What does 1 Corinthians 7:28 mean by "those who marry will face troubles"? Text “But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.” — 1 Corinthians 7:28 Immediate Literary Context Chapter 7 answers a Corinthian letter about marriage, celibacy, divorce, and betrothal (7:1, 25, 36). Paul alternates between permanent principles (e.g., marriage is honorable, 7:2; lifelong, 7:10-11) and situational counsel (“because of the present distress,” 7:26). Verse 28 belongs to the latter: pragmatic guidance for a church facing social and eschatological pressures. The Greek Term “Trouble” (thlipsis) • thlipsis = pressure, affliction, tribulation, squeezing. • Used of persecution (John 16:33), famine (Romans 8:35), everyday hardship (Acts 11:19). • Paul does not say marriage is sin but that it inevitably introduces additional pressures into an already pressurized age. Historical-Cultural Background First-century marriages in Corinth involved: 1. Legal obligations (dowry, contracts, Roman patria potestas). 2. Extended family loyalty, often clashing with Christian allegiance (cf. Luke 12:53). 3. Economic instability; famine swept Achaia c. A.D. 51 (Tacitus, Annals 12.43). 4. Growing persecution: Claudius’ edicts (Acts 18:2) and localized hostility (1 Corinthians 4:12-13). Against that backdrop, to add spouse, potential pregnancy, and in-laws meant multiplied vulnerability. Paul’s pastoral heart aims to spare believers unnecessary weight (7:32-35). Theological Framework: Marriage Good yet Fallen Genesis 2:18-24 affirms marriage as God-ordained. Ephesians 5:22-33 calls it a living parable of Christ and the church. Trouble is not inherent evil in marriage; it arises from: • The Fall (Genesis 3:16-19) introducing pain, thorns, and relational strife. • Satanic assault on households (1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:17). • Worldly hostility to godly priorities (2 Timothy 3:12). Scripture therefore holds two truths in tension: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing” (Proverbs 18:22), yet “the time is short” (1 Corinthians 7:29). Specific Categories of Marital Troubles 1. Economic Pressures — Provision for spouse/children (1 Timothy 5:8). 2. Emotional Complexity — “Divided interests” between pleasing the Lord and pleasing a spouse (7:33-34). 3. Parenthood Risks — Childbearing during famine, persecution (Matthew 24:19). 4. Spiritual Warfare — Marriage targeted as a covenant image-bearer (Ephesians 6:12). 5. Potential Unequal Yoking — If betrothed converts and fiancé(e) remains pagan (7:12-16). 6. Bereavement and Loss — Wives widowed by martyrdom or military conscription. Eschatological Perspective: “The Present Crisis” (7:26) Paul’s horizon includes: • Imminence of Christ’s return (7:29-31). • Intensifying persecution predicted by Jesus (Mark 13:9-13). • The principle of living “as though not engrossed” in transient structures. Thus, singleness grants agility for mission; marriage brings holy obligations that may hinder flight or mobility when crisis strikes (cf. Matthew 24:17-19). Pastoral Balance with Other Scriptures • Far from asceticism: Paul commands marital intimacy (7:3-5) and uplifts creation gifts (1 Timothy 4:3-4). • Husbands must love sacrificially (Ephesians 5:25); wives gladly respect (Ephesians 5:33). • Widows under sixty encouraged to remarry (1 Timothy 5:14). • Therefore verse 28 is time-conditioned counsel, not a universal ban. Common Misinterpretations Corrected Myth 1: Paul devalues marriage. Answer: He calls it non-sinful, good, and protected by conjugal duty (7:2-5). Myth 2: Only persecution qualifies as “trouble.” Answer: thlipsis encompasses every form of pressure—economic, emotional, social. Myth 3: Singles escape all trouble. Answer: Singles face trials too (7:32), yet fewer entanglements. Observational and Behavioral Corroboration Modern longitudinal studies (e.g., National Marriage Project) confirm that while marriage provides profound joy, it multiplies decision complexity, financial demands, and conflict risk—statistical echoes of Paul’s ancient realism. Clinical data on caregiver stress similarly display heightened thlipsis when spouses confront persecution-level illness or disability. Scripture anticipated such psychosocial dynamics. Archaeological and Historical Illustrations • Ostraca from Oxyrhynchus reveal petitions for grain during shortages impacting large families. • Catacomb inscriptions show entire Christian households martyred, underlining why Paul might prefer mobility for the unmarried. Practical Implications for Today 1. Enter marriage with sober joy, counting the cost (Luke 14:28). 2. Singles: leverage freedom for kingdom service (1 Corinthians 7:35). 3. Married: brace for thlipsis; cultivate prayer, mutual submission, and gospel hope. 4. Churches: support families materially and spiritually, easing foreseeable troubles (Galatians 6:2). Systematic Harmony God’s Word never contradicts itself. 1 Corinthians 7:28 harmonizes with: • Creation mandate to “be fruitful” (Genesis 1:28). • The wisdom that “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). • Jesus’ affirmation of lifelong matrimony (Matthew 19:4-6). Paul’s nuance lies in mission-urgency, not moral downgrade. Conclusion “Those who marry will face troubles” means that in a fallen, hostile, and time-compressed world, marriage, though blessed, introduces additional, unavoidable pressures. Paul lovingly warns believers so they make Spirit-led decisions—neither idolizing marriage nor fearing it, but in every state glorifying God and fixing hope on the risen Christ “who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). |
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