THE THINGS WHEREOF YE WROTE; these were certain things about which the Christians at Corinth had, in a letter to Paul, requested him to give his views. GOOD FOR A MAN; best under the peculiar circumstances to which the letter of the Corinthians related. NOT TO TOUCH A WOMAN; not to be married.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS; notwithstanding it may sometimes be best for persons not to be married, it is in all ordinary cases best that they should be. HIS OWN WIFE-HER OWN HUSBAND; no man is allowed by God to have at once more than one wife, and no woman to have more than one husband. The union for life of on... [ Continue Reading ]
DUE BENEVOLENCE; these words express the mutual duty of husband and wife towards each other, as explained in verses 1 Corinthians 7:4-5. Whatever increases temptations to evils which marriage was designed to prevent, or renders it ineffectual for the purposes for which it was instituted, should be c... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT POWER; not to live apart, even for a time, without mutual consent.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEFRAUD YE NOT ONE THE OTHER; deprive not one another by separation of any safeguard against temptation. Do nothing which shall tend to impurity, or give Satan advantage over you.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY PERMISSION; this was a subject about which persons were permitted to judge for themselves; and on which they should exercise an enlightened and conscientious Christian discretion.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS I; I wish they had the same self-control, and could live as contentedly in any condition to which Providence calls them. He evidently refers to his condition as unmarried. PROPER GIFT OF GOD; control over one's bodily appetites and passions is one of these gifts; but all do not have it in t... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS GOOD FOR THEM; it was well, under their then peculiar circumstances, to remain as Paul was, unmarried, provided they thought so, and could do it without inconvenience.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BURN; be disturbed with ungratified passion, or tempted by it to the commission of sin. God bestows on different persons different gifts, and places them in different conditions. That course which is wise for one may not be so for another. Their wishes as well as their situations and habits may b... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT I, BUT THE LORD; not Paul only, but Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:3-10.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT THE LORD; he had not given specific directions about the case which follows, and Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, proceeded to do it. BELIEVETH NOT; believeth not the gospel. It is evident that some of the Corinthians had scruples about the lawfulness of living in the marriage relat... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT KNOWEST THOU; another argument why the believing party should continue to live with the unbelieving. The Christian party may be instrumental in saving the other.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS GOD HATH DISTRIBUTED TO EVERY MAN; assigned him his place and lot in life. The apostle here begins an exhortation to contentment in present circumstances. SO LET HIM WALK; let each one continue in the condition and business to which God in his providence calls him, and do all the good he can.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING CIRCUMCISED; having been circumcised as a Jew. LET HIM NOT BECOME UNCIRCUMCISED; not try to undo or disavow his circumcision.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOTHING; as to acceptance with God. THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD; the keeping of them was all that he required, and this might be done whether a man was circumcised or not.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME CALLING; let a man after his conversion continue in the same business in which he was before, provided it is a moral and useful one, and the providence of God does not call him to change it.... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED; converted to Christ. CARE NOT FOR IT; be not so anxious to change your condition as to unfit you to discharge its duties. IF THOU MAYEST BE MADE FREE; in the original, If thou canst be free; that is, if thou art able in doing right to be free, USE IT RATHER; be free, because freedom is a b... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED IN THE LORD; converted. IS THE LORD'S FREEMAN; through divine power and grace, he is delivered from the condemnation and bondage of sin; and under the teaching of the Holy Ghost pursues his own free choice, cheerfully, as an affectionate child, doing the will of his Father in heaven. IS CHR... [ Continue Reading ]
YE; Christians of all countries and conditions, high and low, rich and poor, bond and free. ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; redeemed from endless bondage to sin, Satan, and death by the precious blood of Christ. BE NOT YE THE SERVANTS OF MEN; act from supreme regard not to them, but to Christ. Honor him,... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIDE WITH GOD; in union with God, and acting in such a manner as to meet his approbation and enjoy his favor.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE NO COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD; God had given no specific command concerning the marriage of virgins in times of great and peculiar trials. Therefore Paul, in answer to their inquiry, gave his view of the matter.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SUPPOSE; in my judgment. FOR THE PRESENT DISTRESS; on account of the peculiarly distressing circumstances in which they were then placed. SO TO BE; to remain, during the continuance of those trials, unmarried. But some understand the words "so to be" as meaning, to be so as he is now-to remain i... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE HATH NOT SINNED; in marrying even in those troublous times, if she chose this, and thought it best for her. TROUBLE IN THE FLESH; special trials in those times of peculiar difficulty and danger. I SPARE YOU; am sparing of you; have a fatherly feeling towards you, and in giving you this advice... [ Continue Reading ]
BE AS THOUGH THEY HAD NONE; live above the world and its temporary relations, remembering how soon this earthly scene, with all its joys and sorrows, will be over, and eternity come in its place. So also are the following clauses to be understood. No worldly circumstances should so disturb or occupy... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT ABUSING IT; not using it to excess, depending upon it, or seeking your chief good in it. THE FASHION; circumstances and condition of earthly things. PASSETH AWAY; like a shadow or dream. Psalms 39:6; 1 JOHN 2:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT CAREFULNESS; not distracted by worldly cares. CARETH FOR THE THINGS THAT BELONG TO THE LORD; is able to give his undivided attention to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
CARETH FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE OF THE WORLD; he is more exposed than the unmarried, in peculiarly troublous times, to be so engrossed with cares as to be hindered from wholly following the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT THAT I MAY CAST A SNARE; his object was not to bind all to act alike, but to induce each to take the course which would be most proper, and in which he or she could best serve God.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHAVETH HIMSELF UNCOMELY; acts unsuitably towards his daughter or one under his care, in withholding her from marriage. If she is of a proper age, and is disposed to be married, he would do well to consent to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS; on the other hand. HAVING NO NECESSITY; if circumstances do not call for her marriage, he does well to let her remain unmarried.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT GIVETH HER IN MARRIAGE; when circumstances require it, DOETH WELL; that which is right. HE THAT GIVETH HER NOT; when circumstances do not require or favor it, DOETH BETTER; what will be more comfortable for her, that is, "for the present distress," as is to be understood throughout this cha... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY IN THE LORD; only within the limits of the Christian body. Others interpret these words to mean, only in the spirit of obedience to the Lord. But the former is the preferable view. So important is the institution of marriage, so honorable in all, and so numerous its blessings to those who faith... [ Continue Reading ]
SO ABIDE; continue unmarried during these troublous times, if she can so remain consistently. I HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD; to guide me in the views expressed on this subject.... [ Continue Reading ]