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"Trouble in the flesh..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 7:28

CHOOSING MARRIAGE

What if a person is unable to take up Paul’s advice to be as he was? Paul’s response was gracious.

“But even if you do marry, you have not sinned;
and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.
Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh,
but I would spare you.”
1 Corinthians 7:28

1. Paul was not promoting celibacy

a) Celibacy is a choice.

b) It is also a special calling for the individual.

2. “But even if you do marry, you have not sinned”

a) This applies to the men who are single.

b) This also applies to those who may be thinking of re-marriage (after having been widowed).

c) Being married is not sinful.

3. Why was this even stated?

a) There were some who thought that celibacy was the “best” option.

b) And that the married state was a lesser alternative, or even “sinful”.

c) This would have been a wrong understanding of what Paul taught.

d) Hence there was this need to state things very clearly.

4. “And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned”

a) Paul was very careful to make sure that his statements covered both male and female readers.

b) Throughout this whole chapter, he wrote with both parties in mind.

c) The virgin may seek marriage indeed.

d) This is not a sinful option at all.

5. “Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh”

a) This comment was probably made through careful observations in life.

i) Observations of those who are married.

ii) Observations of those who remained single (e.g. of his own personal life).

b) What are some of these “troubles?”

i) Conflict in the family.

ii) Incumbent responsibilities.

iii) Special circumstances that may arise out of the married state.