Oh, so you are saying that Paul gave a special group of people instructions that only apply to them and not to us in our day today.Originally posted by post-it:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DHK:
Consider history. The church was undergoing an intense persecution. It was during this persecution that this letter was written. He advises these young women and widows to keep themselves from marriage lest they be swallowed up in grief shortly after their marriage because of the persecution. It would be very probable that their new found husband would become a martyr to the faith.
When I use this defense using homosexauls earlier with Romans 1, I was hit with "God doesn't change", while he may have been talking about a certain group of people, it even applies today; and what God said at one time, he meant for all time.
Sorry, but you can't have it both ways unless you are willing to allow my argument back in the post that Romans 1 list of wrong behavior was just for the Idol worshippers that God gave over to their own lust and would not apply to Christian homosexuals.</font>[/QUOTE]I am saying that everything in the Bible has to be looked at in its proper context. Why do you persist in taking this one verse out of context when verse two shows so plainly that it is God's will for most to marry. Paul does not go contrary to what he has taught in the rest of Scripture. Neither does he go contrary to what Jesus taught:
Mt 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Context is everything. What is the will of God? "And Judas went out and hanged himself...go and do thou likewise...whatsoever thou doest, do quickly." You can string verses together and try to justify your position, but it won't work. Context is important. The historical context underlying the verses that I posted from chapter 7 of 1Corinthians was the persecution that was taking place at that time. You can deny if you want, but this is what verse 26 refers to.
1Co 7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
There is one interpretation. But there are many applications. We look for principles that the Bible teaches. It is a timeless Book that is not confined to one era. So, taken in their context, could it be that Paul would be teaching in today's context that:
1. Men about to go off to war should avoid getting married until they come back.
2. Many women (as well as men) are called to a lifetime of missionary service as single women or men. They are not encumbered with the cares of this world in this way.
3. The time is short. Jesus is coming soon. If your a young person interested in fulfilling the Great Commission, perhaps you can do it better single than married. "Present your body a living sacrifice holy, acceptable unto God, which is your only reasonable service" (Rom.12:1).
Look first for the interpretation; then for the application. In Romans, both interpretation and application teaches that homosexuality is wrong.
DHK