1 Co.6:12-20•Chapter 5: outrageous fornication•Chapter 6: ordinary fornication–Perversion of Paul? (Ro.3:8; 5:20; 6:14)

Fornication•Condemns, 12. 10:8

•Corrupts, 13Consider•God, 14

•Christ, 15-17•Holy Spirit, 19-21

1 Co.7•Paul is answering questions, not providing a complete examination of marriage issues•1 Co.6 – libertine position•1 Co.7 –ascetic tendencies

Outline:•How to avoid temptation, 1-7•Priorities in marriage, 8-16, 28•Singles, 6-9, 25-26, 29-35•Virgins, 36-38•Remarriage after death, 39-40

Authorized activities, 1 Co.7:2-5•Goal: avoid fornication, 2•Means: marriage relations, 2-3 •Explanation:

•Danger: deprivation, 5•Exception:

Normally: body is ours, 4; Ro.1:24Spiritually: body is God’s, 6:19-20

Maritally: body is mate’s, 7:3-5

1Consentual pact2Temporary period3Spiritual purpose

4Restored partnership

Unauthorized divorce, 1 Co.7:10-11

1. Disobeys, v.10 (cf. Mt.19:4-6; Ep.5)2. Violates marriage vow. Ep.4:25; Rv.21:83. Challenges God, Mal.2:164. May cause mate to stumble, Mt.5:325. Consequence: your mate could divorce you

for no reason6. Contextual warnings: 5, 10, 11, 12, 137. Not permission, but instruction (cf. 1 Jn.2:1)8. “Remain unmarried” anticipates possible

stubbornness of the other spouse…

Not under bondage, 1 Co.7:15

1. Bondage: *to make someone a slave …enslave a people Ac.7:6 . . .

cause to be like a slave, Ro.6:18, 22; 1 Co.9:19; 7:15; Ga.4:3; Tit.2:3 – BDAG

*to gain control over someone and thus make such an individual subservient to one’s own interests – L-N. Ill.: Ac.13:44-46

2. No reference to remarriage.3. “Such cases” = believer & unbeliever4. Perfect tense verb

Circumstances , 1 Co.7:26-40

1. Present distress, 26-272. Pressure in the flesh, 283. Passing of world, 29-314. Preoccupation with marriage, 32-355. Promises of fathers, 36-386. Permanence of marriage, 39-40