1 Corinthians 7:6-11 (WEL) But I tell you this by permission, not by commandment. 7 For I wish that all people were even as I am, but each has their proper gift from God, one in this way and another in that way. 8 Therefore, I say to the unmarried and widows, “It is better for them if they remain just as I am.” 9 But if they cannot hold their desires in check, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn [with sexual desire]. 10 To the married I command, [yet] not I but the Lord, “Don’t let the wife depart from her husband.” 11 But if she does leave, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And the husband must not leave his wife.
V6 But I tell you this by permission, not by commandment.
Paul must have prayed for wisdom before he wrote the following advice. See James 1:5.
V7 For I wish that all people were even as I am, but each has their proper gift from God, one in this way and another in that way.
Paul is not diminishing marriage. He also mentions this is due to the “present distress” (1 Corinthians 7:26).
Comments:
Warren W. Wiersbe:
“Apparently one of the questions the church asked was, “Is celibacy [remaining unmarried] more spiritual than marriage?” Paul replied that it is good for a man or a woman to have the gift of celibacy, but the celibate state is not better than marriage, nor is it the best state for everybody. Dr. Kenneth Wuest translates Paul’s reply, “It is perfectly proper, honorable, morally befitting for a man to live in strict celibacy.”
V8 Therefore, I say to the unmarried and widows, “It is better for them if they remain just as I am.”
Better refers to the distresses of that day. If one has no desire for marriage or sexual needs, then stay single. It is not God’s plan to hinder Christian marriage, but sometimes it might be prudent to delay.
V9 But if they cannot hold their desires in check, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn [with sexual desire].
This is the desire to be married along with the desire for sex. If one wants to marry, that is good, too, and blessed by God.
V10 To the married I command, [yet] not I but the Lord, “Don’t let the wife depart from her husband.”
Remaining married is God’s plan. There are reasons for divorce.
Some reasons allowing divorce are listed in Scriptures as follows:
By permission
C1 Sexual sins
D1 Incest: Leviticus 18:6-18 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-5
D2 Adultery: Matthew 19:1-9 and Matthew 5:32
D3 Porn: Matthew 5:32
C2 Desertion
D1 Physical leaving: 1 Corinthians 7:15
D2 Spiritual leaving: (a person would lose their faith if they stayed in that type of marriage) Nehemiah 13:23-26 and 1 Corinthians 7:11-15.
D3 Abuse
C3 If you stay, you or your children may lose salvation and faith
D1 A relationship that might lead to a denial of Jesus Christ: Ezra 10:44 Deuteronomy 7:1-6
D2 Might lead to a type of abuse, spiritual abuse.
V11 But if she does leave, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And the husband must not leave his wife.
There are reasons for divorce and allowing remarriage. Compare Matthew 19:9 and 1 Corinthians 7:15.
This refers to a time to be separated to allow the Lord to heal or discipline.
Believer’s Bible Commentary:
“However, he recognizes that there are extreme cases where it might be necessary for a wife to leave her husband. In such a case, she is obligated to remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. Separation does not break the marriage tie; rather, it gives an opportunity for the Lord to heal the differences that have come between them and to restore both parties to fellowship with Him and with one another. The husband is commanded not to divorce his wife. No exception is made in his case.”
Holman Commentary: “Paul was realistic enough to know that illegitimate divorces happen among believers. For cases of illegitimate divorces, he offered two choices:
remain unmarried or be reconciled to the original spouse. Paul did not comment on what to do if attempts to reconcile are rebuffed. The rest of Scripture and prudence must guide believers in such situations.”
We learn:
- More about marriage and divorce.
- About separation.