§ 20. MARRIAGE OR CELIBACY? At this point the Ap. takes up the questions addressed to him by the Cor [993] Church (see _Introd_., chap. 2). In replying to Paul's previous letter, they had asked for clearer instructions to regulate their intercourse with men living in heathen sins (1 Corinthians 7:5)... [ Continue Reading ]
Περὶ δὲ ὧν ἐγράψατε : “Now about the things on which you wrote (to me)”. Περὶ ὧν = περὶ τούτων περὶ ὧν (not ἅ); _cf._ the constructions of rel [996] pron [997] in 1 Corinthians 7:39; 1 Corinthians 10:30; see Wr [998], p. 198. δὲ _metabatikon_ leads to a new topic, in orderly transition from the last... [ Continue Reading ]
a single life is good in itself, “but” is not generally expedient at Cor [1001] διὰ τὰς πορνείας, “because of the (prevalent) fornications” (the unusual pl [1002] indicating the variety and extent of profligacy: _cf._ 2 Corinthians 12:21); for this reason marriage, as a rule, is advisable here. It m... [ Continue Reading ]
Within the bonds of wedlock, “the due” should be yielded (1 Corinthians 7:3) by each for the satisfaction and according to the rights of the other (1 Corinthians 7:4). This dictum defends marital intercourse against rigorists, as that of 1 Corinthians 7:1 commends celibacy against sensualists. The w... [ Continue Reading ]
μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε κ. τ. λ.: “Do not rob one another” _sc_. of the ὀφειλή; the deprivation is an injustice (same vb [1009] as in 1 Corinthians 6:7 f.); “congruit hoc verbum cum verbo _debendi_ ” (Bg [1010]). This also, with 1 Corinthians 7:4, against the rigorists. The impvs. of this context are _pr_ [1... [ Continue Reading ]
τοῦτο δὲ λέγω points to the leading direction given in 1 Corinthians 7:2, from which 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 digressed: “I advise you to be married (though I think celibacy good, 1), κατὰ συνγνώμην,” _secundum indulgentiam_ (Vg [1021]) _i.e._, συγκαταβαίνων τ. ἀσθενείᾳ ὑμῶν (Thp [1022]); οὐ κατʼ ἐπιταγή... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:8-9 re-state the answer given in 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 to the question concerning celibacy _v_. marriage. “But I say to the unmarried and the widows, it is right (καλόν; _cf._ 1 Corinthians 7:1) for them if they remain as indeed I (am).” The Ap. extends the reassurance given in 1 Corin... [ Continue Reading ]
“But in the case of those that have married (τ. γεγαμηκόσιν, pf. of settled fact), I charge … wife not to separate from husband … and husband not to send away (_or_ let go) wife.” The parenthesis, “not I but the Lord” (it is _His_ command, not mine), refers the indissolubility of marriage to _the au... [ Continue Reading ]
§ 21. PROHIBITION OF DIVORCE. Pagan sentiment and law, while condoning fornication, were exceedingly lax in permitting _divorce_ (see Hermann-Stark, _Griech. Privat-alterthümer_, §§ 30. 15, 17), as Jewish practice was on the side of the husband (Matthew 5:31 f., Matthew 19:7 ff.); and marriages were... [ Continue Reading ]
“But to the rest” as distinguished from Christian couples (1 Corinthians 7:10) “say I, not the Lord”: this is _my_ word, not His. On the problem of mixed marriages, which Jesus had no occasion to regulate, the Ap. delivers his own sentence. Not that he _exhorts_, whereas the Lord commands (Cm [1039]... [ Continue Reading ]
obviates the objection which the Christian wife or husband (for the _order_, see note on 10 f.) might feel to continued union with an unbeliever (_cf._ Paul's own warning in 2 Corinthians 6:14 ff.): “Will not the saint,” some one asks, “be defiled, and the ‘limbs of Christ' (1 Corinthians 6:15) be d... [ Continue Reading ]
_a_. The Christian wife or husband is not to _seek_ divorce from the non-Christian (1 Corinthians 7:12-14); but if the latter insists on separation, it is not to be refused: “But if the unbeliever separates, he may separate” let the separation take its course (χωριζὲσθω, pr [1049] impv [1050]): for... [ Continue Reading ]
follows up the appeal to Christian principle, by a challenge addressed in turn to the wifely and the manly heart: “(Keep the peace, if you can, with the unconverted spouse), for how do you know, O wife, that you will not _save_ your husband? or how do you know, O husband, that you will not _save_ yo... [ Continue Reading ]
“Only, in each case as the Lord has apportioned to him, in each case as God has called him, so let him (the believer) walk.” Under this general rule the exceptional and guarded permission of divorce in 1 Corinthians 7:15 was to be understood. For εἰ μὴ in this _exceptive_ sense (= πλήν), _cf._ Roman... [ Continue Reading ]
§ 22. GOD'S CALLING AND ONE'S EARTHLY STATION. In treating of questions relating to marriage, the Apostle's general advice admitting of large exceptions (1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15) had been that each, whether single or married, should be content with his present state... [ Continue Reading ]
The rule of 1 Corinthians 7:17 applied to the most prominent and critical distinction in the Church, that between _Jew and Gentile_ : περιτετμημένος τις ἐκλήθη κ. τ. λ.; “Was any one called (as) a _circumcised_ man? let him not have the mark effaced”. ἐπισπάσθω alludes to a surgical operation (ἐπισπ... [ Continue Reading ]
Diff. views are taken of this ver., as κλῆσις is referred to the religious _call_ or secular _calling_ of the man; and as ᾗ is accordingly rendered “wherewith” (instrum. dat [1081] : _cf._ Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:9), or “wherein” (governed by the foregoing ἐν : _cf._ 1 Corinthians 7:24; 1 Corinth... [ Continue Reading ]
