Paul's Eschatological Reason to be Single (1 Cor 7:25-31)

An Eschatological Reason to Remain Single (7:25-31)

1. What is Paul's advice to engaged and single Christians, which is his consistent pattern throughout chapter 7 (1 Cor 7:26-28, 36-38)? [It's better to remain as you are (in this case unmarried), but if you choose to marry, it's no sin.] What does Paul teach about the dignity and value of singleness? What is the "present crisis/necessity" (1 Cor 7:26 )? 
2. What is Paul's expectation about "the time is short" (1 Cor 7:29a, 31b)? What should they then do (1 Cor 7:29b-31, 35; 9:16; 12:26; Rom 12:15)? How would this help us live with equanimity [calmness, composure] in whatever state we are in?

To marry or not to marry... After telling the married not to seek change, but to remain as they are (1 Cor 7:17, 20, 24), Paul goes on to address whether "virgins" (1 Cor 7:25) should get married. The virgins are probably the betrothed questioning whether to go through with their marriages. Why? Under the influence of the ascetics (1 Cor 7:1), they may think that going through with the marriage would constitute sin (1 Cor 7:28, 36), which is totally foreign to Paul's own Jewish heritage.

Celibate, yes; ascetic no. Paul's dilemma is that on the one hand he favors celibacy (1 Cor 7:7a). On the other hand, he totally disagrees with their ascetic reasons for being celibate. Paul therefore has to now affirm celibacy without at the same time affirming their asceticism. To remain as one is (1 Cor 7:17, 20, 24) might be easy enough for the merely single. But how do the betrothed stay as they are? Do they marry or dissolve the relationship altogether? This would be all the more difficult if the woman is attracted to the ascetic life while the man is not. Thus, Paul gives his own judgment [opinion], which he regards as trustworthy (1 Cor 7:25). The imperative of 1 Cor 7:27 merely reiterates 1 Cor 7:17, 20, 24, which are then immediately qualified. In brief, Paul's trustworthy opinion/judgment (1 Cor 7:25) is that in light of the present crisis/distress/situation (1 Cor 7:26) celibacy is the better option---but it is not the only option. Marriage is a perfectly valid alternative--which is no sin (1 Cor 7:28, 36). One may confuse celibacy with asceticism, but Paul is no ascetic. Paul's reasons for celibacy are basically eschatological (7:29-31), and also for "undivided" concern/devotion for the things of the Lord (7:32b-35). Whether they are married or unmarried Paul wants them to be "free of anxiety/concern" (1 Cor 7:32a).

Counsel for Engaged Couples: Remain as You Are (7:25–38). Another point from their letter: "Now concerning virgins" (1 Cor 7:25). Who are the virgins, and what's their question? The virgins are likely betrothed young women who are not yet married to men in the church. The question: Should young people in this situation marry, or as Christians are they now obliged to remain unmarried? Paul's answer is completely consistent with the pattern in all the other cases in ch. 7: it's better for them to remain as they are (in this case, unmarried), but if they choose to marry, that's no sin. The conclusion: "He who marries his fiancee ["virgin"] does well; and he who refrains from marriage does better" (1 Cor 7:38). The decision is left to the persons involved, with some encouragement from Paul to stay unmarried if they're able to choose that freely and decisively (1 Cor 7:37). (Paul discusses this from the male point of view, and the decision of whether to marry is presented as the man's unilateral decision (7:36-38). This is one place where the careful symmetry of his treatment breaks down.)

When 7:2 is misread as Paul's command to the unmarried, misinterpretations are created, because this advice would contradict 7:26–27 and 7:36–38. But when 7:1–7 is understood as directed to married couples, the difficulty is resolved. Paul addresses those who are not yet married only in 1 Cor 7:25. Why should the unmarried remain unmarried? 2 interrelated reasons:

1. The present order of the world is going to pass away in the very near future (7:29-31).
2. Marriage presents many distractions that may hinder service to the Lord (7:32-35).

First, "the appointed time has grown short" (1 Cor 7:29a). Paul expects Jesus' return and the judgment of the world in the very near future. "Salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near" (Rom 13:11-12). This powerful apocalyptic expectation should shape the thought and action of believers. Ordinary temporal matters dwindle in significance in the light of God's eschatological judgment. Thus, Christians should live as if the end were at hand (1 Cor 7:29b-31a), not investing themselves inappropriately in issues and affairs that belong to the old age. "...let even those who have wives be as though they had none" (1 Cor 7:29) cannot mean that married Christians to renounce sex, for he has explicitly said otherwise (7:1–7); rather, he means that they should live out their marriages with a watchful awareness that the present order of things is not ultimate. Similarly, Paul cannot be telling them not to mourn and rejoice (1 Cor 7:30ab; Rom 12:15; 1 Cor 12:26). Rather, he means that even in the midst of mourning and rejoicing they must recognize that the day is coming when God will wipe away all tears and joy will be complete. And "when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end" (1 Cor 13:10). The same logic applies to possessions and financial transactions (1 Cor 7:30c-31a). Christians should live as people who know that all these things have at best penultimate significance; knowing that, we can take whatever may come with equanimity [calmness, composure]. (See 2 Esdras 16:40–48).

