What the Bible says about Marriage

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哥林多前书 7:1 - 哥林多前书 7:18

论到你们信上所提的事,我说男不近女倒好。

但要免淫乱的事,男子当各有自己的妻子,女子也当各有自己的丈夫。

丈夫当用合宜之分待妻子,妻子待丈夫也要如此。

妻子没有权柄主张自己的身子,乃在丈夫;丈夫也没有权柄主张自己的身子,乃在妻子。

夫妻不可彼此亏负,除非两相情愿,暂时分房,为要专心祷告方可;以后仍要同房,免得撒旦趁着你们情不自禁,引诱你们。

我说这话原是准你们的,不是命你们的。

我愿意众人像我一样,只是各人领受神的恩赐一个是这样,一个是那样。

论嫁娶的事

我对着没有嫁娶的和寡妇说,若他们常像我就好。

倘若自己禁止不住,就可以嫁娶。与其欲火攻心,倒不如嫁娶为妙。

10 至于那已经嫁娶的,我吩咐他们——其实不是我吩咐,乃是主吩咐说:“妻子不可离开丈夫,

11 若是离开了,不可再嫁,或是仍同丈夫和好。丈夫也不可离弃妻子。”

12 我对其余的人说(不是主说):倘若某弟兄有不信的妻子,妻子也情愿和他同住,他就不要离弃妻子;

13 妻子有不信的丈夫,丈夫也情愿和她同住,她就不要离弃丈夫。

14 因为不信的丈夫就因着妻子成了圣洁,并且不信的妻子就因着丈夫成了圣洁;不然,你们的儿女就不洁净,但如今他们是圣洁的了。

15 倘若那不信的人要离去,就由他离去吧!无论是弟兄,是姐妹,遇着这样的事都不必拘束,神召我们原是要我们和睦。

16 你这做妻子的,怎么知道不能救你的丈夫呢?你这做丈夫的,怎么知道不能救你的妻子呢?

17 只要照主所分给各人的和神所召各人的而行。我吩咐各教会都是这样。

18 有人已受割礼蒙召呢,就不要废割礼;有人未受割礼蒙召呢,就不要受割礼。

7:1–40 Marriage problems

This is the longest discussion of sexuality and related matters in all of Paul’s letters. It contains vital information on issues not touched upon elsewhere. Failure to understand the circumstances which gave rise to the problems written about in 7:1 and 7:25 has meant that valuable teaching on singleness and marriage has been ignored.

Concerning the circumstances: one clue rests in the letter itself, for Paul refers to the present crisis in 7:26 which gave rise to Christians rethinking the appropriateness of engaged couples getting married (7:25). There is firm archaeological and literary evidence which indicates that there had been food shortages in Corinth during this period. These were inevitably accompanied by panic buying and riots because of social unrest and uncertainty about the future. Eleven inscriptions to the same person who was three times in charge of the grain supply in Corinth have been uncovered from this period. This office was only filled in times of famine, so there is good reason for connecting the crisis with the threat of famine. Tacitus also records earthquakes and famines. Many believed that these were divine portents. We know that Christians believed that the signs of the tribulation would be famines and earthquakes, and a blessedness was pronounced on those who were not pregnant (Mt. 24:7, 19; Mk 13:17). Here Paul not only answers their immediate questions but also provides an important framework in which Christian marriage is to be seen.

Read more from New Bible Commentary

哥林多前书 13:4 - 哥林多前书 13:7

爱是恒久忍耐,又有恩慈,爱是不嫉妒,爱是不自夸,不张狂,

不做害羞的事,不求自己的益处,不轻易发怒,不计算人的恶,

不喜欢不义,只喜欢真理;

凡事包容,凡事相信,凡事盼望,凡事忍耐。

4-7 Christian love is now described positively and negatively. Its positive characteristics are patience (slow to become resentful), kindness, delight in the truth, and a protective, trusting, hopeful, and persevering attitude. Verses 4b-6a state love's characteristics negatively. "Is not rude" may refer obliquely to the disorderly conduct at worship (11:2-16; 14). Love "keeps no record of wrongs"; indeed, for love to keep a record of wrongs violates its nature. Love does not rejoice in evil, in which it has no part; but it does "rejoice with" the truth, with which it does have a part.

Furthermore, love covers the faults of others rather than delighting in them (v.7). It is trusting, optimistic, and willing to endure persecution (cf. Ro 5:3-4). In short, it "perseveres".

Read more from Expositors Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament

希伯来书 13:4

婚姻人人都当尊重,床也不可污秽,因为苟合行淫的人,神必要审判。

4 From love for the badly treated the author turns to love within the marriage bond. The opening expression implies an imperative: "Let marriage be held in honor." "By all" probably means "in all circumstances." Some ascetics held marriage in low esteem, but the author of Hebrews rejects this position. "The marriage bed" is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. He considers the physical side of marriage important and "pure." Contrary to the views of some thinkers in the ancient world, there is nothing defiling about it. Over against honorable marriage he sets the "sexually immoral" and the "adulterer" (a word used for a violation of the marriage bond).

All forms of sexual sin come under the judgment of God. This was a novel view to many in the first century. For them chastity was an unreasonable demand to make. It is one of the unrecognized miracles that Christians were able not only to make this demand but to make it stick. Sexual sinners are likely to go their way, careless of all others. But in the end they will be judged by none less than God.

Read more from Expositors Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament