CHAPTER VII. _A solution of several difficult cases concerning marriage and_ _married persons_, 1-6. _God has given every man his proper gift_, 7. _Directions to the unmarried and widows_, 8, 9. _Directions to the married_, 10, 11. _Directions to men married to heathen women, and to women_ _m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:2. _TO AVOID FORNICATION_] Δια τας πορνειας· verto, _propter exercendam libidinem_, vel _ut libidinem licite exercere_ _liceat_. Probo hanc notionem ex Hebraeo, ibi זנה, _zanah_, est _libidinem exercere_, Hosea 4:10: _For they shall eat and not have enough; they shall commit_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:3. _LET THE HUSBAND RENDER UNTO THE WIFE DUE BENEVOLENCE_] την οφειλομενην ευνοιαν. Though our version is no translation of the original, yet few persons are at a loss for the meaning, and the context is sufficiently plain. Some have rendered the words, not unaptly, the _matri... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:4. _THE WIFE HATH NOT POWER_, c.] Her person belongs to her husband her husband's person belongs to her: neither of them has any authority to refuse what the other has a matrimonial right to demand. The woman that would act so is either a knave or a fool. It would be trifling t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:5. _DEFRAUD YE NOT ONE THE OTHER_] What ye owe thus to each other never refuse paying, unless by mutual consent; and let that be only for a certain _time_, when prudence dictates the temporary separation, or when some extraordinary spiritual occasion may render it mutually agre... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:6. _I SPEAK THIS BY PERMISSION_, c.] It was a constant custom of the more conscientious rabbins, to make a difference between the things which they enjoined on their _own judgment_, and those which they built on the authority of the _law_. Thus Rabbi _Tancum_: "The washing of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:7. _FOR I WOULD THAT ALL MEN_, c.] He wished that all that were then in the Church were, like him self, _unmarried_ but this was in reference to the _necessities_ of the Church, or what he calls, 1 Corinthians 7:26, the _present distress_: for it never could be his wish that ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:8. _THE UNMARRIED AND WIDOWS_] It is supposed that the apostle speaks here of men who _had been married_, in the word αγαμοι, but were now _widowers_; as he does of women who had been married, in the word χηραι, but were now _widows_. And when he says ωςκαγω, _even as I_, he me... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:9. _BUT IF THEY CANNOT CONTAIN_] If they find it inconvenient and uncomfortable to continue as widowers and widows, let them remarry. _IT IS BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN._] Bishop Pearce translates the original thus: _For it is better to marry than to be made_ _uneasy_. πυρου... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:10. _I COMMAND, YET NOT I, BUT THE LORD_] I do not give my own private opinion or judgment in this case; for the Lord Jesus commands that man shall not put asunder them whom God hath joined, Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:6. And God has said the same, Genesis 2:24. The following extr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:11. _BUT, AND IF SHE DEPART_] He puts the case as probable, because it was frequent, but lays it under restrictions. _LET HER REMAIN UNMARRIED_] She _departs_ at her own peril; but she must not marry another: she must either continue unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:12. _BUT TO THE REST SPEAK I, NOT THE LORD_] As if he had said: For what I have already spoken I have the testimony of the Lord by Moses, and of my own Lord and Master, Christ; but for the directions which I am now about to give there is no _written_ _testimony_, and I deliver... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:13. _AND THE WOMAN_] Converted from heathenism to the Christian faith; _which hath a husband_, who still abides in heathenism; _if he be pleased to dwell with her_, notwithstanding she has become a Christian _since_ their marriage; _let her not leave_ _him_ because he still con... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:14. _THE UNBELIEVING HUSBAND IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WIFE_] Or rather, is to be _reputed_ as sanctified on account of his wife; she being a _Christian_ woman, and he, though a _heathen_, being by marriage _one flesh_ with her: her sanctity, as far as it refers to outward things,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:15. _BUT IF THE UNBELIEVING, DEPART_] Whether husband or wife: if such _obstinately_ depart and utterly refuse all cohabitation, _a brother or a sister_-a Christian man or woman, _is_ _not under bondage_ to any particular laws, so as to be prevented from _remarrying_. Such, pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:16. _FOR WHAT KNOWEST THOU, O WIFE_] You that are _Christians_, and who have _heathen_ partners, do not give them up because they are such, for you may become the means of saving them unto eternal life. Bear your cross, and look up to God, and he may give your unbelieving husba... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _BUT AS GOD HATH DISTRIBUTED TO EVERY MAN_, c.] Let every man fulfil the duties of the state to which God in the course of his providence has called him. _SO ORDAIN I IN ALL CHURCHES._] I do not lay on _you_ a burden which others are not called to bear: this is the general rule which, by... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _IS ANY MAN CALLED BEING CIRCUMCISED?_] Is any man who was formerly a _Jew_ converted to Christianity? _LET HIM NOT BECOME CIRCUMCISED._] Let him not endeavour to abolish the sign of the old covenant, which he bears in his flesh. The Greek words μη επισπασθω, let him not _draw over_, are... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _CIRCUMCISION IS NOTHING_] Circumcision itself, though commanded of God, is nothing _of itself_, it being only a sign of the justification which should be afterwards received by faith. At present, neither it nor its opposite either _hinders_ or _furthers_ the work of grace; and _keeping th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _LET EVERY MAN ABIDE IN THE SAME CALLING_] As both the circumcised and uncircumcised, in Christ, have the same advantages, and to their believing the same facilities; so any situation of life is equally friendly to the salvation of the soul, if a man be faithful to the grace he has receive... