1 Corinthians 7
Lutheran reading notes
In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, the message of the gospel develops the theme of instruction for church life and unity in Christ. Lutheran interpretation frequently emphasizes the proclamation of Christ, the distinction between law and gospel, and the promise of justification through faith.
1
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: {It is} good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:1 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Nevertheless, {to avoid} fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1 Corinthians 7:4 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Defraud ye not one the other, except {it be} with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
1 Corinthians 7:5 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
But I speak this by permission, {and} not of commandment.
1 Corinthians 7:6 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1 Corinthians 7:7 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1 Corinthians 7:8 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
1 Corinthians 7:9 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And unto the married I command, {yet} not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from {her} husband:
1 Corinthians 7:10 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to {her} husband: and let not the husband put away {his} wife.
1 Corinthians 7:11 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1 Corinthians 7:12 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1 Corinthians 7:13 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
1 Corinthians 7:14 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such {cases}: but God hath called us to peace. {to peace: Gr. in peace}
1 Corinthians 7:15 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save {thy} husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save {thy} wife? {how: Gr. what}
1 Corinthians 7:16 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
1 Corinthians 7:17 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
1 Corinthians 7:18 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1 Corinthians 7:19 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
1 Corinthians 7:20 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
Art thou called {being} a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use {it} rather.
1 Corinthians 7:21 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
For he that is called in the Lord, {being} a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, {being} free, is Christ's servant. {freeman: Gr. made free}
1 Corinthians 7:22 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1 Corinthians 7:23 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
1 Corinthians 7:24 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1 Corinthians 7:25 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, {I say}, that {it is} good for a man so to be. {distress: or, necessity}
1 Corinthians 7:26 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
1 Corinthians 7:27 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
1 Corinthians 7:28 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
But this I say, brethren, the time {is} short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
1 Corinthians 7:29 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
1 Corinthians 7:30 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
31
And they that use this world, as not abusing {it}: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1 Corinthians 7:31 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
32
But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: {that belong...: Gr. of the Lord}
1 Corinthians 7:32 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
33
But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please {his} wife.
1 Corinthians 7:33 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
34
There is difference {also} between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please {her} husband.
35
And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
1 Corinthians 7:35 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
36
But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of {her} age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
1 Corinthians 7:36 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
37
Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
1 Corinthians 7:37 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
38
So then he that giveth {her} in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth {her} not in marriage doeth better.
1 Corinthians 7:38 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
39
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:39 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
40
But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 7:40 highlights apostolic teaching for the church with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.