Good evening. You will not typically read an article here in the evening hours, but in an effort to be spontaneous I thought I would go ahead and publish something tonight anyways. Consider it a bonus post 🙂
1 Corinthians 7:25-28
The command Paul gives to the unmarried virgins in the Corinthian church is to “remain as you are…Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife” (vv. 26, 27, NIV). This command must be understood within the context (as with any passage). In verse 9, speaking to the unmarried and widows, Paul states, “if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” Paul’s main point in this section of Scripture (7:1-35) seems to carry with it a theme, “God’s commands is what counts…each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to…time is short…this world in its present form is passing away…be free from concern” (vv. 19, 24, 29, 31, 32). In summary, and in my own words, “while you are here in this life and on this earth, focus on God.”
But, what are we to make of this command to the virgins to remain as they are? How are we to apply this? There is no doubt that although this is not an explicit command from the Lord (v. 25), it is sound advice through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s concern at his time of writing, and to us today, is that we are able to focus on the Lord, keep his commands, and live according to how we are each called to live. For some, this means marriage, for others this means remaining a virgin (v. 7). Paul recognized that marriage would cause hardship to the husband and wife (v. 28). Times of trouble, persecution, and other hardship are difficult enough as a single person, but they are much greater when married, and even more so when children come along.
With all of that in mind, as well as the context of our passage (vv. 25-28), I believe it is safe to apply this command, or advice, entirely to our world today (directly transferable). Virgins, remain as you are unless you are burning with passion or believe that you were called to marry (given the gift to marry, v. 7). If you do marry, you are not sinning (v. 28), but will need to be prepared to face hardship (v. 28) and allow the troubles that come along to draw you closer to the Lord.
What are your thoughts on this passage? Do you agree with my conclusion?
Aaron Aiken
Writing about theology, church history, the Bible, and everything in-between.
Aaron Aiken 
I think I just had an epiphany. For the past few days, I have been reading verses on Purity and ironically so I just came across this passage in Scripture and read it in its entirety. I think if I am going by the context of the passage, the verses are speaking in accordance to self-control.
I know the focus on this article is on 1 Corinthians 7:25-28, but if you read from the beginning it’s very clear. It discusses sexual immorality and really presses on the issue of self-control.
1 Corinthians: 5-7:
Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to
refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves
completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that
Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say
this as a concession, not as a command. But I wish everyone were single,
just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or
another.
This particular passage (in context), is saying do not deprive yourselves
of sexual relations, sexual intimacy, when married. It’s almost saying that
you should not deprive one another in sex, but at the same time limit
yourselves to the act of sex unless you feel you are lacking in self-control.
He is saying, at present it’s probably best to remain single so there is no
tempation due in part to the need for sex and lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 8:9:
So I say those who aren’t married to widows – it’s better to stay unmarried,
just as I am. But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead
and marry. It’s better to marry than burst with lust.”
In a world that is consumed by sin and sexual immorality, the command is
to remain single and do not marry until you are able to have self-control
in the area of our life that you need the most self-control (sex). Lack
of self-control leads to temptation and lust and those are two things
as believers we should avoid. I do not think the command is saying never
to marry or to remain a virgin forever, I think it means to remain single
and a virgin until we are able to better control the desires of our flesh.
Scrolling down in scripture at verse 20-24, “Yes, each of you should remain
as you were when God called you. Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you-
but if you get a chance to be free, take it. And remember, if you were a
slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were
free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. God paid a
high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. Each of you, dear
brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.”
In that context, I believe that until we freely submit our bodies and lives to
Christ, becoming a slave to Him and not sin, we are to remain as we are; Pure.
How can this apply to today? Well, it’s no secret, that most people rush to get married and have children and not normally on the basis that God has called them to do both. I am not speaking for everyone, but at least in the location I am in, that seems to be the case.
Self-control is extremely imperative when being a follower of Christ and I think scripture makes it clear how a lack of self-control and sin can be deterimental to our faith and in our relationship with Him.
Until two people are strong in faith, prayer, and are able to control themselves regarding sex, lust, and of temptation, they should remain as they are until the foundation of God’s truth and life are planted into their hearts.
I could be completely off here, but that’s just my thought.