Identifying Strongholds

INTRO

First Corinthians 7 is a chapter I’ve heard multiple sermons and teachings on. It’s a chapter you hear discussed at marriage retreats and pre-marriage counseling. Before we start digging in, I want to set up two things to help us understand the Scriptures—the context of the chapter and Paul’s apostolic viewpoint. As we read through the chapter, we first need to understand some context. Then, once we have the context, I want to look through it with a different lens—an apostolic lens.

Context: Paul first visited Corinth in A.D. 51 (Acts 18). The Lord spoke to Paul to boldly do ministry in Corinth. He was there for a year and a half—Paul was invested. God gave Paul the city of Corinth to steward. The culture in Corinth was idolatrous and hedonistic. This chapter talks a lot about marriage. MacArthur helps depict this culture: There were four scenarios of ‘marriage’ in the Roman culture of the time. From slaves being allowed to live together, to what we would call common law marriage, marriage by sale from the father, and then a nice, regular marriage.¹ There was most likely a lot of confusion about how believers in Corinth should navigate their new faith in their current culture. Thus, Paul had to navigate it too. Paul wrote this letter in A.D. 57—five years later. Paul was addressing questions they had.

Apostolic Viewpoint: Paul was an apostle writing to the new believers or saints (1 Corinthians 1:1–2). The word apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos, meaning “one who is sent out.” This was originally a secular term used by Romans to describe someone who was sent out to acculturate newly acquired land. The roles of the apostles can be found in Ephesians 4:11–13. These verses line up with what the Lord spoke to Paul in Acts 18. Paul’s role as an apostle was to equip the saints.

Chapter seven can be broken into three sections or audiences: the marrieds (vv. 1–11), the unequally yoked (vv. 12–24), and the singles (vv. 25–40.

TEACHING

1 Corinthians 7:1: This first verse implies the Corinthians wrote a letter to Paul. Paul was writing this letter, in part, as a response to their letter. Celibacy was becoming a polarizing topic in the new church culture because people viewed celibacy as a higher form of spirituality. Remember the four types of marriages? These believers wanted to get it right, so they came up with rules. One of these rules was to hold celibacy in marriage, in high regard.

The Corinthians were asking: What is right? Am I supposed to get married? Should I just remain celibate? Paul’s answer was basically, “Relax, it is okay to be celibate, and it’s okay to get married and have a sexual relationship with your spouse.”

1 Corinthians 7:2: Temptation can lead to sin. Paul was trying to take the culture of heaven and tie it to the culture of Corinth. Paul pointed out there were temptations all over Corinth, like prostitution and adultery. He encouraged the Corinthians to have a godly marriage—no more concubines, no more affairs, no more flirting. We are to find a spouse and stick with them, and them alone. Paul knew that in the kingdom of God you find a mate and stick with them or you stay single. Paul was trying to establish a foundation.

1 Corinthians 7:3: This verse is how Paul poured into marriages in this context. The conjugal rights represent the most intimate connection. There should be 100 percent openness in a marriage. That means what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine. There is nothing to hide and everything to share. Think of our covenant relationship with Jesus. He doesn’t hold back His love. He wants to give us more. In a marriage, there should be exclusive sexual intimacy.

There are many reasons one would withhold conjugal rights: control, manipulation, fear, shame. Do any of those things sounds like they are from God? No. In our pre-marriage counseling, our pastor shared, “Before you get married, Satan will do anything he can to get you to have sex. After you get married, Satan will do anything he can to keep you from having sex.” Don’t give the enemy any foothold in your marriage. Paul identified the biggest stronghold the enemy could use to keep from advancing the greater move of God. The sexual strongholds in Corinth were huge.

1 Corinthians 7:4: This verse is not a license for control– physical or emotional. It is a mutual agreement to honor and respect one another.

1 Corinthians 7:5: This speaks to that stronghold again. When we no longer have that 100 percent openness in our marriages, the enemy has a little bit of a crack to wedge himself in. If you must deprive each other, fill that time with prayer and fasting, then come together again—as quick as possible, thus protecting yourself from unnecessary temptation. In the context of a safe and healthy marriage, if you get to the point where you are withholding or depriving your spouse of sexual intimacy, the sin has already taken place. Anger, disappointment, and frustration must be reconciled.

1 Corinthians 7:6–9: Paul acknowledged everyone’s uniqueness, but wished everyone were single. It is okay to be single, like Paul. But if you don’t think you are called to be single and you could fall into temptation, pursue marriage. Don’t go on a spouse hunt, just prepare yourself to be married. Paul is not addressing things like sexual addiction. Get help if you need it.

1 Corinthians 7:12–14: What God joins together, let no man separate. We all know couples where one spouse is a believer and the other a nonbeliever (unequally yoked). Paul encouraged the believers in those marriages to stay married, sharing their faith and the love of God. Couples unequally yoked can have great or often hard marriages. Either way, encourage those couples you know. Pray for them and include their spouse in your activities.

1 Corinthians 7:25–40: Verse 26 refers to the call to be single. If you are called to be single, embrace it. Remain who you are and embrace who the Lord has created you to be. If you are single, devote your attention to the Lord. Marriage can hinder or distract from ministry. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn into bitterness about being single.

CLOSING

Most people are called to be married. Just know when you are married your attention is going to be divided. Ministry can be tough for those married, but God will get you through that. It can be hard to balance. When you look though the apostolic lens of Paul at these verses, where Paul tries to bring the culture of heaven into the culture of earth, they are more than just good tips for marriage. They are tips for building on the foundation for the body. In the context of the Corinthian church, strong marriages build fortresses against the strongholds of idolatry and sexual immorality. As you study Scripture, try to understand the lens of the author. Paul was able to identify the strongholds and encourage new believers.