willtheorangeguy/All-LICRC-Transcripts · Datasets at Hugging Face

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[547.66 --> 553.36] And the church's view on singleness in that light is a problem.
[553.36 --> 556.54] There's a ripple effect to this mindset.
[556.54 --> 567.12] In the book Singled Out, authors Cologne and Field, they suggest that this anti-single mindset within the church, it's causing all sorts of problems.
[567.12 --> 571.94] Especially when relating it to people who have been divorced or people who struggle with homosexuality.
[572.46 --> 574.54] They say in this book, these authors, they say this.
[574.54 --> 585.14] Rather than being seen as a wonderful opportunity to serve God, celibacy is repeatedly seen as not only second best, but also a guarantee of an unfulfilled and miserable life.
[585.50 --> 598.66] How do we expect those who struggle with homosexuality or those recovering from divorce to see celibacy as a positive option when it is not seen as a valued alternative for other singles?
[598.66 --> 606.44] Now today we don't have time to look at the homosexuality or the divorce discussion, sadly.
[607.30 --> 611.70] But that quote highlights the Western church's view on singleness very well.
[612.08 --> 614.62] Marriage is viewed as the preferred lifestyle within the church.
[614.94 --> 616.76] And singleness is lamentable.
[616.92 --> 618.40] Something that we need to solve.
[618.70 --> 621.02] Something that we need to fix.
[622.88 --> 625.02] But the Bible says otherwise.
[625.68 --> 627.38] Just look at what Paul says in our text today.
[627.38 --> 634.94] Whittled down to the tiniest of sentences, Paul basically says that it's cool to get married, but it might be more beneficial to remain single.
[636.54 --> 638.00] So why does Paul say that?
[640.20 --> 645.86] You'll notice in our text that Paul writes of an impending crisis, which he mentions right at the top in verse 26.
[646.54 --> 654.08] He says to this church, in order to live free of distractions during this crisis, it would be better to remain single.
[654.08 --> 657.56] So what crisis is Paul speaking of?
[659.18 --> 662.26] Sadly, the truth is no one's absolutely certain.
[662.82 --> 669.18] Historically, though, a huge famine came over the whole Mediterranean area pretty soon after Paul wrote this letter.
[669.62 --> 671.18] So many people think it could be that.
[671.58 --> 675.90] It's possible that Paul is referencing pagan culture in general in the area,
[675.90 --> 679.56] or maybe something else specific to the Corinth church that we don't know about.
[680.86 --> 687.36] Scholars also believe, and I tend to land on this too, that Paul could be speaking about Christ's second coming.
[687.70 --> 691.56] Where Christ will come to judge those too distracted to follow them.
[692.16 --> 696.52] And if you read verses 29 to 31, and especially verse 31 in our text,
[696.90 --> 700.72] it does seem like Paul's speaking of Christ's second coming.
[700.72 --> 706.82] T. Wright, a scholar, he says this, and I think most scholars believe this,
[707.36 --> 710.80] Paul is referring both to this immediate crisis,
[711.18 --> 714.58] and to the fact that it points forward to the ultimate crisis,
[715.12 --> 716.50] the time of the Lord's return.
[717.14 --> 720.40] So even if the current crisis suddenly passes, let's say it was a famine,
[720.70 --> 722.58] even if the current crisis suddenly passes,
[722.84 --> 726.72] if wonderful crops and plentiful food again flood the markets of Corinth,
[726.72 --> 731.86] and everywhere else, there will still be the final crisis to face.
[733.94 --> 736.80] Now if that's the case, and again most scholars believe that,
[737.16 --> 740.88] then Paul's point of singleness cannot be squarely meant
[740.88 --> 744.26] about a crisis that only Corinth was to face.
[745.40 --> 748.18] But it's for all of us, the whole church,
[748.56 --> 751.22] who await Christ's second coming.
[751.22 --> 754.10] And so Paul says that in light of this famine,
[754.28 --> 756.72] and with the knowledge of Christ's second coming at hand,
[757.04 --> 761.38] it is better for us all to remain without distraction.
[763.14 --> 765.68] And while getting married is all fine and well,
[767.14 --> 769.70] remaining single is best.
[772.90 --> 775.26] It becomes easy then to read this text
[775.26 --> 777.40] and assume that Paul might be anti-marriage.
[777.40 --> 779.68] But earlier in this very chapter,
[780.38 --> 782.86] in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 2 to 5,
[782.92 --> 784.14] if you've got your Bibles, you can read that,
[784.22 --> 786.56] Paul speaks about how two should become one.
[787.04 --> 788.24] In other letters Paul writes,
[788.32 --> 789.96] he gives instructions for healthy marriages,
[790.12 --> 792.46] like in Colossians 3 or Ephesians 5
[792.46 --> 794.70] or 1 Timothy 2 or Titus 2.
[795.50 --> 797.14] The apostle Peter, Paul's buddy,
[797.46 --> 799.96] he also speaks to healthy marriages in 1 Peter 2.
[800.12 --> 802.96] And God himself ordains marriage
[802.96 --> 805.38] right at the beginning of time in Genesis 2.
[805.38 --> 808.48] So the Bible very clearly shows us
[808.48 --> 810.42] that marriage matters to Paul,
[810.86 --> 811.80] it matters to Peter,
[811.98 --> 814.30] and it matters to God himself.
[815.48 --> 817.22] But in this passage today,
[817.46 --> 818.54] Paul teaches us
[818.54 --> 823.52] that being single matters too.
[826.52 --> 828.82] Some view this passage in 1 Corinthians
[828.82 --> 830.14] as a calling for us,
[830.32 --> 832.84] for us all to strive toward celibacy.
[832.84 --> 834.08] However, as mentioned above,
[834.18 --> 835.98] if we look at marriage through the lens of Scripture,
[836.20 --> 837.58] that cannot be the case.
[838.48 --> 839.86] However, the flip is also true.
[839.96 --> 840.68] Some look at this
[840.68 --> 843.16] and are guilty of simply brushing Paul's message off here
[843.16 --> 844.38] as simply contextual,
[844.58 --> 845.88] only for the people of Corinth
[845.88 --> 848.10] because they have this crisis they have to get through.
[849.62 --> 851.80] Both of those interpretations fall short.
[852.80 --> 855.08] If we read 1 Corinthians 7 here
[855.08 --> 858.48] in conjunction with what Jesus teaches in Matthew 19,
[858.48 --> 861.04] we see that both Paul and Jesus
[861.04 --> 862.68] get at the same thing.
[863.98 --> 866.28] In Matthew 19, verses 10 to 12,
[866.72 --> 868.88] which again, feel free to open your Bibles and turn to,
[869.38 --> 870.90] Jesus is telling his disciples
[870.90 --> 874.32] that not all are called to get married
[874.32 --> 877.60] and that some specifically are called
[877.60 --> 879.44] to remain single.
[879.44 --> 883.66] Paul echoes that in this passage.
[883.78 --> 884.54] He is teaching us
[884.54 --> 886.58] that we all need to be
[886.58 --> 890.36] undividedly devoted to God.
[893.04 --> 894.76] Back to this Corinthians passage.
[895.16 --> 896.62] Four times in this text,
[897.04 --> 899.80] Paul uses the Greek term merimnau,
[900.04 --> 903.38] which I had YouTube teach me how to say properly
[903.38 --> 905.58] so that I wouldn't look foolish in front of all of you.

