I don’t think Paul was being intentionally funny but the last verse of the reading from 1 Corinthians today sounds a little like a gag from a standup routine. “For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion” (1 Corinthians 7:9). There’s on old Henny Youngman bit that goes, “A fellow asked me, ‘Who was that lady I saw you last night?’ I said, ‘That was no lady, that was my wife.’” Paul’s joke is just as good. But did Paul really think marriage would cure passion?
Ah, but that’s not the point, is it? And that is why context is so important in Bible study. One verse may sound like a joke, but when seen in the broader picture its tone changes and the real meaning becomes more readily apparent. In fact, one of the strategies for understanding scripture is to use the general to explain the particular, the whole to help make the individual pieces clearer.
Paul is not talking about the effect of marriage on the relationship of two people. He’s talking about the propriety of human relationships in light of the reign of God and the imminent return of Jesus. If we take the one verse we might not see Paul’s intent. When in doubt, look around.
Prayer: Lord, help us to understand your word for our lives and to live accordingly. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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