Does this verse indicate that the Spirit Himself enters a child by virtue of the fact that Mom and Dad are filled with that Spirit? Maybe not. One could just as easily suggest that the influences of holiness that flow from a godly couple are so manifest that the children imbibe it all as a fine aroma through the years, then decide they want this Jesus too.

In the absence of a word about this, I strongly suggest that no parent assume anything about the spiritual nature of their children. Let them be taught the things of God, and their own personal responsibility to respond to the invitation of Jesus.

2. I Corinthians 7:1, 7, 25-26. Is the single life to be preferred?

No blanket statement should be made here. But Paul comes close to it. In an ideal world, given a man with little or no sexual temptation working within him, Paul seems to indicate that the single life is to be preferred, given also that a person wants to be given fully to the ministry. He offers no negatives about marriage, but reminds husbands and wives that once they are committed to one another, the responsibilities are real and demand time. There are many among us who though married have left their spouses as “single”, ignoring them for their greater love of the ministry. This seems spiritual to some, but Paul nixes that whole concept here. A young man or young woman must count the cost very carefully.

Of course, if physical cravings are present, the “burning” he mentions, there is little choice for the man but to marry if those cravings cannot be kept under control.

We strongly suspect the cravings of the single priesthood (as in Rome) have been the cause of much mischief in the world and in the “church”, only eternity being able to reveal to us how many lives have been ruined by the demand for celibacy from an authority that had no authority to begin with.

3. I Corinthians 7:29. Those who have wives should act as though they had none?

Now here seems to be the negating of what Paul has been saying, but it is not so.

First, there are those who have married long before they received this wisdom of Paul. Then there are those who married against the wisdom of Paul. Paul “spares” these people. They have not sinned. But they found out soon that they should have listened. Perhaps death came to a spouse on the mission field, and children have had to suffer needlessly. Paul would spare all of that too, but would still remind us that we belong to Christ, whether in full time ministry or not, and that evil men still hate Jesus Christ and will attempt to hurt believers.

Persons armed with this knowledge of possible persecution must always remember that their spouse could be the next Christian martyr, and be willing to offer that sacrifice. They must also recall the teachings about the brevity of life and the possible soon return of Jesus, and not make huge material plans of earthly prosperity. It is a fatal trap, and will disqualify a man or a woman from being effective in the Christian ministry.

Be married. Enjoy. But remember that ultimately our life is hid in Christ, not in each other.

4. I Corinthians 7:36-38. To whom are these verses directed?

Though many translations suggest that Paul is speaking to a man about his fiancée, most commentaries believe he has fathers in mind. It is difficult for us to conceive of it, but parents actually had authority at this time and place in history. Fathers could truly control the destiny of their virgin daughters. Some perhaps were not as ethical as others in their discharge of their duty and Paul wants to set the record straight about how it should be with a man of God. To reinforce this point of view, some translations have added the word “daughter” after the term “virgin.”

Those who have left the text alone have Paul dealing with a young couple trying to decide whether to marry or not. Here, the man is told similar things to what the apostle said earlier in the chapter: if you marry, that’s all right. But if you have self-control and can refrain from marrying, in these difficult times of persecution, that would be even better.

There seem to be as many reasons for one interpretation as the other. Bottom line, before this passage, at this passage, and after this one (dealing with re-marriage): If at all possible, for now anyway, do not marry. But if you do, God will still bless you.

5. I Corinthians 8:9. How does “liberty” cause some to stumble?

If you freely partake of substances or activities because you know in your heart they are approved of God, but you do it in front of a brother or sister who is not so convinced, they may want to follow you in your liberty before they have resolved the issue inside. When they do that, they offend their own conscience, and sin against God. Be free. But be careful with the younger ones.

6. I Corinthians 9:17. What does this mean, a “stewardship is entrusted to me”?

Here is another case where different translations might help us to see what Paul is saying. Paul says he is preaching the Gospel because God told Him to. He’s not a volunteer, he’s a slave. He is compelled to preach the Gospel, so he has nothing to brag about.

Now, he says, if I volunteered, I guess I could claim some reward for what I am doing. But since it is against my will…

NIV: I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.

Berean: I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

God’s Word: I’m only doing what I’ve been entrusted to do.

7. I Corinthians 10:2. The Jews were baptized into Moses?

In a sense, yes. Red Sea on either side. God’s special cloud above. Surrounded by water. Isn’t that baptism? Figurative language, but meant to show us that in a very real way, these Israelites were connected to Heavenly things.

8. I Corinthians 10:4. Jesus was in the wilderness?

As in the last question, Paul is showing them their Heavenly connections here. Jesus Christ was in truth the source of their blessings in the wilderness, not Moses, not an old rock in the desert. The Rock of their blessing actually followed them around…

9. I Corinthians 10:13. How is God involved in temptation?