Paul's Marriage Allegory: Summary

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7 are often misunderstood as instructions about physical marriage and relationships. But Neville Goddard shows us that Paul is speaking allegorically—using the language of marriage to teach a spiritual law: the law of Assumption. This law is about cleaving, or firmly attaching, yourself to what you love and want to embody. It’s the same principle that Genesis hints at when it speaks of the union between man and wife—a symbol of the inner union between your conscious mind and your imagined state.

When Paul talks about the wife, he’s not just talking about a person—he’s describing the inner reality of holding fast to your chosen state with faith and love. This chapter is a coded guide to how imagination works: how you stay connected, disciplined, and faithful to your assumption until it manifests.

Below is a symbolic retelling of 1 Corinthians 7 that cuts through the surface and maps the inner process of manifestation and the creative power of disciplined imagination.

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1. Assumption as Union

Marriage represents a union between belief and feeling. To “marry” a state is to assume it as true, and that union will produce visible results in your world.

2. The Discipline of Remaining “Unmarried”
Remaining unmarried symbolises staying detached and open—disciplined enough not to rush into union with a state you don’t truly desire or aren’t ready to commit to.

3. The Danger of Scattered Focus
Sexual immorality represents the mind’s promiscuity—dabbling in too many conflicting assumptions, weakening manifestation. Paul advises choosing one “wife” (state) and sticking to it.

4. Withdrawal and Prayer
Temporary abstinence reflects taking time out from active assumption to realign your vision (prayer) and purify your imaginative focus (fasting).

5. The Power of Inner Agreement
A divided mind (symbolised by separation or unbelief between husband and wife) leads to unrest. A state must be fully accepted and harmonised for manifestation to occur.

6. Each State Has Its Season
Paul insists that each remain in the condition in which they were called. In Neville’s terms, each assumption has a purpose and timing; rest in it until it completes its work.

7. Virginity as Creative Potential
The “virgin” symbolises a state of untouched potential. Marriage is not morally better—choosing not to assume a state can be powerful if it preserves your energy for the right desire.

8. Letting Go Without Force
If a state no longer serves you or “leaves,” let it go without striving. Consciousness is not chained to any one belief; it must remain free to evolve.

9. The Unbelieving Made Holy
Persisting in an assumption can eventually sanctify even the subconscious parts of us that first resisted it. Faith transforms inner unbelief.

10. The Present Distress
Paul cautions against new commitments during times of trouble. Spiritually, this means don’t force a new assumption in the midst of emotional turmoil. Wait until you’re clear.

11. The Passing World
The world is transient—your assumptions shape and reshape it constantly. Marriage, mourning, joy, and possessions are all temporary reflections of your inner state.

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Conclusion
1 Corinthians 7, when re-read through the symbolism Neville Goddard revealed, becomes a chapter about the sacred power of assumption. To remain unmarried is to preserve creative potential; to marry is to consciously commit to a belief. Paul is not prescribing a lifestyle, but describing spiritual mechanics—how inner union (assumption) leads to outer birth (manifestation). The chapter invites us to enter spiritual union deliberately, faithfully, and with clarity.