The Urgency of the Gospel: Paul's Teachings on Marriage and Celibacy
September 11, 2024 - Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
1 Cor 7:25-31
From chapter 7 of his First Letter to the Corinthians onwards, Paul answers questions submitted to him by the Corinthians. We can compare this to today's "Ask the Priest" question-and-answer format, which allows Catholic faithful to ask their pastors about matters of faith, the Bible, morality, and spiritual life. The first question that Paul discusses is about marriage and celibacy.
Paul's answer is influenced by two factors: the urgency of preaching the Gospel and the immediacy of Christ's coming. For the apostle, the proclamation of the Gospel was the most urgent task that one could embark on in life. We could say it was a matter of life and death. The message of the Gospel was bringing people from darkness to light, from slavery to freedom, from death to life. Moreover, the time allocated for the proclamation of the Gospel was limited. There are clear indications that Paul held a view that he would witness the coming of Christ before his death (see 1 Thess. 4:16-17), although that probably changed with the passing of time (see 2 Tim. 4:18).
Taking these two factors into consideration, it is not surprising that the apostle distinguishes permissible marriage (you could) from preferable celibacy (you should). In view of the apostle, celibacy was more suitable for a single-minded commitment to the proclamation of the Gospel. And since time was running out, the celibate faithful were free from any distractions that could hamper that most important task. Marriage, on the other hand, brings with it "worldly troubles" (1 Cor. 7:28). Married people, in Paul's view, are "anxious about worldly things," how to please their spouses, and their "interests are divided." The celibate faithful are "anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit" (see 1 Cor. 7:33-34).
There are two Greek words for time: "kairos" and "chronos." "Chronos" is time measured by our watches or by the changing faces of the moon. On the other hand, "kairos" is considered to be an opportune time that offers us a chance to make important decisions or do something special and meaningful. In Paul's view, this opportune time, this "kairos," is running out (see 1 Cor. 7:29). This calls for a decision by every Christian to prioritize the proclamation of the Gospel over everything else. Everything is transient in our world. The reasons for weeping and rejoicing come and go, there is no marriage in the life to come, and no need for business either. What we consider important in this world looks different from the perspective of eternity and God's kingdom (see 1 Cor. 7:29-31).
Paul inserts a profound philosophical statement into his discussion on marriage and celibacy: "the world in its present form is passing away" (1 Cor. 7:31). The world that Paul knew does not exist anymore, but neither does the world known by generations that came before us. St. Benedict or St. Francis would not be able to recognize the world we live in now. Sooner or later, our world will also pass away, and something new shall emerge. Yet, within this passing world, our task has not changed. The need for the Gospel is as urgent as it was during Paul's time, and every Christian should prioritize this task over any other activities in their lives.