1 Corinthians 7:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,

NIV: But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife--

NASB: but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

CSB: But the married man is concerned about the things of the world--how he may please his wife--

NLT: But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.

KJV: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

NKJV: But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.

The advantage for the unmarried Christian man is freedom to focus his time and energy entirely on pleasing the Lord. Pleasing God is, indeed, the primary goal of our short lives on this side of eternity. Paul has made clear throughout this chapter that marriage is good, but he is making the case that those who are unmarried should consider remaining single.

Christian men who are married are divided between living to please Christ and living to please their wives. Paul does not condemn them for this. Christian marriage binds two people into one. When pursued according to Christian principles, it is a life spent in service to the other (Ephesians 5:22–33). In marriage, a Christian man serves God and represents Christ in the way he loves His wife. It is a high calling.

Paul wants his readers to see, though, that married life is not the only calling we can get from God when it comes to relationships. Those gifted by God with contentment in singleness can lead undivided lives, entirely focused on service to the Lord.

First Corinthians 7:25–40 explores Paul's response to a question about those who are engaged to be married. Should they go through with it, considering his teaching that singleness provides opportunity to serve Christ undivided? Both are permitted, Paul insists, and you do well in either case. Paul's unique, personal view is that unmarried Christians can serve without the troubles that come with even the best marriages; they can remain fully focused on living for Christ. That is neither a command nor a judgment binding on anyone.

Paul rejects an idea concerning the Corinthian believers: that married Christians should not have sex. Perhaps some even thought marriages should be dissolved and avoided. On the contrary, Scripture says married Christians should have regular sex in order to avoid temptation. Those who are married ought to remain married. Unmarried believers with the gift of celibacy, however, should consider remaining single in order to avoid the troubles of marriage. That is Paul's personal preference, though that gift is not given to all others. Single believers can devote themselves to serving Christ without distraction. The time is short. All believers should live and serve Christ now as if this world is passing away.

First Corinthians 7 follows Paul's teaching in the previous chapter, which focused mostly on avoiding sexual immorality. Here he commands married husbands and wives not to deprive each other of sex, or get divorced, in a misguided attempt to be more spiritual. Unmarried people who can live contentedly without sex, however, should consider remaining single in order to serve Christ undivided. Getting married is good, but the time is short. The form of this world is passing away. Unmarried people should think about the opportunities to avoid trouble and serve Christ that come with staying single.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.

Accessed 5/8/2024 2:01:05 PM