From the chief religious, the Ap. passes to the chief _social_ distinction of the times: _cf._ Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11. This contrast is developed only on one side no freeman wished to become a slave, as Gentiles wished to be Jews; but the slaves, numerous in this Church (1 Corinthians 1:26... [ Continue Reading ]
The two sentences, balanced by ὁμοίως (_cf._ 1 Corinthians 7:3 f.), do not precisely match: ὁ ἐν Κυρίῳ κληθεὶς δοῦλος is “the slave that was called in the Lord” (_i.e._, under Christ's authority), but ὁ ἐλεύθερος κληθεὶς is rather “the freeman, in that he was called”; his _call_ has made the latter... [ Continue Reading ]
τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε (see note on 1 Corinthians 6:20) explains the position both of the δοῦλος ἀπελεύθερος and the ἐλεύθ. δοῦλος by the same act of purchase: the slave has been liberated from sin, and the freeman bound to a new Lord. The point of the appended exhortation, μὴ γίνεσθε δοῦλ. ἀνθρ., is not... [ Continue Reading ]
reiterates with urgency, as addressed to “brethren,” the fundamental rule laid down in 1 Corinthians 7:20. ἐν τῇ κλήσει ᾖ now becomes, abstractly, ἐν ᾧ … ἐν τούτῳ “wherein each was called, in that let him abide in the sight of God”; here as there the _Christian_ vocation is intended, the status of f... [ Continue Reading ]
Περὶ δὲ τῶν παρθένων : a topic pointedly included in the περὶ ὧν ἐγράψατε of the Church Letter (1). In 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 P. had spoken of the conduct of self-directing men and women in regard to marriage; there remains the case of _daughters at home_, for whose disposal the father was responsible... [ Continue Reading ]
§ 23. ADVANTAGES OF THE SINGLE STATE. Paul's opinion had been asked particularly, in this connexion, about the case of _marriageable daughters_ (1 Corinthians 7:25): was it wise for fathers, as things were, to settle their daughters in marriage? He delivers his judgment on this delicate matter, turn... [ Continue Reading ]
νομίζω οὖν τοῦτο κ. τ. λ.: “I consider therefore” the formula by which one gives a γνώμη (contrast the παραγγέλλω, διατάσσομαι of 1 Corinthians 7:10; 1 Corinthians 7:17) “this to be good because of the present straits”: καλὸν ὑπάρχειν, “good in principle” or “in nature” (_cf._ 1 Corinthians 11:7; 1... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:27-28 apply in detail the advice just given, and first as it bears on _men_, then on _maidens_. δέδεσαι, λέλυσαι, pf. pass [1121] of present state determined by the past; μὴ ζήτει, pr [1122] impv [1123], “do not be seeking”. The two directions of 1 Corinthians 7:27 reinforce, from th... [ Continue Reading ]
τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί, κ. τ. λ.: “This moreover I assert, brethren: _The time is cut short_ ”. φημί, as distinguished from λέγω, “marks the gravity and importance of the statement” (El [1139]). Συνστέλλω (_to contract, shorten sail_) acquired the meaning to _depress, defeat_ (Malachi 3:6; Malachi 3... [ Continue Reading ]
θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς κ. τ. λ. (_cf._ 1 Corinthians 7:7): “But I want you to be unanxious (ἀμερίμνους);” _cf._ φείδομαι, 1 Corinthians 7:28. This is the reason why P. labours the advice of this section; see our Lord's dehortations from ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰῶνος in Matthew 6:25-34; Matthew 13:22. 1 Corinthians 7:3... [ Continue Reading ]
A third time P. declares that he is consulting for the welfare of his readers (_cf._ 28 _b_, 32 _a_), not insisting on his own preference nor laying down an absolute rule: “looking to (πρός) your advantage I say (it)”. τὸ σύμφορον is the abstract of συμφέρει (1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 10:23)... [ Continue Reading ]
By a contrastive δὲ P. passes from the εὔσχημον at which his dissuasive was aimed, to the ἀσχημονεῖν that might be thought to result in some cases from following it. The vb [1202] (= ἀσχήμωι εἶναι) signifies either _to act unbecomingly_ (1 Corinthians 13:5), or _to suffer disgrace, turpem videri_ (V... [ Continue Reading ]
§ 24. FREEDOM TO MARRY. The question of the marriage of Cor [1201] Christian maidens Paul has discussed on grounds of expediency. The narrow earthly horizon, the perils of the Christian lot, the division between religious and domestic duty esp. probable under these conditions, render the married sta... [ Continue Reading ]
For the opposite resolution, adopted by a father who “ _keeps_ his own virgin (daughter)” instead of “marrying” her (1 Corinthians 7:38), four conditions are laid down: (1) _unshaken firmness_ in his own mind (ἕστηκεν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ἑδραῖος, _cf._ Romans 14:5; Romans 14:23), as against social pressure... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:38, the sum of the matter: either to marry one's daughter or refuse her in marriage is, abstractly viewed, an honourable course; the latter, in Paul's judgment, and for Christians in the present posture of things, is _better_. “Ce bien et mieux résument tout le chapitre” (Gd [1213]).... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:39-40 dispose, by way of appendix to the case of the maiden and to the like effect, of the question of _the remarriage of Christian widows_. 1 Corinthians 7:39 is repeated in almost identical terms, for another purpose, in Romans 7:2. On δέδεται and γαμηθῆναι (cl [1214] γαμεθῆναι), s... [ Continue Reading ]