[547.66 --> 553.36] And the church's view on singleness in that light is a problem.

[553.36 --> 556.54] There's a ripple effect to this mindset.

[556.54 --> 567.12] In the book Singled Out, authors Cologne and Field, they suggest that this anti-single mindset within the church, it's causing all sorts of problems.

[567.12 --> 571.94] Especially when relating it to people who have been divorced or people who struggle with homosexuality.

[572.46 --> 574.54] They say in this book, these authors, they say this.

[574.54 --> 585.14] Rather than being seen as a wonderful opportunity to serve God, celibacy is repeatedly seen as not only second best, but also a guarantee of an unfulfilled and miserable life.

[585.50 --> 598.66] How do we expect those who struggle with homosexuality or those recovering from divorce to see celibacy as a positive option when it is not seen as a valued alternative for other singles?

[598.66 --> 606.44] Now today we don't have time to look at the homosexuality or the divorce discussion, sadly.

[607.30 --> 611.70] But that quote highlights the Western church's view on singleness very well.

[612.08 --> 614.62] Marriage is viewed as the preferred lifestyle within the church.

[614.94 --> 616.76] And singleness is lamentable.

[616.92 --> 618.40] Something that we need to solve.

[618.70 --> 621.02] Something that we need to fix.

[622.88 --> 625.02] But the Bible says otherwise.

[625.68 --> 627.38] Just look at what Paul says in our text today.

[627.38 --> 634.94] Whittled down to the tiniest of sentences, Paul basically says that it's cool to get married, but it might be more beneficial to remain single.

[636.54 --> 638.00] So why does Paul say that?

[640.20 --> 645.86] You'll notice in our text that Paul writes of an impending crisis, which he mentions right at the top in verse 26.

[646.54 --> 654.08] He says to this church, in order to live free of distractions during this crisis, it would be better to remain single.

[654.08 --> 657.56] So what crisis is Paul speaking of?

[659.18 --> 662.26] Sadly, the truth is no one's absolutely certain.

[662.82 --> 669.18] Historically, though, a huge famine came over the whole Mediterranean area pretty soon after Paul wrote this letter.

[669.62 --> 671.18] So many people think it could be that.

[671.58 --> 675.90] It's possible that Paul is referencing pagan culture in general in the area,

[675.90 --> 679.56] or maybe something else specific to the Corinth church that we don't know about.

[680.86 --> 687.36] Scholars also believe, and I tend to land on this too, that Paul could be speaking about Christ's second coming.

