I know, it’s been awhile…..but I’ve had company for the past two weeks…and time was spent being a tourist. But on to Corinth.

Chapter 7 gets in to the discussion of marriage…I could go on and use my own words, however, I have a Bible Handbook from the 50’s that belonged to my parents….Think I’ll quote their remarks as it is much better than mine.

” Evidently they had written asking if it is legitimate for Christians to marry. Strange, they were puffed up over the case of incest, 5:2, and yet had scruples about lawful marriage. Paul advises marriage, except for those who have the ‘gift’ of sexual control. Paul himself was not married,8. Some think that he may have been a widower and lost is wife while yet young: for two reasons: one, he was a member of the Sanhedrin, Acts 26:10, ‘vote’, for which it is said marriage was a necessary prerequisite; the other, this chapter seems to have been written by one who knew something of the intimacies of married life.”

I think the chapter discusses morals and ethics….during this period in Corinth. I also am smart enough to know there have been modifications thru the years concerning marriage, divorce, and everything in between. Having been divorced once myself, it was not the easiest thing for me to do almost 40 years ago…it was the hardest thing for me to do. I wish I could agree with marriages being made in heaven, but I think marriages are made by people.
That’s another discussion for another day.

Paul said to be smart enough to stay married if you were, and stay single if you want to be single……and it’s okay of you change your mind about being single.

I love the discussion of consuming the meat offered up to idols….Paul says we all have eaten ‘idol meat’ at sometimes in our lives and it wasn’t the meat that made us bad. Move on in your beliefs and realize it is not the meat at all, for everything is provided by God. Be knowledgable in helping people thru the walk of realizing Christianity. Help the new believer…..

Chapter 9 talks a little about pay…..as in who does, who doesn’t, when, and why. I know this is a wide area that can be discussed forever, but my feelings are Paul says he took on the charge from Christ because he wanted to, knowing that it would not be a paying experience, and that he probably wouldn’t get rich monetarily off it. And for him, just like similar groups today, it is perfectly fine. By the same token he goes on to say he expects help…as in a place to stay, to sleep, to be safe, to eat, and to preach.

What is his point….help him out, help out the leaders of the new church, but don’t deprive your new followers to fill your pocket.

Just keep your eyes on what is right, why you have become a servant of Christ, and how you must respond to non-religious and religious in a like manner.

thanks for reading and thinking…..always ready for a response.