1 CORINTHIANS LESSON 10


     We will begin this lesson in I Corinthians 7:1 "Now concerning
the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to
touch a woman."

     This letter had to be written to an individual in the church in
Corinth, because we notice that it was in answer to a letter that Paul
had received. We know that this, like many other specific Scriptures,
is not to be taken as doctrine, or even rules for the church at large,
because it goes against what God said at the creation of man and
woman. There would be no need for two genders, if God had intended
this to be so. We must look at this carefully to understand. This is
probably written to an individual who is, perhaps, going to minister
in God's work. Paul is just explaining to this person, that the fewer
other obligations he has, the more time he will have to devote to
God's work. Paul was never married, and he understood the freedom from
other obligations that went with not being married. Marriage is not a
sin, however. It is God's plan for populating the earth.

     I Corinthians 7:2 "Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let
every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own
husband."

     Paul is saying here, that if you desire to be married, it is
better to go ahead and get married. You might be tempted to sin, if
you desire a wife and do not have one. Again, I say, there is not sin
in getting married. There is a sin when you live with someone you are
not married to.

     I Corinthians 7:3 "Let the husband render unto the wife due
benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband."

     When a man and woman get married, they then are to think of the
needs of their spouse more than they think of their own needs. The
above Scripture is just saying, be true to the wife or husband you
have chosen. Love them and comfort them, so there will be no need for
them to look for comfort elsewhere.

     I Corinthians 7:4 "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."

     When we get married, we become one flesh and we are no longer two
flesh. Husbands, and wives should not be ashamed in the presence of
their spouse. Their bodies belong not to one of them, but each belong
totally to the other.

     I Corinthians 7:5 "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."

     This is just saying for they two to comfort each other. They are
not to refuse the closeness of husband and wife, unless they have
agreed that they will refrain from personal contact, because they are
fasting and praying. The reason it is so important for the husband and
wife to sleep together is because if they do not, their partner might
stray to someone else for comfort. This is not just a physical
togetherness with the husband and wife, but is a bond between them.

     I Corinthians 7:6 "But I speak this by permission, [and] not of
commandment."

     All of this Paul has said here, is something that Paul wanted to
share with others who were going into the ministry. It is a little of
a personal testimony of himself. He realized that he was more free to
go and minister, since he did not have the obligation of family. He
was a eunuch by choice to serve God. Jesus spoke of this only once in
the following Scripture. Matthew 19:12 "For there are some eunuchs,
which were so born from [their] mother's womb: and there are some
eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which
have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that
is able to receive [it], let him receive [it]."

     I Corinthians 7:7 "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."

     Paul was a eunuch by choice, and he felt the call of the ministry
could be better answered with less distractions that way. Not all men
are called to be eunuchs that are ministers of God. This is a special
calling.

     I Corinthians 7:8 "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows,
It is good for them if they abide even as I."

     Paul was expecting the soon return of the Lord, and he thought
there was not time to get entangled with anything that might slow down
their work for the Lord. He is saying, if for any reason you are
single, just stay that way and spend all of your time for the Lord.

     I Corinthians 7:9 "But if they cannot contain, let them marry:
for it is better to marry than to burn."

     This probably is speaking of those who want to be married, and
are not, who are burned up with lust for the opposite sex. It would be
much better to be married, than to be filled with lust.

     I Corinthians 7:10 "And unto the married I command, [yet] not I,
but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband:"

     He is just saying, if you are married, stay married. You can
still work for the Lord married. Divorce is of man and not of God. God
made one woman for one man. They two are to be one. To divorce and
marry another does not fulfill the wishes of God.

     I Corinthians 7:11 "But and if she depart, let her remain
unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband
put away [his] wife."

     The union of husband and wife is to be a permanent arrangement.
It is not to be like in our society today, jumping from one woman to
the other. A person should not get a divorce for just any little whim.
The Lord has made provision for those to get a divorce from the
unfaithful spouse, or from the spouse who is not faithful to God.
Adultery {spiritual and physical} is the only acceptable reason for
divorce.

     I Corinthians 7:12 "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."  I Corinthians 7:13 "And the
woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased
to dwell with her, let her not leave him."

     The Lord had taught from the beginning not to be unequally yoked
with those of unbelief. They should not have married a non believer in
the beginning. This house would have to be a house of confusion. One
believing, and the other does not, leaves a separation between them.
It is possible, in time, that this circumstance could change. If you
love them enough to put up with the divided house, then Paul is
saying, it is alright to stay. Marriages with mixed belief seldom
last.

     I Corinthians 7:14 "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."

     This does not mean that an unbeliever will go to heaven, because
their spouse is saved. Sanctified in this instance, would be made
clean. Not by the wife, but in the wife. This really is not speaking
of the child being saved in infancy, but is speaking of not having any
curse of unbelief on the child from birth. This child would not be a
bastard child, but would be of a union made acceptable to God through
marriage where one parent is a believer. This cleanliness is of a
ceremonial nature and is speaking of the family as being a Christian
family, because one is a believer. I say again, each person has to
make his own decision as to salvation.

     I Corinthians 7:15 "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."

     This would be covered in the spiritual adultery above. Moses
permitted divorce, so that there might be peace in the family. The
very fact that two people could not agree in their worship would be a
very unsettling factor in a family. These two could not be one, if
they had such varying commitments.

     I Corinthians 7:16 "For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou
shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou
shalt save [thy] wife?"

     I have always believed that if a person lives a good Christian
life around anyone [especially their spouse}, it would have great
influence on the non-believer. That, in my opinion is what this is
saying. Love them with the love of the Lord and live peaceably with
them, and they will be won over to the Lord by your great devotion to
your Lord.

     I Corinthians 7:17 "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."

     Paul is saying in this, if you were married when you were called,
stay married. Serve God wherever you were when the Lord called you. Do
not leave your spouse to serve the Lord. If you were called to the
ministry while you were single, consider staying single and devoting
all of your time to the Lord. Paul is saying, if you were called in a
certain circumstance, who is he to question God in that? Just serve
where you were called, and how you were called.


































                      1 Corinthians 10 Questions


1.  In verse 1 Paul says, it is good for a man not to _______ a woman.
2.  Why does the author believe this is written to an individual?
3.  Why were there two genders of people created?
4.  What is Paul really trying to convey to this individual here?
5.  Was Paul ever married?
6.  To avoid ____________, let every man have his own wife.
7.  If you desire to be married, it is better to go ahead and marry,
    why?
8.  Who are the husband, or wife, to think of more than themself in
    marriage?
9.  Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 4.
10. They two shall become one _____.
11. What are the two reasons, in verse 5, that you could withhold love
    from your spouse for?
12. Why is it important for the husband and wife to sleep together?
13. Verse 6 says this message is from whom?
14. Quote Matthew chapter 19 verse 12.
15. Paul wanted them all to be like whom?
16. Why?
17. Why did Paul tell the widows and unmarried to stay like him?
18. It is better to marry than to ______.
19. Who is the message from in verse 10?
20. Does the fact that you are married keep you from ministering?
21. The union of husband and wife is to be a ___________ arrangement.
22. What two things are true grounds for divorce?
23. Who had taught not to be unequally yoked?
24. What should the man who has an unbelieving wife do, if she wants
    to live with him?
25. Two people living in a house where they have different beliefs,
    would be what kind of house?
26. The unbelieving husband is sanctified by what?
27. Does this mean the unbeliever will go to heaven?
28. The cleanliness is of a _____________ nature.
29. A brother or sister is not under bondage in what case?
30. How could a wife save a husband?
31. How is each man to walk?