1 Corinthians 7:36-40 -To marry or not to marry?

Aware that there would always be those who would take what he had written to extreme conclusion, Paul wrote these verses to address that situation. In the original language “to past her youth” refers to a lady who is physically matured in her life and at the summit of her child-bearing years.

 

Paul here was either writing to address a male who was engaged to his fiancée or a father of a single girl. Whatever the case, Paul said that when a lady is of marriageable age she should not be prevented from tying the knot. Whether Paul was referring to a father and daughter, or a man and his fiancée, he argued that the man could continue to keep the daughter or fiancée in her singlehood if she had not past her youth.

 

Either situation must be viewed with the crisis they were facing in mind. What was Paul really saying? Don’t be in a hurry to get married, nonetheless, don’t be guilt-ridden should a marriage becomes necessary in the midst of the crisis.  

 

In the last two verses (39 & 40), Paul turned to address the issue of a widow remarrying. His point is that death terminates a marital bond when one’s spouse has died. The surviving spouse has the liberty to remarry. But if she chooses to remarry, she must make sure that it is to a fellow believer in the Lord. 

 

Following the trend of Paul’s thought in this chapter, one could possibly conclude that he vacillates. At one moment he seemed to highly appraise singlehood then at another, he would encourage marriage. Just bear in mind that Paul refused to be bound by the culture of his day. He also refused to let them color his views on either singleness or marriage. His key consideration was governed by his view of one’s relationship with God through Christ. Paul had scant concern for one’s marital or social status.    

Thinking through all that Paul had said, what should be our view about singlehood or being married today? It’s time to see as Paul had proposed. Let not the singles think that being married is everything, and let not the married envy the singles for their liberty. Staying single or being married should not be the prime consideration. The important issue is one’s relationship and walk with the Lord. Whether single or married, the pertinent question is, “Am I giving my wholehearted and undivided service and devotion to God?”