Though sounding like Stoic apathy, Paul's reasoning is very different. The Stoics sought to cultivate an imperious detachment from all things, based on internal strength of character and on the conviction that all events are ordered by providence. Paul's teaching of detachment is based instead on the conviction that the future is impinging upon the present; consequently, "the present form of this world is passing away" (1 Cor 7:31b). Under such circumstances, it looks illogical to undertake long-term commitments such as marriage.

The unfolding eschatological scenario may impose particular hardships on the people of God. "...the present crisis" (1 Cor 7:26) may point to the conventional apocalyptic idea that suffering will come upon the elect in the last times (Mk 13:3–23). Paul believes that Christians will be better prepared to face these trials if they're single rather than married. [Strikingly neither here nor anywhere else does Paul mention children as the fruit of marriage or as a possible hindrance during a time of eschatological trial (Mk 13:17).]

Rethink eschatology. Paul's counsel on sex and marriage presupposes a version of the world-story in which Paul's generation expected to see the coming of the day of the Lord. Living in the same story > 2,000 years later, we know that Paul's expectation of the imminent parousia was wrong. Now what? How does that fact affect the validity of his advice that Christians should "remain in the condition in which [they] were called" (1 Cor 7:20, 24)? There's some positive theological consequences of living in the framework of imminent expectation. 1st, Paul's eschatological framework enables us to look to the future in trust and hope, knowing that our salvation depends not on our success in restructuring the world but on the vast mercy and justice of God. 2nd, a corollary of the first, disregard the various roles assigned us by society, finding our identity in Christ rather than in affiliations of ethnicity, gender or social class. Grasp these truths, and walk more gracefully through the conflicts, hassles, and disappointments of mundane reality. Be empowered to act more boldly and confidently to represent God's truth in a recalcitrant world.

Would Paul have advised so strongly for them to remain as they were If he'd known that all of the "virgins" whom he advised would go to their graves without witnessing the coming of Jesus? He does describe his opinion as his opinion, not as revealed knowledge. This chapter, more than any other in the NT, actively invites us into the process of rethinking and moral deliberation. Paul's clear preference for celibacy is based on the assumption that "the time is short" (1 Cor 7:29) and "the form of this world is passing away" (1 Cor 7:31). With our changed historical perspective, an adjustment would be more in favor of seeing marriage for many, as a constructive calling or gift from God, while holding onto the equal validity of singleness as a call for others. Another adjustment, which the church has already made historically, is to rethink the question of slavery, for it contradicts the freedom of the gospel. Paul proclaims: "You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters" (1 Cor 7:23). Such adjustments are necessary for their mail is Scripture for us. Let's remain faithful to Paul's vision for making moral judgments "in view of the present necessity/distress/crisis" (1 Cor 7:26) under the guidance of the Spirit.

Reflect on Paul's careful cautious tone. Elsewhere Paul makes unequivocal pronouncements (5:3–5; 6:1–8), but here he moves cautiously. He carefully distinguishes his own teachings and opinions from the command of Jesus and repeatedly invites them to the task of moral discernment. What does it mean for us to acknowledge as Scripture a text that says, "I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy" (1 Cor 7:25)? They're to make their own decision, and discern God's will. There's no packaged pronouncement, but an invitation to reflection. On some issues, he issues clear directives (1 Cor 7:2–4, 10–11, 39a), but on others he asks the church to exercise judgment and for individuals to discern their own calling. He models a welcome alternative to much contemporary debate in the church, which is often either dogmatism on one side or relativism on the other. Paul's ethical reflection is firm but open-textured.

"I think that, in view of the present necessity, it is well for you to remain as you are" (1 Cor 7:26) [Hay's translation]. This refers to the eschatological sufferings that Paul expects to come upon the church. Another meaning fits the context better. The translation "impending crisis" (NRSV) is wrong. It refers to present, not future, events (1 Cor 3:22, the same word refers to "things present" in contrast to "things to come"). The noun is usually interpreted to refer to some sort of suffering or "crisis" (NRSV). The meaning of the word is "necessity" or "urgency." Paul uses the same word just a few paragraphs later: "[N]ecessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Cor 9:16, KJV). It seems probable that the "present necessity" (1 Cor 7:26) is the urgent imperative of proclaiming the gospel and doing the work of the Lord in the short time that remains (7:32–35). This explains more clearly why Paul regards celibacy as preferable to marriage: It frees the time and attention and energy of believers for the crucial work that is to be done in the precious short time before the parousia.

