teaching notes : 1 cor. 7:25

7:25 - 7:38 virgins may marry, though paul prefers remaining single

7:25 - 7:28 virgins may marry, though paul prefers remaining single

this present distress (v26) / you shall have tribulation in the flesh (v28)

famine
there is evidence of a famine in 51 ad; there may have been lasting concerns or effects. (view put forth by winter)
persecution
luther held this view...
the final tribulation
a number of scholars have posited that paul was speaking of the trouble associated with the end times...

7:29 - 7:31 the time has been shortened

referring to the present trouble

encouragement to make it through the present distress.

apocalyptic imminence

the time until the end...shortened could indicate that since christ has come, we now live under the immenince of his coming.

either way, his point is to hold the perspective that this world 'is passing away'; this is intended as encouragemet...

7:32 - 7:35 the unmarried is concerned about the things of the lord

THIS IS VERY HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND
1. i want you to be free from concern.
2. married people have more concerns
3. i want you to be able to give 'notable and contstant' service to the lord
IS THIS ALWAYS SO OR JUST IN LIGHT OF THE 'DISTRSS'?

7:36 - 7:38 virgins may be married

Note : 'virgin' may be daughter, may be betrothed. not too much diff. either way.
1. marriage is ok (v.38)
2. not marrying is better (v.38)

7:39 - 7:40 widows may marry, but paul recommends remaining single

1. death ends marriage
2. remarriage allowed (to a christian)
3. paul recommends remaining single (in most circumstances; in 1 tim. 5:14 he instructs younger widows(women) to marry...)

1. we should concern ourselves with pleasing the lord

a. the single christian should be focused on 'how he may please the lord' (v.32)
b. the married christian should be focused on how he may please his spouse and the lord (v.33,34)
(note that pleasing one's spouse is a form of pleasing the lord (it's commanded))
c. pleasing ourselves is not the focus, either way

the attitude here is that of a servant who's concern is to please his master through his obedience.
two areas to worry about :
intentional : intentionally attempting to please ourselves
unintentional : forgetting to make our focus pleasing the lord (REQUIRES CONSTANT EFFORT)

(this is how we avoid the unintentional lack of focus)
2. we should live with a mind to the imminence of christ's coming

1. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none - focused on christ 2. those with tears like those not weeping - comforted by perspective 3. those who rejoice like those not rejoicing - sobered by perspective 4. those who buy like those without possessions - no foolish wordliness 5. those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full - proper goals...