1 Corinthians 7:36

his virgin i.e. his daughter. The advice here given is to parents. In St Paul's time, and in most continental countries now, it is the parents who decide on the marriage of their children. In France, and in some other foreign countries, the young people very often do not even see one another before they are contracted. But St Paul thinks it might in some cases be -unseemly" conduct on the part of a parent to refuse a proposal of marriage for a daughter who desired to serve God in the married state.

if she pass the flower of her age Rather, If she have fully attained it.

and need so require Literally, and so it ought to be; that is, if it be fair and reasonable that the wish of both parties should be carried out, and it would be harsh to act otherwise. Some think that the reference is to the disgrace incurred by a maiden, especially a Jewish maiden who had passed the age of maturity, and was still unmarried a disgrace which also attached to a Jewish father who had not provided a suitable marriage for her. Cf. Sir 7:25, "Marry thy daughter, and thou hast performed a weighty matter." See also Sir 42:9. The Rabbins advised rather that a slave should be released as a husband for the daughter, than that she should remain unmarried. Others, again think that the danger of sin (1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Corinthians 7:9) is here referred to. See Sir 42:10.

let them marry i.e. the daughter and her lover.