The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 251

of Christianity (see Stanley, in loc.). 2. Slavery. If there is any institution to which we_ should have expected Christianity to show itself hostile, it is just this. Slavery strikes at the root-idea of humanity, denying to man his proper dicrnity as o. person; and is therefore in colli~ion with the axiom on which the crospel p~oceeds, that " He made of one every nation of men" (Acts xvii. 26). At thi time when Paul wrote, it was th~ great "open sore" of the world, and was frequently accompanied with great hardship and cruelty. Yet he does not counsel the Christian slaves-a numerous class-to rise in rebellion and throw off their bcndacro. He bids them "care not for it" (ver. 21). Freedom, indeed, is to be prererred if y;u can obtain it; but you can serve God as a bondscrvant as truly as if you were free. It was not by dint of hackincr and cutting that the fetters were to be struck off, but by a surer and more excellent m:'thod. As the frost-fetters of winter give way before the warm breath of spring, so Christianity was to loosen the bonds of the slave wherever it came. And this principle was to re;;ulate individual action. For: (1) It makes no difference to your Christian standing whether you be bond or free. You were bought with a price, and so redeemed from the bondage of sin and Satan in order to serve Christ. Hence, thoucrh you are a bond- servan t, you arc really the Lord's freedman; and though yon are iutwardly free you nre really Christ's bondservant. Man must serve, but he c11.nnot serve two ma;ters. Our Redeemer delivers us from Satan, so that we are now free ; but this freedom shows itself in the service of our new Master. " Let my people go, that they may serve me,'' is still the Lord's demand. (2) The service of Ghrist is true freedom. It delivers us from every other spiritual service. Christian liberty is compatible with outward slavery, but not with subjection to men in spiritual things. Here we must not call any man "master." How often do Christians become bondservants of men ! We fall into tll.is error when we shape our views and conduct according to tradition, or party, or school, or the popular voice, instead of simply asking, ",vhat saith the Lord? "-Bo Vers. 25-40.- Concerning virgins and widows. Paul now passes to another question referred to him, viz. the marriage of virgins and widows. This has been briefly touched upon already (ver. 8), and is now dealt with more in detail. Here also the apostle has no express commandment of the Lord to adduce, and he therefore proceeds to give his own inspired judgment on the matter, "as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful." This judgrr.ent is not in the form of explicit injunction, but of an advice given in view of existing circumstances. I. ADVICE TO THE UNMARRIED OF BOTH SEXES. In the previous sections the apostle bas argued against the disrupting of social ties, even when these are of so unpleasant a character as being bound to a heathen spouse or subject to the yoke of slavery. Here be gives similar counsel, advising against a change of condition. 'l'his applies to married persons, who are not to seek a dissolution of the bond ; but especially to the unmarried, whom he advises to remain as they are. This advice does not proceed from a disparagement of marriage in itself ~r from an absolute. preference of celibacy (comp. homily on vers. 1-9, above), but 1s based upon special reasons which are afterwards mentioned. 1. The present distress. (Ver. 26.) This may refer to persecution already commenced, as that under Nero (A.D. 64), or to the troubles which were to usher in the second advent (comp. Matt. xxiv.). In view of this impending crisis, it is better not to marry. The apostolic advice will hold in all similar cases; as when a soldier is called to dangerous military duty, or a man is approaching death, or during the prevalence of famine and pestilen~e. 2. Tribulation in the flesh. (Ver. 28.) This arises out of the external distress, wh1ch bears more hardly upon t!J.e married than the single. It is to spare them this afilicbion that Paul advises tho unmarried to remain as they are. 8. The shortness of the time. (Ver. 29.) Here again the apostle bas in view the advent, which seemed to be drawing near. Marriage belongs to a transitory condition of things-the passing fashion of this world. Life is short, just that our affections may not be set on earthly things. They that have wives must soon leave them, and the remembrance of this should render marriage or celibacy a matter of comparatively little moment. 4, 1'he cares incident to the married state. (Ver. 32.) The husband is bound to protect and pr~vide for his family, i,.nd in troubled times .this causes much anxiety. Husband and wife, moreover, have to consult each -other's wishes, considering how they may please each other. From these cores the cH. vu. 1-40.] THE l+'IRS1' EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 253