Category: Devotions

It is interesting that the Israelites made for themselves a golden calf to worship while Moses was away from them in the Mount communing with living and true God. The people saw the lightning and thundering and the awesome presence of their God. And yet, they made a god to themselves. How is that possible?

This is the subtlety of deception, delusion and unbelief. Believers in Corinth know that the idol is a false god, not real and there is One living and true God as Scripture declares:

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.

If anyone loves God, He as the omniscient God, knows it. We cannot read the motions of love in a man’s heart but not God. He knows man’s heart through and through. He grants the heart of man His love and his devotion toward Him is duly acknowledged by Him.

1 Corinthians 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. “He who thinks he knows it all has a lot of learn” [Zodhiates] is a good paraphrase of …

1 Corinthians 8:2, He Knoweth Nothing Yet as He Ought to Know Read more »

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. The Apostle Paul now appeals to the Corinthian Christians to consider certain specific habits in their lives …

1 Corinthians 8:1, Things Offered to Idols Read more »

William MacDonald observed, “Paul’s frank judgment is that a widow is happier if she remains unmarried. This does not contradict 1 Timothy 5:14 where Paul expresses his judgment that younger widows should marry. Here he is stating his general idea—in 1 Timothy a specific exception. Then he adds, “I think I also have the Spirit of God.”

The marriage covenant is binding and effectual as long as the husband and wife is alive. This is reflected in the sacred oath made by the couple on the day of their marriage.

A comparison is made between the unmarried who decides to marry and the one who decides not to marry for the sake of devoting undistracted attention to the service of the Lord. The Apostle Paul says that this second person is doing better for the devotion given to serve the Lord.

MacArthur observed well, “As with the single themselves (v. 28), the choice is not between right and wrong but between good (well) and better.”

A man may choose to remain single and not marry. He is steadfast in his conviction to remain single and has the strength in his heart to live the life of single hood, “that he will keep his virgin”, is commended. This commendation is given, reading our context, for his willingness to be in the service of the Lord undistracted by the familial duties of life.

William MacDonald observed well, “The common explanation is this: In Paul’s day a man exercised rigid control over his home. It was up to him whether his daughters married or not. They could not do so without his permission. Thus these verses are taken to mean that if a man refuses to allow his daughters to marry, that is a good thing, but if he allows them to marry, then he is not sinning. Such an interpretation seems almost meaningless as far as instruction for the people of God in this day is concerned. The interpretation does not fit in with the context of the rest of the chapter, and seems hopelessly confusing.”

Celibacy is good. Profitable for those who are called to remain single that they may devote their lives to the service of the Lord without distraction. For such who consecrate their lives in single hood for the Lord’s sake finds life most rewarding. The Apostle Paul is not saying trying to influence the Corinthian Christians to celibacy. It is a choice that they, individually, have to make. He is simply showing them what each choice entails.