C Z¹ 7:7:1-9. The unmarried. Z² 7:10-17. The married and unmarried. Z³ 7:18-24. Circumcision and servitude. Z3 7:25-40. Virgins. Z5 8:1-13. Things offered to idols.
Z¹ A y 1. The benefit.
z 2-. The evil.
a -2-5. The remedy.
A y 6-8. The benefit.
z 9-. The evil.
a -9. The remedy.
1 Corinthians 7)
1 Now concerning what things you wrote to me (the Corinthians had written a letter, but carefully avoided ant reference to the disorders among themselves. These had been reported by the members of Chloe's family [1:11,12], and the scandal referred to in ch. 5 was a common report, which was perhaps made known by Stephanas and other [16:17]): It is good for a man not to touch a woman. (See Heb. 13:4)
2 But, on account of fornication,
let each man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence: and likewise the wife also to the husband.
4 The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud you not one another, except it be from consent for a season, in order that you may have leisure for (Matt. 12:44. Cp Acts 19:9 [school]) fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not on account of your incontinency. (Excess, lack of self control.)
6 But I speak this according to permission, and not of commandment. (See Rom. 16:26)
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man has his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 But I say to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I.
9 But if they have not self control, (Cp. Acts 24:25. Tit. 1:8)
let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. (2 Cor. 11:29. Eph. 6:16. 2 Pet. 3:12. Rev. 1:15; 3:18)
Z¹ b 10-. The Lord.
c -10,11. His command.
b 12-. The apostle.
c -12-17. His appointment.
10 And to the married I command (see Acts 1:4), yet not I, but the Lord (Gr. Kurios means owner used of each Person of the Trinity. Cp. Matt. 5:32),
Let not the wife be separated from her husband:
11 But and if she be separated, let her abide unmarried or be reconciled to her husband (see Rom. 5:10): and let not the husband send away his wife.
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord:
If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she be pleased (see Acts 8:1) to dwell (see Rom. 7:17) with him, let him not send her away.
13 And the woman which has an unbelieving husband, and he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not send away her husband. (The absolute equal rights of husband and wife are insisted on throughout the chapter)
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife (see John 17:17,19), and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: since otherwise were your children unclean; but now are they holy. (This, as contrasted with "unclean", must be in the same ceremonial sense, but there may be a thought of the dedication of the child to God by the believing parent, and the influence he or she would exercise upon it)
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister has not been enslaved in such cases: but God has called us in peace. (Peace is the atmosphere of the Christian calling, and should decide all the problems of life. Cp. Rom. 12:18. 2 Cor. 13:11. Col. 3:15)
16 For what do you know, O wife, if you shall save your husband? or how do you know, O husband, if you shall save your wife?
17 But as God (Gr. Theos corresponds generally to Elohim, the Creator, of the O.T.) has divided to every man, as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk. And so appoint I in all churches.
Z3 d 18,19. Circumcision.
e 20. Abide in it.
d 21-23. Servitude.
e 24. Abide in it.
18 Was any one called having been circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any one called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing (cp. Gal. 5:6; 6:15), and uncircumcision is nothing, but the guarding of the commandments of God [is every thing].
20 Let every man abide in the calling in which he was called.
21 Were you called being a slave? let it not be a care to you: but if you can become free, use it rather.
22 For he that was called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's absolutely free: likewise he that was called, being free, is Christ's (Christ is the Greek translation of Messiah. Christos has the same meaning, from chrio, to anoint) slave.
23 You were bought with a price (see 6:20); be not you the servants of men.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, in this abide with God.
Z4 B 25,26. Paul's advise on his own account.
C f 27,28-. Marriage not sin.
g -28. Trouble.
f 29-31. To remain as they were.
B 35. Paul's advice for their profit.
C h 36,37. Permission to marry.
k 38. Preference to do so.
h 39. Permission to marry again.
k 40. Preference not to do so.
25 Now concerning virgins I have not commandment of the Lord: yet I give my opinion, as one that has obtained mercy by the Lord to be faithful (See 1 Tim. 1:13,15).
26 I reckon therefore (see Luke 3:23. Acts 14:19) that this is good for the present need (cp. Luke 21:23), I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Are you bound to a wife? seek not release. Are you pit off from a wife? seek not a wife.
28 Moreover if you marry, you would not have sinned; and if a virgin marry, she would not have sinned.
Nevertheless such shall have tribulation in the flesh (see Acts 7:10, and cp. Matt. 19-21): but I spare you (see Acts 20:29).
29 But this I say, brethren, the season is shortened: as for the rest it is, that both they that have wives be as not having [any];
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 And they that use this world, as not using to the full: for the fashion of this world passes away. (Cp. 1 John 2:17)
32 But I would that you should be free from anxiety. He that is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in the body and in the spirit: but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for decorum and for devoted attention upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man think that he acts unseemly toward his virgin (i.e. virgin daughter), if she be of full age, and it ought to be so, let him do what he will, he sins not: let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he that stands steadfast in his heart, not having constraint, but has authority concerning his own will, and has so decided in his heart that he will keep his virgin [daughter], does well.
38 So then he that gives her in marriage does well; but he that gives her not in marriage does better.
39 The wife is bound by the law for such time as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, according to my judgment: and I think also that I have the Divine Spirit.