Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Corinthians 7

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  He treats of marriage;
4  shewing it to be a remedy against fornication,
10  and that the bond thereof ought not lightly to be dissolved.
20  Every man must be content with his vocation.
25  Virginity wherefore to be embraced;
35  and for what respects we may either marry, or abstain from marrying.
Verse 1

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
good
8,26,27,37,38, Matthew 19:10,11
touch
Genesis 20:6, Ruth 2:9, Proverbs 6:29
Verse 2

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
to avoid
9, 6:18, Proverbs 5:18,19, 1 Timothy 4:3
let
Proverbs 18:22, 19:14, Malachi 2:14, Ephesians 5:28,33
Verse 3

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
Exodus 21:10, 1 Peter 3:7
Verse 4

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
Hosea 3:3, Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:11,12
Verse 5

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
except
Exodus 19:15, 1 Samuel 21:4,5, Joel 2:16, Zechariah 7:3, 12:12-14
that Satan
Matthew 19:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:5
Verse 6

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
by
12,25, 2 Corinthians 8:8, 11:17
Verse 7

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
I would
St. Paul evidently gave this advice in reference to the necessities of the church, or what he calls (ver. 26) the present distress; for it would be perfectly absurd to imagine that an inspired apostle would in the general, discountenance marriage, since it was of the greatest importance to the existence and happiness of future generations, and expressly agreeable to a Divine institution.
9:5,15, Acts 26:29
But
12:11, Matthew 19:11,12
Verse 8

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
7:26,27,32,34,35
Verse 9

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
let
2,28,36,39, 1 Timothy 5:11,14
Verse 10

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
yet
12,25,40
Let
15, Jeremiah 3:20, Malachi 2:14-16, Matthew 5:32, 19:6-9, Mark 10:11,12, Luke 16:18
Verse 11

But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
or
Judges 19:2,3, Jeremiah 3:1
and let
Deuteronomy 22:19, Isaiah 50:1, Mark 10:2
Verse 12

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
speak
6,25, 2 Corinthians 11:17
If
Ezra 10:2,3,11-19
Verse 14

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
the unbelieving husband
6:15-17, Ezra 9:1,2, 1 Timothy 4:5, Titus 1:15
else
Ezra 9:2, Isaiah 52:1, Malachi 2:15,16, Acts 10:23, Romans 11:16
Verse 15

But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
A brother
Matthew 12:50, James 2:15
but
14:33, Romans 12:18, 14:19, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Galatians 5:22, Hebrews 12:14, James 3:17,18
to peace
Gr. in peace.
Verse 16

For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
O wife
9:22, Proverbs 11:30, Luke 15:10, 1 Timothy 4:16, James 5:19,20, 1 Peter 3:1,2
how
Gr. what.
Verse 17

But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
as God
7, Matthew 19:12, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:10,11
as the
18,20,21,24
so ordain
4:17, 16:1, 2 Corinthians 11:28
Verse 18

Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
being
Acts 15:1,5,19,24,28, Galatians 5:1-3, Colossians 3:11
Verse 19

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Circumcision
8:8, Romans 2:25-29, 3:30, Galatians 5:6, 6:15
but
1 Samuel 15:22, Jeremiah 7:22,23, Matthew 5:19, John 15:14, 1 John 2:3,4, 3:22-24, 1 John 5:2,3, Revelation 22:14
Verse 20

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
abide
17,21-23, Proverbs 27:8, Luke 3:10-14, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:12
Verse 21

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
being
12:13, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11, 1 Timothy 6:1-3, 1 Peter 2:18-24
a servant
Rather, a slave, [doulos] the property of another, and bought with his money. In these verses the apostle shows that Christianity makes no change in our civil connections.
care
Luke 10:40,41, 12:29; *marg:; 21:34, Philippians 4:6,11, Hebrews 13:5, 1 Peter 5:7
Verse 22

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
is the
Luke 1:74,75, John 8:32-36, Romans 6:18-22, Galatians 5:1,13, Ephesians 6:5,6, Colossians 3:22-24, Philemon 1:16, 1 Peter 2:16
freeman
Gr. made free. is Christ's.
9:19, Psalms 116:16, Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:10, Colossians 4:12, 1 Peter 2:16, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1:1
Verse 23

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
are
6:20, Leviticus 25:42, Acts 20:28, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 1:18,19, 3:18, Revelation 5:9
be
Matthew 23:8-11, Galatians 2:4
Verse 24

Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
let
17,20
abide
10:31, Genesis 5:22-24, 17:1, 1 Samuel 14:45, Colossians 3:23,24
Verse 25

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
concerning
28,34,36-38, Psalms 78:63
virgins
The word [parthenos] as well as the Latin virgo, "a virgin," though it generally signifies a maid, frequently denotes unmarried persons of both sexes; in which sense it is evidently used here by the apostle.
have
6,10,12,40, 2 Corinthians 8:8-10, 11:17
obtained
4:2, 15:10, 2 Corinthians 2:17, 4:1,2, 1 Timothy 1:12-16
Verse 26

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
that
1,8,28,35-38, Jeremiah 16:2-4, Matthew 24:19, Luke 21:23, 23:28,29, 1 Peter 4:17
distress
or, necessity.
Verse 27

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
thou bound
12-14,20
Verse 28

But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
thou hast
36, Hebrews 13:4
Nevertheless
26,32-34
but
35, 2 Corinthians 1:23
Verse 29

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
the time
Job 14:1,2, Psalms 39:4-7, 90:5-10, 103:15,16, Ecclesiastes 6:12, 9:10, Romans 13:11,12, Hebrews 13:13,14, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 3:8,9, 1 John 2:17
that both
Ecclesiastes 12:7,8,13,14, Isaiah 24:1,2, 40:6-8, James 4:13-16, 1 Peter 1:24
Verse 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;
that weep
Psalms 30:5, 126:5,6, Ecclesiastes 3:4, Isaiah 25:8, 30:19, Luke 6:21,25, 16:25, John 16:22, Revelation 7:17, 18:7
Verse 31

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
use
9:18, Ecclesiastes 2:24,25, 3:12,13, 5:18-20, 9:7-10, 11:2,9,10, Matthew 24:48-50, Matthew 25:14-29, Luke 12:15-21, 16:1,2, 19:17-26, 21:34, 1 Timothy 6:17,18, James 5:1-5
for
Psalms 39:6, 73:20, Ecclesiastes 1:4, James 1:10,11, 4:14, 1 Peter 1:24, 4:7, 1 John 2:17
the fashion
[hema]
Verse 32

But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
I would
Psalms 55:22, Matthew 6:25-34, 13:22, Philippians 4:6
He that
1 Timothy 5:5
that belong to the Lord
Gr. of the Lord, as.
Verse 33

But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
careth
Nehemiah 5:1-5, Luke 12:22, 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12, 1 Timothy 5:8
how
3, 1 Samuel 1:4-8, Ephesians 5:25-33, Colossians 3:19, 1 Peter 3:7
Verse 34

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
careth
Luke 2:36,37, 2 Corinthians 7:11,12, 8:16, 11:28, 1 Timothy 3:5, Titus 3:8
both
6:20, Romans 6:13, 12:1,2, Philippians 1:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:23
she that
Luke 10:40-42
Verse 35

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
not
This is an allusion to the Retiarius among the Romans, who carried a small casting net, rete, which he endeavoured to throw over his adversary's head.
2,5-9,28,36, Matthew 19:12
comely
36, Ephesians 5:3, Philippians 4:8, 1 Timothy 1:10, Titus 2:3
and that
33,34, Luke 8:14, 10:40-42, 21:34
Verse 36

But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
his virgin
Some interpret this of a man's continuing in a state of celibacy, and render [parthenos] not a virgin, but virginity; but such a construction of the original appears without example. It appears most obvious to explain it of a parent, or guardian, who had the charge of a virgin; and Kypke has shown that it is an elegant phrase for his virgin daughter.
the flower
1 Samuel 2:33
and need
9,37
he sinneth
Verse 38

So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
then
doeth well
2, Hebrews 13:4
doeth better
1,8,26,32-34,37
Verse 39

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
wife
10,15, Romans 7:2,3
only
Genesis 6:2, Deuteronomy 7:3,4, Malachi 2:11, 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
Verse 40

But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
she
1,8,26,35
I think
Rather, "I judge (or consider) also that I have the Spirit of God;" for [dokein] is frequently used to express not what is doubtful, but what is true and certain.
25, 9:1-3, 14:36,37, 2 Corinthians 10:8-10, 12:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:8, 2 Peter 3:15,16

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