marriage.

Another basic precept here is that marriage should be by volition, not by compulsion. The decision to marry or not should be left to individuals. But it should be stated that people should not settle for celibacy until they have prayed and be fully persuaded by the Lord. Moreover, the decision to be unmarried should only be taken after much prayer and proper counselling from mature ministers of God.

In Paul’s day, the issue of whether a Christian should marry or not generated a serious controversy. There were two major reasons for this. One, the persecutions against Christians was intense and to have a family in such circumstances was really a big problem. Two, the popular teaching in some religious circles, as well as the general leaning of society at the time aggravated the controversy…

It is required that husband and wife fulfill conjugal rights to one another. In saying this, the apostle used a general word “benevolence” which connotes mutual good will, friendliness, helpfulness, loving kindness, mercy, understanding, gentleness, tolerance, forgiveness and generosity.

Question 2: Explain the meaning and scope of the command to render mutual benevolence in marriage.

Rendering mutual benevolence is not limited to the matter of conjugal union which is the main reference in this context, but it covers every aspect of the marriage relationship…

THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

(1 Corinthians 7:10-16, 39,40; Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:32; Romans 7:2)

Paul the apostle also emphasises the sanctity of marriage. He states that marriage should be held as sacred and as such there should be no divorce or remarriage while one’s spouse is living…

Question 3: What are the scriptural grounds for allowing separation in a marriage? Does the right to separate confer the right to remarry?

…Jesus referred the religious Pharisees to the beginning of the marriage institution. He said, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so” (Matthew 19:8)…

Question 4: In what sense does the presence of a converted spouse sanctify the unconverted members of the family as expressed in our text?

In our text, Apostle Paul offered a strong reason why a believing spouse should rather stay in the marriage relationship with an unconverted partner. “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” (1 Corinthians 7:14).

THE PRIORITY OF SPIRITUAL PURSUITS

(1 Corinthians 7:29-35; 1 John 2:17; 1 Timothy 5:5; Matthew 6:33; Luke 10:38-42)

Paul the apostle emphasises the fact that believers, married and unmarried, should make spiritual pursuits a priority in life. “But this I say brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none…” (1 Corinthians 7:29)…

Question 5: What is the scriptural counsel to parents on the marriage of their children, widows and widowers?

The chapter ends with a general counsel to parents over the decision to give out their daughters in marriage. The issue of remarriage of widows and, by implication, widowers was also mentioned…