Marriage, Singleness and Divorce — Part 1

The intro to 1 Corinthians mentioned that Paul's letter would refer to some important questions concerning life as Christians. In the first six chapters, Paul points out some serious problems in the church relating to loyalty, division, disorder, and lawsuits.

The Corinthian Christians had also written to Paul asking him several questions relating to the Christian life and about marriage which he answers here in Chapter 7. The Corinthian Christians desperately needed special, specific instructions because of their culture's immoral standards of living.

The church in Corinth was in turmoil because of the culture that surrounded them and Paul writes that marriage is God's way of satisfying the natural desires God designed in us, which in turn strengthens the partners against temptation. This shows married couples their responsibility to care for each other, love one another and be faithful. Paul explains that marriage and singleness are both gifts from God and is answering specific questions about marriage, not trying to give a complete theology of marriage. — Pastor Don