The dignity and value of singleness. One of the most important messages of this text for the church is that the single life has dignity and value before God. Most Protestant churches, historically in reaction against the Catholic imposition of mandatory clerical celibacy, have come to regard the unmarried state as aberrant and unhealthy. This tendency has been reinforced by powerful forces in popular culture that insinuate the idea that human wholeness is possible only through sexual relationships. But 1 Corinthians 7 insists that we take a serious look at it. Paul argues that for many it's better to remain unmarried—not because sex is dirty or wrong, but because the single life allows Christians the freedom and flexibility to serve God without distraction. This merits sustained reflection. Can Christians learn to think about their choices between marriage and singleness within the framework of the church's mission to carry the gospel to the world? Our conversation in the church about these matters would begin to pose a serious challenge to Western culture's frantic idolatry of sexual gratification as a primary end of human existence.

Reference:

1. Richard B. Hays. First Corinthians. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. 1997.
2. Gordon D. Fee. First Corinthians. The New International Commentary on the NT. 1987.
   
3. Richard B. Hays. The Moral Vision of the N.T. A Contemporary Introduction to N.T. Ethics. 1996.

Sermon Divisions: 

1. 7/12/20: Always Thank God (1:1-9) [1 Cor 1:4].  Cosmic Epic Calling [1 Cor 1:2].
2. 7/19/20: The Devil Divides, God Unites (1:10-17) [1 Cor 1:10]. All Agree. No Divisions. Perfect Unity.
3. 7/26/20: The Cross--God's Way--is Dumb (1:18-25) [1 Cor 1:18]. The Cross Stumbles. The Cross is like a Cop Out. Foolish Cross.
4. 8/2/20: What You Were, Who Christ Is (1:26-31) [1 Cor 1:26, 30]. The Necessity of Lack. No Boasting  [1 Cor 1:31].
5. 8/9/20: Nothing but Jesus (2:1-5) [1 Cor 2:2]. 
6. 8/16/20: Wise vs. Stupid (2:6-16) [1 Cor 2:6]. True Wisdom is Only for the Mature. The Mind of Christ [1 Cor 2:16].
7. 8/23/20: You're NOT Spiritual (3:1-4) [1 Cor 3:1].  Spiritual, Yet Not Spiritual.
8. 8/30/20: Merely Servants (3:5-9) [1 Cor 3:5]. Field Laborers.
9. 9/6/20: Build with Care or Be Destroyed (3:10-15, 16-17) [1 Cor 3:10-11]. God's Temple.   
10. 9/13/20: Deceived by Wisdom (3:18-23). All Belongs to Christ and God. Wisdom doesn't boast.
11. 9/20/20: When You Are Judged (4:1-5) [1 Cor 4:4]. Go Ahead...Judge Me!  Judged Only by God; Accountable Only to God.  Judging Others Blinds You.
12. 9/27/20: When You Are Scum (4:6-13) [1 Cor 4:13]. Become Scum. Puffed up Corinthians and Suffering Apostle amid Others' Boasting.
13. 10/4/20: Imitate Me (4:14-21) [1 Cor 4:19]. Fatherly Admonition. Final Warning to Boasters. Fatherly Admonition to Paul's Corinthian Children.
14. 10/11/20: Expel the Wicked Man (5:1-13) [1 Cor 5:13]. Drive out the wicked person from among you. [David, Daniel]
15. 10/18/20: You Were Washed in the Name (6:1-11) [1 Cor 6:11]. You will Judge the World [1 Cor 6:2]. I Say this to shame you [1 Cor 6:5]. [Christy Peace]
16. 10/25/20: Your Body is NOT Yours (6:12-20) [1 Cor 6:13]. Glorify God with Your Body. [Adrien]
17. 11/1/20: Sex in Marriage is a Good Thing (7:1-7). [Yohan] [Women, Wives, Wise West Loop Elders and Singles]
18. 11/8/20: No Divorce (7:8-16). [Angie]
19. 11/15/20: Remain as You Are (7:17-24). [Taniesha]
20. 11/22/20: An Eschatological Reason to Stay Single (7:25-31). [David, Daniel]
21. 11/29/20: An Urgent Imperative for Singles (7:32-35). [Sarah, Josh]
22. 12/6/20: Stay Single or Marry (7:36-40). [Noah, Jim]