Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
I don’t know much about it but this is what I think. I put little stock in any opinion that follows such a statement. A critic of the Bible could argue that Paul did that very thing in verse 25. He said he did not have a command from the Lord but told the church what he thought. Here is why it was different when Paul did it. He was given authority as an apostle so his judgment was trustworthy because the authority was given to him through the mercy of the Lord. Just like a few verses before, he did not merely give his opinion that they could take or leave but was carried along by the Spirit when he wrote it. His opinion was that the betrothed, which means engaged people, if they could not control themselves, should marry. Again, Paul preferred that they stay the way they are.
Come to Cape Community Church tomorrow as we seek to understand these commands and this counsel. We will see that Paul had an eye toward making disciples and seeing the church grow. Come and see how we can do that in 2023.
Dear Lord, thank you for the word. Help us to understand it better so we know you better. Then we can proclaim you better to the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church