Paul then dove-tails this principle into his next admonition which is the believer should not use his body for his own pleasure. Although such things as prostitution may have in fact been not only legal but also accepted within Corinthian society, Paul says as a believer in Jesus Christ who has been purchased by the blood of Christ, refrain from what may be considered normal by the lost, pagan world. Sexual sin does direct damage to the body and Paul warns those who engage in such accepted practices to understand that judgment upon rebellion is quickly administered. Paul further instructs the necessity of purity within the home; in particular the marriage relationship. It seems that there were couples consisting of one believer and one nonbeliever. Paul stresses the necessity of Christian marriage but not at the sake of dissolving the marriage simply because both spouses are not believers. Rather, Paul encourages the believing spouse to remain in the marriage as a testimony of Christ to the pagan spouse but in the event that the pagan spouse decides to leave the marriage union, Paul does not assert any further responsibility on the believing spouse then left. Within this body of text Paul’s aim seems to be a regulation of Christian marriage to avoid such divisions in the future so that the home may be preserved and children rightly reared. In keeping with this principle, Paul then goes on to assert that whatever condition or station of life the believer may have come into salvation, that is where they should remain. This does not at all seem to preclude in Paul’s mind the betterment of one’s self if the opportunity should arise but that one should not be consumed with the ambition of advancing in some sort of societal standing. In reality, the believer is a slave to Christ and must live accordingly regardless of what temporal status may be achieved. This principle is then applied by Paul to the area of marriage also. It is not proper for the believer to be consumed with attempting to better himself in the area of marriage. Again, it seems Paul is warning the Church against lax standards of courtship, betrothal and marriage. Rather, the Church should superintend these areas to ensure the propriety of the marriage bond and home that honors Christ.
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