But I want you to be without care.  He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord – how he may please The Lord.  (33) But he who is married cares about the things of the world – how he may please his wife.  (34) There is a difference between a wife and a virgin.  The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit.  but she who is married cares about the things of the world – how she may please her husband. (35) And I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction. 

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul. Our verses today are taken from chapter 7 of the letter and Paul is commenting on the virtues of the single life as opposed to the married life in ancient Corinth – Paul is responding to questions sent to him from the newly founded Christian Church there.

Corinth was a bustling, urban, “sophisticated”, corrupt  city with a pagan culture.  Paul arrived and preached the gospel of Christ Jesus and the doctrine of salvation by faith through faith which is transformative.  But the worldly pull of the culture in Corinth was difficult to turn from and the church was beset with factional and sexual problems.  Therefore,  most of this letter is correctional and addresses behavior.  Keep in mind Paul’s comments on marrige and the single life are responsive to questions asked of him.

The apostle Paul has already written that his recommendations are for the single Christian in Corinth –  no one is to divorce or separate from their spouse as a result of being called.  Marital status has no relation to salvation.  If one has been given the gift of “singleness” those people can be totally fulfilled   Paul writes that single persons are no less significant than married Christians.

Paul has suffered persecution because of the gospel and he can clearly see signs of this coming for all Christians.  In times of persecution married people might suffer more than single people because of anxiety for their spouses and children.  There is also more opportunity for conflict with married people; an emotional and psychological pull.  Marriage like the single life is part of the way of this world  – but the world is passing away and if single, there is less attachment to worldly things.  Both lifestyles are blessed by God,

Paul’s words are not commands but he is exploring options   The aingle life is not a snare but a gift from God –   it is a freedom should the single person be able and willing to exercise this choice

But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, (30) those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, (31) and those who use this world as not misusing it.  For the form of this world is passing away. 

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul in response to questions sent to him by the Christians who were members of the church he founded in Corinth. Our verses today focus on marital status – about marrriage and spirituality in context of the pagan culture of that ancient world and Paul’s anticipation of coming persecution for the faithful in Christ.  Paul himself had been abused because of the gospel and he saw hard times coming to the early church,  So, his best advice for those who were single was to stay single at that time but only if they could do so “ without burning” -some can embrace celibacy properly but others will find it a path to destruction.

Paul clearly states elsewhere in chapter 7 that this is his opinion, not a command – remember that he is writing to answer specific questions from the Corinthians and he has already spoken with authority against Christians pursuing divorce or separation.   He is addressing those who are single. Celibacy is not for everyone and the remedy for those who cannot remain celibate is marriage which was/is blessed by God.  All enjoyments of life are gifts from God but are means of corruption when abused. The pleasures of this world might become hindrances to hold us fast to this world  so  we are to use them as if we do not use them; this world is quickly passing away and we are meant for a better world.  The Corinthians – and us – are to remember that adversity AND prosperity are temporary.

Christ Jesus has already appeared in the history of this devolving world and when He comes again, “time’s up”.  The Corinthians are being warned not to become victims of the world’s emotion – not to become too attached to material things that will cease to exist. Let our treasure be in heaven as there our  hearts will also be.

Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods,  but God will destroy both it and them.  Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  (14) And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.  (15) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot?  Certainly not!  (17) But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  (18) Flee sexual immorality.  Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.  (19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  (20) For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul.  Corinth was a center of trade in the ancient world and a thriving pagan culture. It was known as a worship center for the goddess Aphrodite which had 1000 cult prostitutes available for custom in the name of religion.  So prostitution was not only legal, it was encouraged as a religious act.  The Christian Corinthians appeared to equate morality with legality

In this first letter Paul is writing to encourage the Christians but also to correct some of the abuses there. In our verses today he is dealing with the problem of immorality by condemning sexual immorality – specifically that of sex with a prostitute. Our first verse talks of body necessities and Paul tells his audience that food is for the body and the body for food. There’s nothing wrong with that but food and other necessities for life here will pass. We must use things of this world, Not abuse them.  Paul then moves to sexual abuses and tells the Corinthians their bodies are in faith for the Lord. Our spiritual connection to Christ is not just the soul but also the body and Paul proceeds to set before the faithful in Corinth standards of honorable conduct.  He tells them that sexual immorality is an obstacle to spiritual growth as it is an offense against one’s self. Any practice which allows our bodies to gain mastery over us is harmful and should be considered worthless.  Food does not defile and the inference is that the Corinthians are equating food with casual sexual immorality

Paul cautions the faithful in Corinth  that their bodies are now temples of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit cannot live in a defiled body. The faithful are also now members of the body of Christ and the body as well as the soul is subject to God – the mind should be pure as well as the physical profession of the saved. Outward actions matter. His advice Is unequivocal:  Flee sexual immorality.

if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, (3) how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,…….(5) which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets; (6) that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

The letter to the Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul who was imprisoned at the time for his spread of the gospel.  Verse 2 was ironic as his audience consisted of the faithful and he is reminding them that he, Paul, is writing with divine authority, just as he preached the gospel to the Ephesians as the chosen vessel of God.  Everywhere Paul went he was followed by false teachers (judaizers) who argued that Gentiles needed to convert to Jews – with the outward sign of circumcision – and to follow the law of Moses and observe ceremonial rites and rituals in order to be saved.  In another words, Jesus was not enough.  The Judaizers taught Christ AND the law.  The gospel Paul preached was that nothing man can ever do is good enough to earn salvation.  Eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus is a free gift of God.

Our verses today tell the reader that the specific gift of God through Jesus is the reconciliation of the Jews and the Gentiles and this union with each other is accomplished through union of both in Christ.  The word mystery means this is something revealed by God that could never be known through human reason   The Old Testament spoke of God’s blessing in Gentiles through the Jews but now there is revealed a new truth and that is God’s blessing in Gentiles in Christ Jesus  – they are fellow partakers and co-heirs with Christ.

None of the Old Testament prophets, patriarchs or leaders knew when or how the Jews and Gentiles would accomplish this fellowship but divine revelation of the centrality of Christ has been made known by Paul  and this mystery of the gift of grace to the Gentiles has been communicated by God.

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Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  (14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul. The verses we study today present the vital and basic principles of Christian living.  We, as believers in Christ Jesus, are the elect of God chosen before the foundation of the world. Immediately after calling the faithful the elect of God, Paul tells the faithful they are also to be holy or apart from this world – and beloved of God.

Accordingly,  Paul is very specific as to our new eternal lifestyle as we are sanctified in this world. Paul characterizes our new behavior as akin to discarding our old worldly clothes and putting on new “clothes” of tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, and forgiveness of others. And all these godlike new behaviors are motivated by love. We have been transformed by faith; at the moment of faith we are regenerated and made right with God in  our new position in Christ; righteous behavior will match our new righteous position.

Love is not just an emotion but an act of the will. Emotions are never expressed as abstract in Scripture but as a physical feeling. Psychologically, love is translated into a physiological state. Our gratitude and love can know no bounds and “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the  Father through Him.”