Paul
the apostle told the church members in Corinth how, “he
that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he
may please his wife”,
and in chapter seven and verse thirty-four
of First Corinthians, Paul told
the church members, “there is
difference also between a wife and a virgin”
where we read:
There
is difference also
between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things
of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she
that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please
her
husband.
The verse begins,
“There
is difference also
between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things
of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit:”
Paul began
with the words, “There is difference
also between” which
is all one Greek word “merizō”
and means “there exists a faction, divide and impart between” “a
wife”
which refers to “a married woman” “and
a virgin” or
“a marriageable maiden or a woman who has never had sexual
intercourse with a man”. “The
unmarried woman”
which means “an unwedded or single female” “cares
for” or
“is anxious for, troubled with and taking thought of” “the
things”
which means “the articles supplied” “of
the Lord”
which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which
he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the
Messiah”, “that she may be holy”
or “so the unmarried woman may be pure, morally blameless and
religiously and ceremonially consecrated” “both
in body”
which means “also and indeed within her physical body” “and
in spirit” or
“in the vital principal by which the body is animated ”. The
difference between a “married”
woman and a “virgin”
or “single” woman is that the “virgin
or single” woman is able to dedicate herself both in “body
and spirit”
to the Lord Jesus.
The
verse goes on to say, “but
she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may
please her
husband.” Paul
continued with the word, “but”
which is a
disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written
takes precedence over what was just stated “she
that is married” or
“the woman who marries” “cares
for” which
means “is anxious about, troubled with and taking thought of”
“the things”
or “the articles supplied” “of
the world”
which refers to “the circle of the earth and it's aggregate goods,
endowments, riches, advantages and pleasure”, “how”
or “in what way” “she may please”
which means “the married woman can accommodate to the opinions,
desires and interest of” “her
husband”
or “the married woman's married man”. The “married”
woman dedicates herself to satisfy the wants and desires of “her
husband”.
When
we think through these words from Paul, we see the advantage as far
as the “Kingdom of God” is concerned for the “single” woman.
Women who are “married” occupy themselves with “pleasing”
or “satisfying” their “husbands” whereas “single”
women do not have that concern. Paul isn't saying that one status is
“better” than the other overall, but rather is simply
demonstrating the focus or time element that is available to each one
for the “gospel” of Jesus Christ. Let us keep in mind how
Paul attributes value to both “married” and “unmarried”
women, and in either state, let all who read know the importance of
the “eternal things” versus the “things of this world”.
Next
time Paul shared how he “spoke” this to the church members, “for
your own profit”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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