Remain As You Are (1 Corinthians 7)

• From 1 Cor 7, Paul responds to what they asked him by stating "Now about…" (1 Cor 7:1, 25; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1, 12).

• 1 Cor 7 has been widely misunderstood as Paul despising women and regarding sex as dirty or defiling.

• 1 Cor 7:1 comes not from Paul but from the Corinthians.

Sex in Marriage is a Good Thing (7:1-7)—fulfill your marital obligation.

1. Why might the Corinthian Christians think that a husband should not "touch" [have sex with] his wife (1 Cor 7:1, 34; Lk 20:34-35, 36)? Does Paul agree (1 Cor 7:2b-3)? What could happen if married couples avoid sex in marriage (1 Cor 7:2a; 6:15)? What does Paul understand about the power of the human sex drive? [Is marital intercourse only for procreation?]
2. What does Paul tell married couples to continue doing? Why (1 Cor 7:4, 2a; 6:15)? What does this teach about the marriage relationship (Eph 5:21)? How does this challenge traditional views of hierarchy (Gal 3:28)?
3. What is Paul's one concession, and for what reason (1 Cor 7:5-6, 2a)? Is Paul grudgingly and reluctantly permitting and conceding to marriage to curb lust and illicit sexual desire?
4. What is Paul's wish and his own gift [charisma], that is different from that of others (1 Cor 7:7)? [Is singleness and celibacy a gift? Is marriage a gift? Is marriage less holy or less spiritual than being single and celibate?]

No Divorce (7:8-16)—if married don't divorce.

1. What is Paul's advice to widowers [unmarried] and widows (1 Cor 7:8a)? Is Paul possibly a widower (1 Cor 7:8b)?
2. When should remarriage be considered (1 Cor 7:9)? What does this show us about Paul?
3. Should married couples in the church divorce (1 Cor 7:10-11, 39)? What does Jesus explicitly say about divorce (Mk 10:9; Mt 19:6) and about those who divorce (Mk 10:11-12; Mt 5:31-32)? 
4. What is Paul's advice to Christians married to non-Christians (1 Cor 7:12-13)? Why and what can a holy [believing] spouse potentially do (1 Cor 7:14, 16)? What if the unbeliever leaves (1 Cor 7:15a)? Why (1 Cor 7:15b)?

General Rule: Remain as You Are (7:17-24)—similar to circumcised or not, or whether a slave or free

1. What is the general rule or maxim that Paul repeats three times (1 Cor 7:17, 20, 24)? Why (1 Cor 7:10-13, 31, 35)?
2. What does Paul compare the married/unmarried distinction to (1 Cor 7:18-19, 21-23)? Are these distinctions and binary polarities important? Why (Gal 3:28)? What should a Christian's core  identity be (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 2:20)?
3. Why should they not be troubled or concerned about being slaves (1 Cor 7:21-22)? [How is slavery in Paul's time different from that of the antebellum South?] [Note how Paul allows for exceptions: 1 Cor 7:8-9, 10-11, 15, 26-28.]
4. Whether circumcised or not (1 Cor 7:18), whether a slave or free (1 Cor 7:21-22), what should all Christians be doing (1 Cor 7:19)? What should they primarily know about themselves (1 Cor 7:23; 6:20)?

Singles (7:25-38), Married or Widowed (7:39-40)—undivided devotion to the Lord

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?
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; 12:26; Rom 12:15)? How would this help us live with equanimity [calmness, composure] in whatever state we are in?
3. What does Paul advise them in the "present crisis/necessity" (1 Cor 7:26 )? Why does Paul regard celibacy as being preferable to marriage (1 Cor 7:32-34)? What is Paul's urgent non-negotiable imperative (1 Cor 7:35; 1:17, 23; 2:2)?
4. In Paul's reprise, what is his repeated counsel to married women (1 Cor 7:39, 10-11)? How might Paul's final statement be chiding them (1 Cor 7:40; 1:17, 20, 27; 2:4-5, 15; 4:3)?

Stay As You Are (7:1-40). Outline:

1. Sex in Marriage is a Good Thing (7:1-7).
2. Remain as You Are in Your Marital Status (7:8-16).
3. Don't Change Your Marital Status: Remain as You Are (7:17-24).
4. Remain as You Are Whether Engaged or Single (7:25-38), Married or Widowed (7:39-40).