1 Corinthians 7:1
It is good for a man — Who is master of himself. Not to touch a women — That is, not to marry. So great and many are the advantages of a single life.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is good for a man — Who is master of himself. Not to touch a women — That is, not to marry. So great and many are the advantages of a single life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet, when it is needful, in order to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife. His own — For Christianity allows no polygamy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let not married persons fancy that there is any perfection in living with each other, as if they were unmarried. The debt — This ancient reading seems far more natural than the common one.... [ Continue Reading ]
The wife — the husband — Let no one forget this, on pretence of greater purity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Unless it be by consent for a time — That on those special and solemn occasions ye may entirely give yourselves up to the exercises of devotion. Lest — If ye should long remain separate. Satan tempt you — To unclean thoughts, if not actions too.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say this — Concerning your separating for a time and coming together again. Perhaps he refers also to 1 Corinthians 7:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
For I would that all men were herein even as I — I would that all believers who are now unmarried would remain "eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake" St. Paul, having tasted the sweetness of this liberty, wished others to enjoy it, as well as himself. But every one hath his proper gift from God... [ Continue Reading ]
It is good for them if they remain even as I — That St. Paul was then single is certain and from Acts 7:58, compared with the following parts of the history, it seems probable that he always was so. It does not appear that this declaration, any more than 1 Corinthians 7:1, hath any reference at all... [ Continue Reading ]
Not I — Only. But the Lord — Christ; by his express command, Matthew 5:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
But if she depart — Contrary to this express prohibition. And let not the husband put away his wife — Except for the cause of adultery.... [ Continue Reading ]
To the rest — Who are married to unbelievers. Speak I — By revelation from God, though our Lord hath not left any commandment concerning it. Let him not put her away — The Jews, indeed, were obliged of old to put away their idolatrous wives, Ezra 10:3; but their case was quite different. They were a... [ Continue Reading ]
For the unbelieving husband hath, in many instances, been sanctified by the wife — Else your children would have been brought up heathens; whereas now they are Christians. As if he had said, Ye see the proof of it before your eyes.... [ Continue Reading ]
A brother or a sister — A Christian man or woman. Is not enslaved — is at full liberty. In such cases: but God hath called us to peace — To live peaceably with them, if it be possible.... [ Continue Reading ]
But as God hath distributed — The various stations of life, and various relations, to every one, let him take care to discharge his duty therein. The gospel disannuls none of these. And thus I ordain in all the churches — As a point of the highest concern.... [ Continue Reading ]
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing — Will neither promote nor obstruct our salvation. The one point is, keeping the commandments of God; "faith working by love.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the calling — The outward state. Wherein he is — When God calls him. Let him not seek to change this, without a clear direction from Providence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Care not for it — Do not anxiously seek liberty. But if thou canst be free, use it rather — Embrace the opportunity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Is the Lord's freeman — Is free in this respect. The Greek word implies one that was a slave, but now is free. Is the bondman of Christ — Not free in this respect; not at liberty to do his own will.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye are bought with a price — Ye belong to God; therefore, where it can be avoided, do not become the bondslaves of men — Which may expose you to many temptations.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therein abide with God — Doing all things as unto God, and as in his immediate presence. They who thus abide with God preserve an holy indifference with regard to outward things.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now concerning virgins — Of either sex. I have no commandment from the Lord — By a particular revelation. Nor was it necessary he should; for the apostles wrote nothing which was not divinely inspired: but with this difference, — sometimes they had a particular revelation, and a special commandment;... [ Continue Reading ]
This is good for the present distress — While any church is under persecution. For a man to continue as he is — Whether married or unmarried. St. Paul does not here urge the present distress as a reason for celibacy, any more than for marriage; but for a man's not seeking to alter his state, whateve... [ Continue Reading ]
Such will have trouble in the flesh — Many outward troubles. But I spare you — I speak as little and as tenderly as possible.... [ Continue Reading ]
But this I say, brethren — With great confidence. The time of our abode here is short. It plainly follows, that even they who have wives be as serious, zealous, active, dead to the world, as devoted to God, as holy in all manner of conversation, as if they had none — By so easy a transition does the... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that weep, as if they wept not — "Though sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." They that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not — Tempering their joy with godly fear. They that buy, as if they possessed not — Knowing themselves to be only stewards, not proprietors.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that use this world, as not abusing it — Not seeking happiness in it, but in God: using every thing therein only in such a manner and degree as most tends to the knowledge and love of God. For the whole scheme and fashion of this world — This marrying, weeping, rejoicing, and all the rest,... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I would have you — For this flying moment. Without carefulness — Without any incumbrance of your thoughts. The unmarried man — If he understand and use the advantage he enjoys — Careth only for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
But the married careth for the things of the world — And it in his duty so to do, so far as becomes a Christian. How he may please his wife — And provide all things needful for her and his family.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin — Whether the church be under persecution or not. The unmarried woman — If she know and use her privilege. Careth only for the things of the Lord — All her time, care, and thoughts centre in this, how she may be holy both in body and spirit. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Not that I may cast a snare upon you — Who are not able to receive this saying. But for your profit — Who are able. That ye may resolutely and perseveringly wait upon the Lord — The word translated wait signifies sitting close by a person, in a good posture to hear. So Mary sat at the feet of Jesus,... [ Continue Reading ]
But if any parent think he should otherwise act indecently — Unbecoming his character. Toward his virgin daughter, if she be above age, (or of full age,) and need so require, 1 Corinthians 7:9, let them marry — Her suitor and she.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having no necessity — Where there is no such need. But having power over his own will — Which would incline him to desire the increase of his family, and the strengthening it by new relations.... [ Continue Reading ]
Doeth better — If there be no necessity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Only in the Lord — That is, only if Christians marry Christians: a standing direction, and one of the utmost importance.... [ Continue Reading ]
I also — As well as any of you. Have the Spirit of God — Teaching me all things This does not imply any doubt; but the strongest certainty of it, together with a reproof of them for calling it in question. Whoever, therefore, would conclude from hence, that St. Paul was not certain he had the Spirit... [ Continue Reading ]