8在林前七章保罗清楚告诉哥林多人，他们不该改变自己的身分，或发起任何事情。在十二节他说，『倘若某弟兄有不信的妻子，妻子也情愿和他同住，他就不要离弃妻子。』在十三节保罗对信主的妻子说同样的事：『妻子有不信的丈夫，丈夫17也情愿和她同住，她就不要离弃丈夫。』在十七至二十四节我们看见，我们该留在我们蒙召时的身分里。在十七节保罗有力的嘱咐我们要留在蒙神呼召时婚姻的身分里：『只要照主所分给各人的，和神所召各人的而行。』在二十节保罗继续说，『各人在甚么身分里蒙召，仍要留于这身分。』然后在二十四节他下结论：『弟兄们，你们各人是在甚么身分里蒙召，仍要与神一同留在这身分里。』这指明信徒必须与神是一，并且无论在甚么情况里都有神与他们同在。这些例子指明保罗完全与神是一，并且他要哥林多的信徒与神是一，不要发起任何改变或行动。然而，哥林多的信徒与保罗很不相同。他们没有完全与主是一，反倒运用自己的智慧与哲学。他们用哲学研究每一件事，包括婚姻。有些人以为不结婚较好，而有些人坚决选择婚姻生活。哥林多人对于婚姻所想并所说的，指明他们中间有许多事是人发起的。所以，保罗答覆他们的问题时有力的指明，在婚姻的事上我们不该发起任何事情。在本章我们看见保罗的灵完全与神是一。保罗不愿意改变任何事情或发起任何事情。为这缘故，他能告诉哥林多人，就著婚姻而论，不要改变他们的身分。蒙主呼召时已婚的人，就该维持婚姻。这原则甚至适用于与不信者的婚姻。已婚的信徒不该发起任何改变。反之，整件事情该交给神。无论不信的一方去或留，信的人都该从主接受这情况。一切都在于神，在于祂所安排的情况、环境和光景。
8In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul makes it very clear to the Corinthians that they should not change their status or initiate anything. In verse 12 he says, “If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to dwell with him, let him not leave her.” In verse 13 Paul says the same thing to a believing wife: “And a wife who has an unbelieving husband and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.” In verses through 24 we see that we should remain in the status of our calling. In verse 17 Paul strongly charges us to remain in the state of marriage in which God has called us: “Only as the Lord has allotted to each one, as God has called each one, so let him walk.” In verse 20 Paul goes on to say, “Each one, in the calling in which he was called, in this let him remain.” Then in verse 24 he concludes, “Each one, brothers, in what state he was called, in this let him remain with God.” This indicates that the believers must be one with God and have God with them in their situation, no matter what it may be. These examples indicate that Paul was absolutely one with God and wanted the Corinthian believers to be one with Him and not to initiate any change or action. The Corinthian believers, however, were very different from Paul. Instead of being absolutely one with the Lord, they exercised their wisdom and philosophy. They philosophized about everything, including marriage. Some thought that it was better not to get married, whereas others strongly preferred married life. The way the Corinthians thought and spoke about marriage indicated that among them there was a great deal of human initiative. Therefore, in answering their questions, Paul indicates strongly that in the matter of marriage we should not initiate anything. In this chapter we see that Paul’s spirit was absolutely one with God. Paul was not willing to change anything or to initiate anything. This was the reason he could tell the Corinthians not to change their status as far as marriage was concerned. Those who were married when called by the Lord should remain married. This principle applies even to marriage with an unbeliever. The married believer should not initiate any change. On the contrary, the entire matter should be left with God. Whether the unbelieving party remains or leaves, the believing one should take the situation from the Lord. Everything depends on God and on the situations, circumstances, and conditions arranged by Him.