OVERVIEW:
Marriage and divorce (chapter 7); Christian liberty (chapter 8); the purpose of our liberty (chapter 9); lessons from Israel (chapter 10); issues regarding communion (chapter 11).
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
In today’s reading, we begin the section of 1st Corinthians in which Paul answers the questions the Corinthians had sent to him. The first issue he addresses is regarding the extremely controversial subject of marriage and divorce. One of the biggest issues perplexing the Corinthian church was in marriages where one partner had come to Christ, and the other hadn’t. Evidently, they had concluded that divorce was a “possible” solution, if not “the” solution.
Paul’s instruction is essentially this: “No! Stay in the marriage! If your partner is pleased to stay with you after your conversion to Christ; hang in there and seek to see them come to Christ! If, however, because of your connection to Christ and the transformation He is continuously making in your life, they choose to abandon the marriage, let them depart. The Lord will release you from the marriage bond, and you are free to remarry.”
This venue does not allow for an exhaustive look at every verse or subject in chapter 7, but there are a few key principles God establishes in this chapter that do need to be noted:
- 7:2-5 – Intimacy in marriage is not an option. Very simply, Paul says that the husband and wife are to give themselves to each other. A marriage that lacks intimacy distorts the picture of Christ and the church revealed in Ephesians 5:25-33 and leaves the couple vulnerable to unnecessary temptation.
- 7:10-15 – Do not seek divorce. If you’re married, stay married. If for some reason there is a divorce not based on biblical allowances, Paul is clear that REMARRIAGE is not an option—only RECONCILIATION to the former spouse. However, if an unbelieving spouse departs, Paul is also clear that the believer is free, meaning, free from the marriage, and free to remarry.
In chapter 8, the next question in which the Corinthians sought Paul’s advice had to do with eating meat that had been offered to idols. Though this particular issue is not applicable to most cultures in the world today, the principles Paul lays out to address it become extremely applicable to believers in every culture on how to approach what might be called “gray areas”. In other words, those areas that are, biblically, neither black or white, meaning that the Bible doesn’t come right out and CONDEMN the particular activity, nor does the Bible come right out and CONDONE it. So, through the discussion of eating meat offered to idols, God provides for us His mind (1st Corinthians 2:16) when it comes to matters of Christian liberty. What becomes apparent in this section, is that God doesn’t want us to simply focus on our LIBERTY when dealing with a gray issue. There is another issue that He says needs to be considered, and that is the issue of LOVE! Love for our brother or sister.
Because this is such an important issue in the 21st century, let’s take the time to set the HISTORICAL CONTEXT of the Corinthian situation of eating meat offered to idols, so we’re able to glean the principles we need to help us in how God wants us to deal with the gray issues we face within our own culture.
From an historical standpoint, realize that in the extremely pagan and idolatrous city of Corinth, virtually any meat the Corinthians would purchase in the market had at some time been offered to idols. It would appear by Paul’s response to them in chapter 8, that they had posed the question about their liberty to eat this meat in such a way, so they would be sure to get the answer they wanted. Almost like, “Hey Paul, since we have knowledge that there’s really only one God anyway, eating meat that has been offered to idols isn’t really that big of a thing for us, right? I mean, surely it would be okay if we ate it, right? What could possibly be the harm in it?” Basically, Paul’s answer is, “Sure, your knowledge is exactly right! But the real issue here isn’t about KNOWLEDGE, it’s about LOVE! And the real issue here isn’t about YOU, it’s about OTHERS! And KNOWLEDGE, as wonderful as it is, PUFFS “US” UP, in contrast to LOVE, which BUILDS “OTHERS” UP! Sure, we certainly have liberty to eat meat offered to idols, but we have to ask ourselves: ‘Is it right for me to satisfy my flesh with this meat, if by doing so, I become a stumbling block to a brother or sister who doesn’t possess the knowledge I have?’” Paul lets us know that for us to have no regard for our weaker brother in this matter should be all the proof we need to let us know that our real concern is the satisfaction of our own sinful flesh, and by eating, we not only sin against our BROTHER, we sin against our SAVIOR! (8:12)
In chapter 9, Paul illustrates from his own life, the principle of chapter 8. Verses 1-14 establish the authority and right that Paul and Barnabas had to be compensated for their work in the Lord. Paul lets the Corinthians know, however, that for the sake of the gospel, they had chosen to willingly set this “liberty” or this “right” aside, because the most important thing in their lives was the cause of Christ! It was bigger and more important than their own rights, their own satisfaction, or their own personal benefit. Obviously, Paul is admonishing the Corinthians (and us!) to do the same! When it comes to our liberty in Christ, perhaps we should ask ourselves two very basic questions:
Then, in chapter 10, verses 14–22, Paul takes the discussion about eating meat offered to idols to another level. Some of the Corinthians probably thought that since an idol is nothing, what would be wrong with them going to their neighbor’s religious service and participating with him? Paul lets us know that though there is really only one true God, and that idols are “nothing”, demon spirits actually masquerade behind those “gods”, so that idol worship actually becomes the worship of demons! Paul then goes on to address the issue of whether or not it was biblically permissible for the Corinthians to eat the meat that had been offered to these idols. He concludes that they did have liberty to eat it, as long as they did not defile their conscience in the process, or the conscience of one of their brothers or sisters. (Please allow me to add a quick word about this thing of our conscience. Practically speaking, many times when our conscience seems to limit us from an activity that is not condemned in Scripture (even though other Christians seem to have no problem participating in it), God may well be using our conscience to keep us from that activity because He is trying to spare us from the next thing that participating in that activity might lead us to be involved in that God does forbid! The activity may not necessarily be wrong in and of itself, and it may not be wrong for others, but it may be wrong for us. In areas such as this, don’t judge others who may exercise their liberty in that area, and never violate your own conscience!)
Then, in chapter 10, verses 23 and 24, Paul reiterates the fact that when dealing with gray issues, we may be free to do what we want regarding a certain thing, but just because we’re free to do it, doesn’t necessarily mean we should! We must always prioritize our brothers and sisters. This is also the context for 10:31-33. The glory of God is what should be the motivation for all we do, not our own selfish interests and desires.
Then in chapter 11 and verse 1, Paul tells these immature and carnal believers in Corinth: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am [a follower] of Christ.” God knows that sometimes we need a model to follow. The fact is, sometimes young or immature believers need a mature Christian that is following Christ to model for them what following Jesus looks like in real life. However, God’s desire is not for that scenario to continue indefinitely. As a believer matures, they need to learn to “stand” (Galatians 5:1), and “walk” (Galatians 5:16) on their own two spiritual feet.
In chapter 11, verses 2–16, Paul brings up the subject of women wearing a covering on their head in their private and corporate worship. Paul surfaces too many things in this passage to adequately expound in this venue, but allow me to make just two very simple, yet, very important observations:
First of all, as Paul makes completely clear in verse 16, he does not intend to institute any biblical requirement concerning head coverings on the Corinthians, or us, for that matter! Secondly, notice that the actual “covering” Paul is discussing in this passage is HAIR! As you work through this passage, allow those two simple realities to guide you.
As Paul continues on, in chapter 11, he rebukes them for their abuse of the Lord’s Supper. They were coming to the Lord’s table with aught against their brothers and sisters and we’re using it as a time to exercise their carnality in eating and drinking, instead of remembering our Lord’s sacrifice for us. God uses this passage as a reminder of the purpose of communion, and shows us:
- This is a very important and meaningful time to God. (11:27)
- We should examine ourselves before participating. (11:28)