Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
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 …
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.
Here is highlighted the difference between the married and the single woman. The unmarried woman is able to better devote her time to the service of the Lord whereas the married woman has to tend to the needs of her husband. William MacDonald observed well, “The expression “that she may be holy both in body and in spirit” does not mean that the unmarried state is more holy, but simply that she can be more set apart in both body and spirit to the work of the Lord. She is not essentially purer, but her time is freer.”
The unmarried Christian may give his or her undivided attention to the things of God whereas the married has to consider the the spouse’s needs and adjust accordingly. Caring for the things of the world is a phrase alluding to the fact that the spouse’s needs are to be taken into consideration which may compromise the priority of the gospel.
“Without carefulness” means “to be free from care or anxiety”, to be torn between two conflicting responsibility. The unmarried Christian, without the commitment of time in caring for spouse and children, can better devote time to serve the Lord “undistracted”. This is not to say that the married person cannot care for the things of God. Rather, the family’s needs requires the commitment of time and resources that the unmarried person can give better over the married person. This does not mean that the unmarried Christian necessarily would make such a sacrifice toward the service of the Lord.