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _ART THOU CALLED BEING A SERVANT?_] δουλος εκληθης, Art thou converted to Christ while thou art a _slave_-the property of another person, and bought with his money? _care not for it_-this will not injure thy Christian condition, but if thou canst obtain thy liberty-_use it rather_-prefer t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _FOR HE THAT IS CALLED_] The man who, being a _slave_, is converted to the Christian faith, is the Lord's freeman; his condition as a slave does not vitiate any of the privileges to which he is entitled as a _Christian_: on the other hand, all free men, who receive the grace of Christ, mus... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE_] As truly as your bodies have become the property of your masters, in consequence of his paying down a price for you; so sure you are now the Lord's property, in consequence of your being purchased by the blood of Christ. Some render this verse interrogatively... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _LET EVERY MAN - ABIDE WITH GOD._] Let him live to God in whatsoever station he is placed by Providence. If he be a slave, God will be with him even in his _slavery_, if he be faithful to the grace which he has received. It is very likely that some of the slaves at Corinth, who had been co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _NOW CONCERNING VIRGINS_] This was another subject on which the Church at Corinth had asked the advice of the apostle. The word παρθενος, _virgin_, we take to signify a _pure, unmarried_ _young woman_; but it is evident that the word in this place means young unmarried persons of either s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _THIS IS GOOD FOR THE PRESENT DISTRESS_] There was no period in the heathen times when the Church was not under persecutions and afflictions; on some occasions these were more oppressive than at others. The word αναγκη signifies, _necessity, distress, tribulation_, and _calamity_; as it... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _ART THOU BOUND UNTO A WIFE?_] i e. _Married_; for the marriage contract was considered in the light of a _bond_. _SEEK NOT TO BE LOOSED._] Neither regret your circumstances, notwithstanding the present distress, nor seek on this account for a dissolution of the marriage contract. But if... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _BUT, AND IF THOU MARRY_] As there is no law against this, even in the _present distress_, thou hast not sinned, because there is no law against this; and it is only on account of prudential reasons that I give this advice. _AND IF A VIRGIN MARRY_] Both the man and the woman have equal pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _THE TIME IS SHORT_] These persecutions and distresses are at the door, and life itself will soon be run out. Even _then_ Nero was plotting those grievous persecutions with which he not only afflicted, but devastated the Church of Christ. _THEY THAT HAVE WIVES_] Let none begin to think of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _THEY THAT WEEP_, c.] There will shortly be such a complete system of distress and confusion that private sorrows and private joys will be absorbed in the weightier and more oppressive public evils: yet, let every man still continue in his calling, let him buy, and sell, and traffic, as us... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _AND THEY THAT USE THIS WORLD_] Let them who have earthly property or employments discharge conscientiously their duties, from a conviction of the instability of earthly things. Make a _right use_ of every thing, and _pervert_ nothing from its _use._ To _use_ a thing is to employ it proper... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _WITHOUT CAREFULNESS._] Though all these things will shortly come to pass, yet do not be anxious about them. Every occurrence is under the direction and management of God. The wrath of man shall praise him, and the remainder of it he shall restrain, and none can harm you if ye be followers... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _BUT HE THAT IS MARRIED_] He has a _family_ to provide for, and his wife to please, as well as to fulfil his duty to God, and attend to the concerns of his own soul. The _single_ man has nothing to attend to but what concerns his own salvation: the _married man_ has all this to attend to,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _THERE IS A DIFFERENCE ALSO BETWEEN A WIFE AND A_ _VIRGIN._] That is: There is this difference between a _married_ and an _unmarried_ woman. _The unmarried careth_ (only) _for the things of_ _the Lord_, having no domestic duties to perform. _That she may be_ _holy_-separated to Divine empl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _THIS I SPEAK FOR YOUR OWN PROFIT_] The advices belong to yourselves _alone_, because of the peculiar circumstances in which you are placed. Nothing spoken here was ever designed to be of _general_ application; it concerned the Church at Corinth alone, or Churches in similar circumstances.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _UNCOMELY TOWARDS HIS VIRGIN_] Different meanings have been assigned to this verse; I shall mention _three_ of the principal. 1. "In those early times, both among the Hebrews and Christians, the _daughters_ were wholly in the power of the _father_, so that he might give or not give them i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _THE WIFE IS BOUND BY THE LAW_] This seems to be spoken in answer to some other question of the Corinthians to this effect: "May a woman _remarry_ whose husband is dead, or who has abandoned her?" To which he replies, in general, That as long as her husband is living the law binds her to _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 7:40. _BUT SHE IS HAPPIER IF SHE SO ABIDE_] If she continue in her _widowhood_ because of the _present distress_; for this must always be taken in, that consistency in the apostle's reasoning may be preserved. If this were not understood, how could St. Paul tell the widow that i... [ Continue Reading ]