"Because of the present crisis..."

[AcousticJS]

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone has any insight on what this phrase means in 1 Corinthians 7:26 - Paul is saying that he thinks unmarried people should remain unmarried "because of the present crisis". Was this indicating the period of persecution the church was undergoing, or maybe the entire time between the two advents, or some other interpretation? Is it still valid advice today, in all times and all circumstances (since Paul makes it clear that it is his advice, not a word from the Lord)?

God bless
Jon

[semmie]

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone has any insight on what this phrase means in 1 Corinthians 7:26 - Paul is saying that he thinks unmarried people should remain unmarried "because of the present crisis". Was this indicating the period of persecution the church was undergoing, or maybe the entire time between the two advents, or some other interpretation? Is it still valid advice today, in all times and all circumstances (since Paul makes it clear that it is his advice, not a word from the Lord)?

God bless
Jon
hi jon,

matthew henry seemed to think that this was referring to persecution of the church.
This is good, says he, for the present distress. Christians, at the first planting of their religion, were grievously persecuted. Their enemies were very bitter against them, and treated them very cruelly. They were continually liable to be tossed and hurried by persecution. This being the then state of things, he did not think it so advisable for Christians that were single to change conditions. The married state would bring more care and cumber along with it (v. 33, 34), and would therefore make persecution more terrible, and render them less able to bear it. Note, Christians, in regulating their conduct, should not barely consider what is lawful in itself, but what may be expedient for them.

and yes, i think it is definitely still applicable today.

be blessed,
~sarah

[Amazing Rando]

hi jon,

matthew henry seemed to think that this was referring to persecution of the church.


I don't think the "crisis" was nessesarily the persecution of the church. 1 Cor was written around AD 55 or so, a few years before Nero came to power. Though it's always possible they were being persecuted from some source that wasn't the Roman authorities.

[AcousticJS]

I don't think the "crisis" was nessesarily the persecution of the church. 1 Cor was written around AD 55 or so, a few years before Nero came to power. Though it's always possible they were being persecuted from some source that wasn't the Roman authorities.

Thanks Rando. The reason I ask is because I'm sure I remember seeing a book advertised that put forward the idea that Paul was referring to a famine or something like that. I was just wondering if anyone more scholarly than myself (which is probably most people here) had come across this view before.

As far as whether it is applicable today, obviously this passage of Scripture says something to us, but I was just wondering if Paul was setting forward a new universally applicable principle of "It's better to be unmarried than it is to be married." Or was he limiting his advice to the Corinthian situation? We certainly don't seem to see any hints of Paul's preference for celibacy in his other epistles, or are there bits I'm missing? And if there is other stuff in Paul's epistles, what does that mean for all the Old Testament bits that seem put marriage forward as a very positive thing?

God bless
Jon

[Amazing Rando]

Thanks Rando. The reason I ask is because I'm sure I remember seeing a book advertised that put forward the idea that Paul was referring to a famine or something like that. I was just wondering if anyone more scholarly than myself (which is probably most people here) had come across this view before.

As far as whether it is applicable today, obviously this passage of Scripture says something to us, but I was just wondering if Paul was setting forward a new universally applicable principle of "It's better to be unmarried than it is to be married." Or was he limiting his advice to the Corinthian situation? We certainly don't seem to see any hints of Paul's preference for celibacy in his other epistles, or are there bits I'm missing? And if there is other stuff in Paul's epistles, what does that mean for all the Old Testament bits that seem put marriage forward as a very positive thing?

God bless
Jon

I can't really say Jon! :smile: though it does seem to me that Paul's personal preference was that they remain unmarried, as he was (1 Cor 7:7). Keep in mind though, that he is also very affirming of marriage in other places.

[InChristAlways]

Hi all Just wondering if anyone has any insight on what this phrase means in 1 Corinthians 7:26 - Paul is saying that he thinks unmarried people should remain unmarried "because of the present crisis". Was this indicating the period of persecution the church was undergoing, or maybe the entire time between the two advents, or some other interpretation? Is it still valid advice today, in all times and all circumstances (since Paul makes it clear that it is his advice, not a word from the Lord)?


God bless Jon I don't think the "crisis" was nessesarily the persecution of the church. 1 Cor was written around AD 55 or so, a few years before Nero came to power. Though it's always possible they were being persecuted from some source that wasn't the Roman authorities.Paul and Christ's enemies at that time were more from the jewish rulers in Jerusalem/Judea. He might have said that before the jewish revolts/rebellions started. Josephus is the only witness we have of the jewish wars in the first century and I believe can shed some light on what was happening after Paul was martyred.


I would recommmend christians read the account and see if it might clear up some of the things said in Paul's epistles(link below), including studies on what the conditions and beliefs were of the ones Paul was preaching to in each of the churches. Apostate jews were everywhere Paul taught and were his enemies as much as the romans were.


Hope this helps. Jews were everywhere where Pual God bless.

1 thess 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they [did] from the Judeans/jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up [the measure of] their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

luke 21:21 "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.

http://www.davieapostolicchurch.com/studies/destuct/

From the conquest of their country by Pompey, about sixty years B. C. the Jews had, on several occasions, manifested a refractory spirit ; but after Judas the Gaulonite and Sadduc the Pharisee had taught them, that submission to the Roman assessments would pave the way to a state of abject slavery, this temper displayed itself with increasing malignity and violence. Rebellious tumults and insurrections became fame and more frequent and alarming ; and to these the mercenary exactions of Florus, the Roman governor, not a little contributed. At length Eleazer, son of the High Priest, persuaded those who officiated in the temple to reject the sacrifices of foreigners, and no longer to offer up prayers for them.Thus an insult was thrown upon Caesar, his sacrifice rejected, and the foundation of the Roman war laid. The disturbances among the Jews still continuing, Cestius Gallus, president of Syria, marched an army into Judea, in order to quell them, and his career was every where marked with blood and desolation.
Vespasian, after proceeding as far as Jericho, returned to Caesarea, in order to make preparation for his grand attempt against Jerusalem. While he was thus employed, he received intelligence of the death of Nero ; whereupon, not knowing what the will of the future emperor might be, he prudently resolved to suspend, for the present, the execution of his design. Thus the Almighty gave the Jews a second respite, which continued nearly two years ; but they repented not of their crimes, neither were they in the least degree reclaimed, but rather proceeded to acts of still greater enormity. The flame of civil dissension again burst out and, with more dreadful fury. In the heart of Jerusalem two factions, contended for the sovereignty, raged a against each other with rancorous and destructive animosity.