Chapter 7 is long, with a lot of advice about husbands and wives, marriage, divorce, and indirectly sex. Paul is answering questions they had while continuing the subject at the end of the previous chapter. Corinth was the center of much immorality, causing the new congregation to be confused about many things involving marriage and sex more than any other congregation Paul founded. Paul is addressing this unique problem in great detail (compare Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12, 4:1-5, 5:14). I know of no one who quoted this chapter at their wedding ceremony for this reason, even though it deals with marriage. Instead, they quote from chapter 13, for it deals with love.
God is the origin of the unique relationship between a man and a woman, which we call marriage. He designed it based on the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Marriage is for life (10-11). The husband belongs to the wife and the wife belongs to the husband according to the covenant of marriage (1-7). But what if the person is not a believer? Paul addresses that problem (12-16).
God unites a man and a woman so that they become one flesh. The union is meant for life (10-11). The union is in the heart, mind, will, soul, and body. Marriage is based on love, respect, truth, trust, intimacy, sex, and is exclusive. It is dynamic and passionate. It is designed to be a form of worship. The marriage should remain for life, but at times it does not. Apostle Paul gives a unique example of when someone is to divorce.
Apostle Paul goes into detailed reasons why a person should remain in the station of life they were in when they came to believe in Jesus. He not only applies this to marriage and being single, but also to occupation (17-24). However, he does not say that is an absolute rule.
The apostle gives directions to virgins, single life (25-28, 36-38), trials of the married state (32-35), a reason to marry (8-9, 36-38), and directions to wives and widows (39-40). Indeed, this is a long chapter.
