Chapter six ends with Paul’s command to, “Flee from sexual immorality!” Christians must do so, he says, because we can no longer claim ownership of ourselves—of our bodies. Because of Jesus’ work we are no longer free to give ourselves over to our lusts and to those things that we crave. Paul is so concerned with the problem of sexual immorality that he continues addressing the topic of human sexuality in chapter seven. Don’t forget that this part of Paul’s moral instruction begins with his admonishment of the church for it permitting a man who is in a sexual relationship with his step-mother to remain as a member. In fact, they seem to be proud of this decision, maybe because of their mantra, “All things are permissible for me, [because of grace].” 

Something else to note is when Paul tells the Corinthians that when a person has sex with a prostitute the two become one in body, but when a person joins with Christ, they become one in Spirit. With this, I believe, Paul is challenging Christians to decide what is more important: the flesh—and the things thereof—or Christ.  

Chapter seven begins with evidence of that missing letter that I mentioned in the introduction episode. It appears that someone—either an individual or a group—within the church of Corinth was troubled by the sexually immoral behavior that was occurring—and maybe even celebrated—there. Paul considers this letter somewhat overreactive: The opponents of what appears to be the accepted practice in the congregation seek the apostle’s approval of their belief that the only way Christians should live out their faith is in total abstinence whether married or not. 

“’It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’” Paul begins this chapter by quoting them. Surprisingly, Paul disagrees with this—even though he, himself, abstains from having sex. Since sexual immorality is so widespread in Corinth—both in the city at large and, I assume, even in the church—Paul says that people should have sex only with their spouses. Paul knows that for most people physical lust is a powerful hinderance to righteousness—excluding himself and those who share the same spiritual “gift”. He would prefer that people abstain from sexual congress but knows that this is unrealistic; in fact, it appears that Paul expects that this urge will always triumph, because he knows how powerful sex is!

Sex’s influence reaches well beyond the physical into both the psychological and the spiritual. It is so powerful that Paul instructs spouses to NOT without sex from one another—unless mutually agreed upon—since most people lack “self-control.” In Judaism, marriage was considered to a be a primary mechanism in preventing people from becoming sexually immoral. Perhaps this is why Paul tells spouses that their bodies are not their own but belong to the other. In this sense, their bodies are tools intended to serve a function or complete a task. If one spouse refuses to have sex with the other, Paul’s argument goes, then the spouse who is—to quote Dr. Evil— “all pent up” will give into temptation due to the lack of self-control. No, this doesn’t sound very romantical—doesn’t sound like “love-making”—but it will help keep Satan out of one’s marriage. Paul even extends his advice to widows and widowers. It is best not to remarry, but better to marry rather than to be consumed by erotic desire and give into sexual immorality. 

Before we move on, I think there is an important sidenote to add. In his comments about sex at no point does Paul state or even imply that spouses should engage in it solely for the purpose of procreation. This is just something to think about. Paul then seems to shift gears and takes up the practice of divorce. Please note, I said “seems”.

Some commentators argue that here Paul is addressing a specific circumstance, since he begins this teaching on divorce with the wife initiating the separation. This is in contrast with tradition which usually concerns itself with husbands initiating divorce from their wives. Although with this in mind it seems reasonable to assume that Paul is addressing some specific circumstance, the text that we have provides no such information. More likely, Paul is teaching the Corinthians what Jesus had said regarding divorce among believers. Keep in mind, the four gospels that we have today in our canon had yet to be written; however, it is not only reasonable but probable that early Christians would have access to a collection of Jesus’ sayings and teachings—if not a yet to be discovered proto-gospel. 

Deuteronomy 24:1-4 permits Jewish men to divorce their wives for any number of reasons, but the same is not true for their wives. In the Roman world, though, divorce could be initiated by either party. Thus, the practice in Corinth would be that wives could divorce their husbands. Why does Paul insert this teaching into his letter here? Considering that the apostle has just argued the preeminence of marriage as a means for staving off sexual immorality, would it not be natural for him to remind these nascent Christians that everything they do or don’t do is for a higher purpose? Or perhaps he is teaching the Corinthians “a more excellent way,” to steal a phrase he will use in a few chapters—the way the Jesus taught. 

Paul tells them that although they can divorce under Roman law and cultural practice maybe they shouldn’t seek to do so. Remember verse 6:12: “‘Everything is permissible for me,’ but not everything is beneficial.” In verse eleven, Paul extends this teaching. He does offer grace to the woman who simply cannot stay married, however. 

Paul expands on Jesus’ teaching on divorce and extols the salvific character of marriage yet again. Not only can marriage help prevent a person from falling into unrighteousness through sexual immorality, it can actually help bring unbelievers to salvation. Here Paul most likely has in mind people that are already married when one or the other spouse comes to faith in Jesus Christ. This believing spouse may think it wise to divorce as a way of putting some distance between the present and the past. Where once they were equally yoked—more on that later in 2 Corinthians—they no longer are. And on first impression, this may be a good idea, but chew on it while…

Throughout the Old Testament God prohibits marriages between Israel and foreigners. “Why?” you might ask. “Wouldn’t marriage be a good tool for conversion?” Sadly, the history of God’s people demonstrates otherwise. It is the former—Israel—that is always the one that compromises. Therefore, Paul’s command that new believers must not divorce their unbelieving spouses would appear in opposition. Is he trying to set the Corinthians up for future failure through a compromised faith? Of course he’s not. 

Just as spouses take upon themselves the responsibility of helping their partners to remain righteous, here, too, they are taking responsibility for the final disposition of their souls. The Church and its members embody the gospel now, and it is the temple of the indwelling Spirit—Paul has already declared. What would it say to those outside of the Church if the very people who have been entrusted to be the place where the lost can encounter God don’t care enough about their own spouses to stay in their marriages? “If she doesn’t love her husband enough to stick around,” I hear some ask, “why would she give me a second thought?” Sadly, this passage is used by some people to demand that women stay in abusive marriages. In so doing, they misunderstand Paul completely, AND they ignore the first thing that he says, “This is my opinion and not Jesus’ command.” 

Perhaps those who had written Paul and stated that it is good for a man not to touch a woman had set about trying to convince the Corinthians to divorce as a means to escape temptation; perhaps divorce had become a problem in the congregation because of their position. Paul writes in verse sixteen, “Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.” You should stay, he says, because with your presence in their lives, there is always hope for them.