Now Concerning Virgins

The last teaching by Apostle Paul concerning marriage for the unmarried began in 1 Cor. 7:6-9. He explains his reasoning now in verses 25-35. Let us read verses 6-9 first. 6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. 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. 8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

Now turn to 1 Cor. 7:25-35. 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.

Notice Paul is returning to the unmarried as he began earlier; virgins–maidens who have never been with a man and therefore are not married. He will include widows who are no longer married due to the death of their male spouse. Once again, Paul is speaking with the approval of the Holy Spirit. (2 Tim. 3:16) It is not a direct command by God, therefore, man should not bind this teaching upon mankind as a condition for salvation.

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.

The present destress for Corinth is no different than today; the perils of life with persecutions against Christians is real and heavy upon mankind. With a dual responsibility to family and God, Christian mankind has a more difficult time being totally loyal to both situations–physical life and spiritual life. Now we will see the direct reasoning Paul would have unmarried Christians to choose to remain unmarried.

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.

Paul wants to instill within the mind of unmarried Christians the difficulties they will face being tied to two ‘masters’, if you will. Those masters would be: God and the spirit duty; physical duty to provide and protect a family in times of Christian persecution. This is the ‘carefulness term used in verse 32. Reread verse 32-33. 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. A Christian is split between the physical cares and God, the spiritual cares.

Paul includes a widow in this strong suggestion to be unmarried. Now that she is unmarried, she should try to remain unmarried. Again, this is not a command by Paul or God.

The term VIRGIN is defined as a marriageable maiden, a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man, and/or one's marriageable daughter. As speaking of the male, one who has never had intercourse with women. We see the connotation as understood in today’s verse, yet, it can be just the marriageable maiden to whom has not been pre arranged for a husband according to custom. When speaking of this passage, I believe we must take the custom of the Jews and assume neither person, either male or female, have had intercourse with anyone. However, for Gentiles, one might assume any one has had sexual intercourse before, as the intro of this topic was to confront fornication and put a stop to it for believers. Thus, to not take a spouse, even if fornication has previously occurred, if the new Gentile convert can contain, a single life would be better for them.