Marriage, Singleness, and the Pre-Eminence of Christ in Decision-Making- 1 Co 7:32–8:1

In this episode, we will delve into Paul's final thoughts on marriage or the choice to stay single. As we explored in our recent reflection, Paul's guidance on marriage is deeply woven into his understanding of eschatology. He stresses that given the present circumstances and his belief in the imminent arrival of Jesus Christ; it might be wise for individuals to embrace singleness rather than marrying (1 Corinthians 7:25-35).

Following Christ's death, the followers of Jesus were no strangers to adversity due to their faith, aligning with Jesus' teachings that believers would face challenges in this world. He cautioned that persecution and rejection would be part of their journey (John 15:18-21), and some would even face martyrdom for their faith (Matthew 10:22).

The expulsion of Jews from Rome during Emperor Claudius' rule is traditionally dated to 49 or 50 CE. Suetonius, the Roman historian, documented this event, noting that Claudius expelled Jews from Rome due to disruptions linked to a figure named Chrestus, likely a misunderstanding involving Christ (Jesus Christ), and the conflicts within the Jewish community, including early Christian followers. The repercussions of this expulsion were significant, especially since Christians were initially considered a subset of Jews in Roman eyes.

In Acts 18:2, we uncover a subtle reference to this expulsion:

The key point to underscore is that being a Christian in the Roman Empire during Paul's time was far from safe or comfortable. Christians faced rejection from both the Jewish community and Roman society. Even as Paul penned this letter, suspicion and hostility toward Christians escalated. Roughly a decade later, Nero used Christians as scapegoats for the great fire of Rome.

Returning to the text, Paul reminds the Corinthians that given their current distress, choosing not to marry might be a wiser decision. Marrying under such circumstances could add extra burdens to both spouses. However, Paul refrains from an outright prohibition of marriage. He acknowledges that marriage is a God-ordained institution, recalling the scriptural wisdom that it's not good for a person to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Paul respects the biblical teaching that what God has joined together, no one should separate (Mark 10:9).

In other writings, it's interesting to note that Paul cautions the church against people who forbid marriage, highlighting the importance of sound teaching. For instance:

As mentioned before, Paul's warnings were not intended for a problem that would arise over 2000 years later. He saw these issues as immediate threats. He explicitly conveyed this urgency, stating that the Spirit clearly warns about the "latter times" from Paul's and his readers' contemporary perspective. In their understanding, they were already living in these latter times, as Paul affirmed.

In 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Paul emphasized the brevity of time and the passing nature of the world. He urged believers to adopt a mindset that recognizes the temporal nature of their circumstances.

In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul used the pronoun "we," clearly suggesting his anticipation of the Parousia (the second coming of Christ) during or shortly after his own lifetime. He specifically referenced individuals who would still be alive at the time of the Lord's coming. If Paul had meant this warning for a future, distant audience, he likely would have phrased it as "those who are alive and remain," distancing himself from the event and using a more generic term rather than the intimate "we."

In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, Paul addressed the current times and seasons, pertaining to the distress and challenges faced by the Thessalonian community. He emphasized the imminence of the day of the Lord and the suddenness of its arrival.

Lastly, in Philippians 4:5, the phrase "the Lord is at hand" carried a sense of immediacy for the first-century Christian audience. It was a call to maintain a gentle demeanor amid the challenges of their contemporary Christian experience, not a distant future event.

Application

So, what's the takeaway? What can we glean from this text as 21st-century followers of Christ? One significant aspect to consider is that those who genuinely have faith in Christ, believe in His lordship in their lives, and submit themselves to His kingdom should always keep this at the forefront of their minds when making major life decisions. The decision to marry is undoubtedly one of the most important and life-changing decisions. Like marriage, all decisions in the life of a believer—where to live, whom to marry, what type of work to do—should be made with a deep consideration of the pre-eminence of Christ's rule in our lives and in the continuing unfolding of his kingdom.