Concerning The Unmarried Series

December 19, 2012

Commentary on First Corinthians

By: Tom Lowe

Topic #6: Questions Concerning Marriage, 1 Corinthians 7.1-7.40

Lesson 6.4: Concerning the Unmarried

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7.25-35

1 Cor 7.25-35 (KJV)

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.

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

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.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

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 abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

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:

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

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.

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.

Introduction

In this passage, Paul addresses an issue in detail that he had touched on earlier in 1 Corinthians 7.8-9. The issue was, “Does a Christian have to get married, and how about the unmarried women in the church who are not getting any younger” (see I Co 7.36). Perhaps Paul had in mind the parents of marriage-age girls. Jesus did not have anything to say about this particular topic, therefore the apostle gave his opinion like one taught by the Lord. He pointed out several things for them to consider, before getting married.

This lesson has been split into four sections:

Section 1: The personal judgment of Paul. 7:25–26.

Section 2: The prospect of tribulation. 7:27–28.

Section 3: The passing away of worldly fashions. 7:29–31.

Section 4: The problem of divided allegiance. 7:32–35.

Section 1: The personal judgment of Paul. 7:25–26.

Commentary

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.

Now concerning virgins (young women of marrying age-see notes on Chapter 6.5, verse 36)

It was a time of distress (see v 26), and society was undergoing change (see v 31). Some found it difficult to find time to serve the Lord (see v 29). There were probably economic and political pressures in Corinth that we are not aware of.

Several translations read: “Now concerning virgin daughters,” which I think is correct. That is really what he is talking about here. Paul is in the process of answering a question posed to him in a letter from the Corinthian assembly. They wanted to know whether they should continue in the same state or not, whether they should marry or not. From what Paul says next, we know that the Lord Jesus never addressed this issue.

I have no commandment of the Lord:

This does not mean that this verse is not inspired; it is just as inspired as any other verse. And Paul is correct when he says, “I have no commandment of the Lord,” because in our Lord’s instructions regarding marriage and divorce recorded in the Gospels, there is no record of His speaking directly to this issue. But Paul could have added that there is nothing mentioned concerning celibacy, or commanding persons to live a single life in the Old Testament law; but on the contrary there are many things directing and agitating to a marriage state; but the apostle did not have any command from the Lord Jesus Christ, under the Gospel dispensation, to recommend virginity; or any special orders, or peculiar revelation from the Spirit of God that would settle the argument.

This reveals that Paul knew the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He taught. However, he specifically says here that concerning virgins he has no commandment from the Lord.