在你想駁斥保羅明顯輕視婚姻的言論之前，請先聽我的勸告。首先，請讀九章五節：「難道我們沒有權柄娶信主的姊妹為妻，帶著一同往來，彷彿其餘的使徒，和主的弟兄，並磯法（彼得）一樣嗎？」保羅在此說明且主張自己和其他的使徒都有權利帶著妻子一同出外宣教。我們不能確定保羅是否真的這麼做過，但至少有一些線索讓我們相信，保羅結過婚。

        其次，請看鑰節（29和31節）。保羅真的相信末日近了。耶穌很快要再來，信徒的生活應該儘可能的單純──保羅說：「我願你們無所掛慮」。婚姻使人掛慮世上的事，而單身較能專注於「主的事」。保羅希望有更多的信徒「得以殷勤服事主，沒有分心的事」（35節）。所以，他在第七章的話其實是著眼於主再來的急迫性，而不是真的貶低婚姻。

        神學家稱基督快再來的盼望是「迫切、臨近」的教義──意思是說，主可能今天就會再來，所以，要預備好，期待主的日子，並在這樣的盼望中過合宜的生活。如此，你的價值觀一定會改變。你的眼光會從今生的掛慮提昇到天國即將破曉的天際。

        主耶穌，當我們讀了哥林多前書七章三節，我們求您幫助我們更愛我們的配偶。保守我們忠於您，也忠於我們的配偶。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        I’d like to caution you before reacting to Paul’s apparently low view of marriage in this chapter. First of all, read 9:5, “Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas (Peter)?” Apparently, as he delineated the rights of apostles, Paul felt the need to defend his and the others’ right to take a wife along on missionary travels. Whether or not Paul actually did so remains unestablished. But there is, at least, room to believe that he was married.

        Secondly, look at those key verses (29 & 31). Paul had a very real expectation that the end was near. Jesus was coming back soon, and lie for the believer should be as uncomplicated as possible – “I would like you to be free from concern”, he says. Marriage brought concern about this world’s affairs, whereas singleness brought the potential for single-mindedness in the “Lord’s affairs”. (vv.32, 34). He wanted as many believers as possible to “live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (v.35). So it wasn’t so much a low view of marriage that fueled Paul’s words in chapter 7, but an urgent view of the shortage of time before the Lord’s return.

        Theologians call the hope of the soon return of Christ the doctrine of “imminence” – meaning that the Lord’s return could be today, so be ready. Anticipate the Day of the Day of the Lord; live in the light of it and look forward to it. Do this, and your values will be altered. Your eyes will rise from the immediate concerns to the far horizon, where the dawn of the kingdom of Heaven is about to break.

        Lord Jesus, as we’ve read 1 Corinthians 7:3, we pray that You’ll help us to give all the affection due to our spouse. Keep us faithful to You, Lord, and to one another. Amen.