By John A. Huffman, Jr.
Paul felt that the circumstances under which the new converts would be living justified his flashing the yellow light. What he wrote was never intended to make Christians as preservers of the status quo. It was very wise advice to the Corinthian Christians, considering the circumstances that they faced. He's urging them to ride loose in the saddle. He is sensitive to the circumstances of their day, to see the situation for what it is, realizing that it could change. Even in this crisis environment, there is not just one way of doing what is right, although his advice would be to remain single, work harder for the Lord, anticipating His return and to minimize complex commitments in an environment of increasing persecution and change. If you still really want to get married and it's that important to you, go ahead.
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In fact, it's refreshing to see this person, who so often is accused of being ultra-doctrinaire as he is led by the Holy Spirit, put a disclaimer to some of this teaching. He says, in verse 25, ". . .I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy." Again, in verse 40, he says, "But in my judgment. . . And I think that I too have the Spirit of God." Later on, when things have calmed down somewhat and it is apparent that the Lord is not coming as soon as Paul had earlier thought, he writes that magnificent letter to the church at Ephesus in which he encourages marriage and a depth of bonding and long-term relationship.
So what is being said here? God does not change. The times do. Although there are commands of His Word that are changeless, the application of those eternal truths must be within the environment of life lived in changing circumstances. Although there are some aspects of the faith that are changeless, once delivered to the saints and of essential value, there are other teachings that must be seen in the light of specific circumstances. This does not mean that everything is up for grabs. There are some teachings of Scripture that are final. That's why the Bible is the best commentary on itself. You dare not just pick a text out of context and run with it as a life mantra. Look to see what the rest of the Scripture says.
For example, the entirety of biblical teaching distinguishes clearly between what the Levitical code teaches on not eating shell fish and what the totality of Scripture has to say in upholding the Levitical teachings on sexual purity. The eating of lobster from the Red Sea or the Mediterranean Sea transported three days by camel without benefit of refrigeration would existentially be an abomination to an ancient Jew but not a major issue for Christians in Corinth with seafood caught fresh that morning. However, the Levitical code said that sex outside of a marriage between a man and a woman is an abomination, because of the toxic implications of that in terms of human joy and healthful, relational fulfillment. The totality of biblical teaching is that that is an abomination.
