Episode 19 "1 Corinthians 6:1 - 7:18"

1 Corinthians 6 -7:18

Lawsuits, Sex, and Marriage

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul discusses the behaviors that were going in the Church, namely, lawsuits against other believers and sexual immorality. 

1 Cor 6:3 – “Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more matters of this life? If then you have courts dealing with the matters of life, do you appoint judges who are not accountable to the Church?” 

What Paul is saying, is when you have disputes, deal with them internally. Moreover, he expresses the idea of not worrying about money, saying you are better off defrauded than to submit to a court of unbelievers.  

The idea here is believers need to be better than that because, unlike unbelievers, we are going to inherit the kingdom of God. We gave up the ways of natural man. (He’s building here on what he wrote in chapter 2 when he introduced the concept of spiritual discernment over natural discernment. We were washed, sanctified and justified by Jesus and the Spirit of God).  

In 6.12, he introduces another important concept - The Concept of Restraint

“All things are lawful, but not all the things are profitable.  I will not be mastered by anyone.”  

Our leader is God. We get our direction from a higher place. Since he has indwelt believers with His Spirit, how can you use your body immorally? For we are the temple of the Holy Spirit!  He is setting the stage here in chapter 6 for his main topic about marriage that he will cover in chapter 7. 

Remember in Corinth, sexual immorality was the norm. Prostitution, homosexuality, mutual partners, you name it, were not looked down upon, but condoned.  In fact, the institution of marriage - one man with one woman for life was the exception, not the rule. 

Chapter 7

Evidently, the Church had written to Paul about advice on sexual relationships. Verse 7.1 indicates that some thought, with sexual sin was so pervasive, they asked Paul if they would be better off being celibate, even to the point of avoiding sexuality even in marriage. Paul rejects that idea. The problem in Corinth was not sex - the problem is “pornea” (Greek any “out of marriage sex”. It would include adultery, fornication, homosexuality, etc. It is the word that we derive pornography, meaning graphic pornea. 

Thus, even 2000 years ago, society had to deal with the issues of pornography and sexual immorality - this is not something new.  Today, technology has merely made the problem more pervasive, but the issue has always been a human one. Celibacy does not solve the challenge of pornea. Indeed, to avoid pornea (sexual immorality, or inappropriate relations) each man should have sex with his wife and the wife with her husband. 

In verse 3, he says, “Let every husband feel fulfill his “duty” to his wife.” 

In some texts it says “due benevolence”.   In Greek, he uses two words “Ophallo eunoia” which means to pay back what you owe (Ophallo) with kindness (eunoia). The idea here is to be exclusive to your spouse with kindness.  Men, do not use your fire toward sexuality improperly. 

Verse 5 – “Do not deprive one another in this area except for a time in agreement with one another to be devoted to prayer.”” 

It is good for a man and a woman to have a healthy sexual relationship. It should not be forced or used in any way to manipulate one another. 

In verse 6-8 He gives his opinion. Paul chose celibacy so he could devote himself to ministry. He acknowledges most men and women do not have this gift, but if they do want to remain celibate that is fine.  However, if they want to be married, that is also just fine.   

As a footnote, this is where most believe the catholic doctrine of priestly celibacy comes.  However, even though he says, “It is good for the unmarried to remain as I.”  If stop at verse 8 you miss the context.  For in verse 9 he continues by writing, “It is better to marry than to burn.”  Marriage does not exclude anyone from a calling in ministry.  In fact, Paul says in Titus and Timothy, and elder must be the husband of one wife and have his family under control. 

In verses 10-13 He says, God (not him) instructs man and woman not to leave one another or send each other away. 

He then deals with the challenge of the unbelieving husband or wife with a believing husband or wife. The teaching is simple. Stay together unless the unbeliever wants out, and if they want out, let them out.  This section is different than what Paul will discuss in Chapter 13. The love there is “agape” - unconditional life - the love here is “eros” sexual love between a man and a woman. 

Verse 14-19 The Idea here is we want peaceful marriages and children that are not confused by their parents and in the same way you would not become “uncircumcised” you would not become “unmarried”