1 Corinthians: A 9-Day Devotional For WomenSample

The Present Form of This World Is Passing Away

1 Corinthians 7:25–40

In this passage, Paul gives practical advice to unmarried and widowed Christians. His advice has sometimes been misunderstood. Paul writes “in view of the present distress” (1 Cor. 7:26). This is another way of referring to the “last days.” John, as he writes toward the end of the first century, says, “It is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). What are the last days? They are the times between the first coming of Christ and his second coming. 

Some say that when Paul writes, “The appointed time has grown very short” (1 Cor. 7:29), he thinks Christ will return within the Corinthians’ lifetimes. This is mistaken, however, because the apostle also urges readers to take care of many kinds of daily affairs that would be unnecessary if Christ were definitely coming soon. Rather, Paul wants his readers to live in light of Christ’s return, which will occur at a time we do not know. Because Christ has died and risen, “the present form of this world is passing away” (v. 31), and believers should live accordingly. We must fulfill earthly responsibilities while we “seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). 

This includes matters pertaining to marriage, Paul’s main topic in this passage. This teaching too has been misunderstood. He does not speak against marriage or sexual relations within it. On the contrary, he warns marriage partners not to “deprive one another” of the pleasures of sexual union, except for a limited time for prayer, lest Satan tempt them (1 Cor. 7:5). Although he happily remains unmarried because this frees him to serve the Lord, he teaches that both marriage and singleness are gifts from God. 

In light of the urgency of living in the last times, Paul acknowledges that remaining single allows “undivided devotion to the Lord” (v. 35). Married couples, on the other hand, must consider pleasing their partners as well as being concerned about the things of the Lord. Paul counsels couples with burning passions to marry and counsels those without such passions not to marry. This is a point of Christian freedom. We are free to marry or not. The apostle chooses the latter option and recommends it but does not impose it on others. Church leaders must warmly present singleness as a real and meaningful option for Christians; believers must be urged to consider singleness as a valid way of devoting themselves wholeheartedly to the Lord and his service. 

Above all, remember that marriage is about the gospel. Christ our bridegroom has come, and he will come again to reclaim his bride—which includes both single and married believers. This is the true significance of marriage, as we live in a world whose present form is passing away. —Robert A. Peterson