Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Corinthians: Chapter 7].
unbeliever. There is no problem at all unless the unbeliever
makes it. If it is a hopeless case, acquiescence is the only wise
solution. But surely the believer ought to be sure that there is
no hope before he agrees to break the bond. Paul raises the
problem of the wife first as in verse 10.
7:17 {Only} (\ei m•\). This use of \ei m•\ as an elliptical
condition is very common (7:5; Ga 1:7,19; Ro 14:14), "except
that" like \pl•n\. Paul gives a general principle as a limitation
to what he has just said in verse 15. "It states the general
principle which determines these questions about marriage, and
this is afterwards illustrated by the cases of circumcision and
slavery" (Robertson and Plummer). He has said that there is to be
no compulsory slavery between the believer and the disbeliever
(the Christian and the pagan). But on the other hand there is to
be no reckless abuse of this liberty, no license. {As the Lord
hath distributed to each man} (\hekast•i h•s memeriken ho
kurios\). Perfect active indicative of \meriz•\, old verb from
\meros\, apart. Each has his lot from the Lord Jesus, has his
call from God. He is not to seek a rupture of the marriage
relation if the unbeliever does not ask for it. {And so ordain I}
(\kai hout•s diatassomai\). Military term, old word, to arrange
in all the churches (distributed, \dia-\). Paul is conscious of
authoritative leadership as the apostle of Christ to the
Gentiles.
7:18 {Let him not become uncircumcized} (\m• epispasth•\).
Present middle imperative of \epispa•\, old verb to draw on. In
LXX (I Macc. 1:15) and Josephus (_Ant_. XII, V. I) in this sense.
Here only in N.T. The point is that a Jew is to remain a Jew, a
Gentile to be a Gentile. Both stand on an equality in the
Christian churches. This freedom about circumcision illustrates
the freedom about Gentile mixed marriages.
7:19 {But the keeping of the commandments of God} (\alla t•r•sis
entol•n theou\). Old word in sense of watching (Ac 4:3). Paul's
view of the worthlessness of circumcision or of uncircumcision is
stated again in Ga 5:6; 6:15; Ro 2:25-29 (only the inward or
spiritual Jew counts).
7:20 {Wherein he was called} (\h•i ekl•th•\). When he was called
by God and saved, whether a Jew or a Gentile, a slave or a
freeman.
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