CR News

Marriage in this Passing World

The apostle Paul gives three reasons in I Corinthians 7:25-34 why is it preferable to remain single. First, the argument from sin: there are distress and trouble in marriage (25-28; CR News XI:10). Second, the argument from eschatology or the last times: "the fashion of this world passeth away" (29-31). Third, the argument from our chief end: "how [we] may please the Lord" (32-34).

However, it is not preferable to remain single if you burn sexually: "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn" (9). This is a command to those who do not have the "gift" of sexual self-control (7), yet they must marry "only in the Lord" (39).

Of the three arguments given above, the argument from eschatology is the most unexpected and striking to us. But the apostle, who was soaked in eschatology and understood the unity of God’s truth—that all biblical doctrines are related—was inspired here even to treat marriage in the light of eschatology.

Again, we see that marriage is a subject that requires thinking, sober thinking, including considering it from various angles, because marriage is two people becoming one flesh, for better or for worse, for life.

The two key eschatological phrases in I Corinthians 7:29-31 are "the time is short" (29) and "the fashion of this world passeth away" (31). Together these two phrases speak of created reality from two different aspects: time ("the time is short") and space ("the fashion of this world [kosmos] passeth away").

"The fashion of this world passeth away" refers to the transformation of the creation at the last day. Similarly, II Peter 3 tells us that the world will be purged with fire and the heavens and the earth will be renewed. According to Romans 8:19-22, the creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Matthew 19:28 refers to "the regeneration" of the heavens and the earth. "The time is short" teaches us that it will not be long before all this takes place.

The phrase, "the fashion of this world passeth away," helps us reconcile apparently contradictory scriptural statements. Some verses speak of the permanency of the world: "the world also is established that it cannot be moved" (Ps. 93:1; cf. 96:10). Other verses predict the destruction of the world: the heavens and the earth shall "perish" (Ps. 102:26) or "pass away," "melt" and "be burned up" (II Peter 3:10). I Corinthians 7:31 explains that it is "the fashion of this world [that] passeth away." The world itself is permanent; God decreed and wills that it shall forever be and that man will always live there. But "the fashionof this world"—its external circumstances—will pass away. This is what will "perish" (Ps. 102:26) and "be burned up" (II Peter 3:10).

"The fashion of this world" which passes away includes all of man’s achievements on this planet: civilizations; cities, towns, hamlets; airports, harbours, roads; factories, libraries, homes—and everything in them! For "the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Peter 3:10).

Luke 20:34-36 contrasts this world/age with that world/age which is to come. In this world/age there is marriage (and thus families and children), death (and thus dying, aging and sickness) and non-resurrection bodies (in which we currently live). In the world/age to come there is no marriage (and thus no families or children), no death (and thus no dying, aging or sickness) and glorious resurrection bodies. Revelation 21:4 unfolds the idea of "no more death" in the world to come: there will also be no more "sorrow," "crying" or "pain," for "the former things" will pass away.

Our text (I Cor. 7:29-31) develops the idea of marriage as passing away, as one would expect in I Corinthians 7: "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none" (29). "The fashion of this world [including marriage] passeth away" (31).

In the phrase, "the time is short," time is not simply the succession of moments until Christ’s return, but it is the designated time, the time appointed for salvation and the service of God in this life. The word "short" is, literally, "shortened" or shrunken or contracted. But what does it mean that "the time is short," when almost 2,000 years have passed since Christ’s ascension into heaven?

Here we should point out several things. First, time is short from God’s perspective, for with the timeless One 1,000 years are as 1 day (II Peter 3:8). Second, time is short from the perspective of the endless ages of everlasting glory. Third, the next great divine wonder work is Christ’s second coming and the renewal of all things. No great redemptive act and no other age or dispensation are to come between now and Christ’s return. Fourth, the signs of the end of the world—including wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes (Matt. 24:6-7) —point to and foreshadow the grand truth that "the fashion of this world passeth away." Fifth, time is "shortened" in that everything which happens in this world serves the goal and end in such a way that all God’s purposes are fulfilled so that Christ returns for His bride, the church, as quickly as possible.

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Additional Info

  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 17
Stewart, Angus

Rev. Angust Stewart (Wife: Mary)

Ordained - 2001

Pastorates: Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Ballymena, Northern Ireland - 2001

Website: www.cprf.co.uk/

Contact Details

  • Address
    7 Lislunnan Road
  • City
    Ballymena
  • State or Province
    Co.Antrim
  • Zip Code
    BT42 3NR
  • Country
    Ireland
  • Telephone
    (01144) 28 25 891851
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