[687.70 --> 691.56] Where Christ will come to judge those too distracted to follow them.

[692.16 --> 696.52] And if you read verses 29 to 31, and especially verse 31 in our text,

[696.90 --> 700.72] it does seem like Paul's speaking of Christ's second coming.

[700.72 --> 706.82] T. Wright, a scholar, he says this, and I think most scholars believe this,

[707.36 --> 710.80] Paul is referring both to this immediate crisis,

[711.18 --> 714.58] and to the fact that it points forward to the ultimate crisis,

[715.12 --> 716.50] the time of the Lord's return.

[717.14 --> 720.40] So even if the current crisis suddenly passes, let's say it was a famine,

[720.70 --> 722.58] even if the current crisis suddenly passes,

[722.84 --> 726.72] if wonderful crops and plentiful food again flood the markets of Corinth,

[726.72 --> 731.86] and everywhere else, there will still be the final crisis to face.

[733.94 --> 736.80] Now if that's the case, and again most scholars believe that,

[737.16 --> 740.88] then Paul's point of singleness cannot be squarely meant

[740.88 --> 744.26] about a crisis that only Corinth was to face.

[745.40 --> 748.18] But it's for all of us, the whole church,

[748.56 --> 751.22] who await Christ's second coming.

[751.22 --> 754.10] And so Paul says that in light of this famine,

[754.28 --> 756.72] and with the knowledge of Christ's second coming at hand,

[757.04 --> 761.38] it is better for us all to remain without distraction.

[763.14 --> 765.68] And while getting married is all fine and well,

[767.14 --> 769.70] remaining single is best.

[772.90 --> 775.26] It becomes easy then to read this text

[775.26 --> 777.40] and assume that Paul might be anti-marriage.

[777.40 --> 779.68] But earlier in this very chapter,

[780.38 --> 782.86] in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 2 to 5,

[782.92 --> 784.14] if you've got your Bibles, you can read that,

[784.22 --> 786.56] Paul speaks about how two should become one.

[787.04 --> 788.24] In other letters Paul writes,

[788.32 --> 789.96] he gives instructions for healthy marriages,

[790.12 --> 792.46] like in Colossians 3 or Ephesians 5

[792.46 --> 794.70] or 1 Timothy 2 or Titus 2.

[795.50 --> 797.14] The apostle Peter, Paul's buddy,

[797.46 --> 799.96] he also speaks to healthy marriages in 1 Peter 2.

[800.12 --> 802.96] And God himself ordains marriage

[802.96 --> 805.38] right at the beginning of time in Genesis 2.

[805.38 --> 808.48] So the Bible very clearly shows us

[808.48 --> 810.42] that marriage matters to Paul,

[810.86 --> 811.80] it matters to Peter,

[811.98 --> 814.30] and it matters to God himself.

[815.48 --> 817.22] But in this passage today,

[817.46 --> 818.54] Paul teaches us

[818.54 --> 823.52] that being single matters too.

[826.52 --> 828.82] Some view this passage in 1 Corinthians

[828.82 --> 830.14] as a calling for us,

[830.32 --> 832.84] for us all to strive toward celibacy.

[832.84 --> 834.08] However, as mentioned above,

[834.18 --> 835.98] if we look at marriage through the lens of Scripture,

[836.20 --> 837.58] that cannot be the case.

[838.48 --> 839.86] However, the flip is also true.

[839.96 --> 840.68] Some look at this

[840.68 --> 843.16] and are guilty of simply brushing Paul's message off here

[843.16 --> 844.38] as simply contextual,

[844.58 --> 845.88] only for the people of Corinth

[845.88 --> 848.10] because they have this crisis they have to get through.

[849.62 --> 851.80] Both of those interpretations fall short.

[852.80 --> 855.08] If we read 1 Corinthians 7 here

[855.08 --> 858.48] in conjunction with what Jesus teaches in Matthew 19,

[858.48 --> 861.04] we see that both Paul and Jesus

[861.04 --> 862.68] get at the same thing.

[863.98 --> 866.28] In Matthew 19, verses 10 to 12,

[866.72 --> 868.88] which again, feel free to open your Bibles and turn to,

[869.38 --> 870.90] Jesus is telling his disciples

[870.90 --> 874.32] that not all are called to get married

[874.32 --> 877.60] and that some specifically are called

[877.60 --> 879.44] to remain single.

[879.44 --> 883.66] Paul echoes that in this passage.

[883.78 --> 884.54] He is teaching us

[884.54 --> 886.58] that we all need to be

[886.58 --> 890.36] undividedly devoted to God.

[893.04 --> 894.76] Back to this Corinthians passage.

[895.16 --> 896.62] Four times in this text,

[897.04 --> 899.80] Paul uses the Greek term merimnau,

[900.04 --> 903.38] which I had YouTube teach me how to say properly

[903.38 --> 905.58] so that I wouldn't look foolish in front of all of you.