1 Corinthians 7:25

1 Corinthians 7:25

23 ^aYou were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

24 Brethren, let each one remain with ^aGod in that state in which he was called.

To the Unmarried and Widows

25 Now concerning virgins: ^aI have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one ^bwhom the Lord in His mercy has made ^ctrustworthy.

26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—^athat it is good for a man to remain as he is:

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

29 But ^athis I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

31 and those who use this world as not ^amisusing it. For ^bthe form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be without¹ care. ^aHe who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.

33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.

34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman ^acares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his¹ virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.

Commentaries:

Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)

<< 1 Corinthians 7:24

1 Corinthians 7:26 >>

I have no commandment of the Lord (epitaghn Kuriou ouk exw). A late word from epitassw, old Greek verb to enjoin, to give orders to. Paul did have (verse I Corinthians 7:10) a command from the Lord as we have in Matthew and Mark. It was quite possible for Paul to know this command of Jesus as he did other sayings of Jesus (Acts 20:35) even if he had as yet no access to a written gospel or had received no direct revelation on the subject from Jesus (I Corinthians 11:23). Sayings of Jesus were passed on among the believers. But Paul had no specific word from Jesus on the subject of virgins. They call for special treatment, young unmarried women only Paul means (I Corinthians 7:25, I Corinthians 7:28, I Corinthians 7:34, I Corinthians 7:36-38) and not as in Revelation 14:4 (metaphor). It is probable that in the letter (I Corinthians 7:1) the Corinthians had asked about this problem.

But I give my judgment (gnwmhn de didwmi). About mixed marriages (I Corinthians 7:12-16) Paul had the command of Jesus concerning divorce to guide him. Here he has nothing from Jesus at all. So he gives no "command," but only "a judgment," a deliberately formed decision from knowledge (II Corinthians 8:10), not a mere passing fancy.

As one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful (wv hlehmenov upo kuriou pistov einai). Perfect passive participle of eleew, old verb to receive mercy (eleov). Pistov is predicate nominative with infinitive einai. This language, so far from being a disclaimer of inspiration, is an express claim to help from the Lord in the forming of this duly considered judgment, which is in no sense a command, but an inspired opinion.

**Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Corinthians 7:25:**

1 Corinthians 7:8
1 Corinthians 7:25
1 Corinthians 7:40
2 Corinthians 8:10
Philemon 1:14

<< 1 Corinthians 7:24

1 Corinthians 7:26 >>

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To the Unmarried and Widows