Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: _It is_ good for a man not to touch a woman. Ver. 1. _Whereof ye wrote unto me_] Certain cases of conscience they had propounded, which here he answers. This he could do excellently, and so could Luther, as having had experience, and been much bea... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless, _to avoid_ fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Ver. 2. _To avoid fornication_] Gr. πορνειας, fornications, comprehending all lustful burnings, self-pollutions, and all other impurities of a single life. How many are there that enter... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. Ver. 3. _Let the husband, &c._] Let them be chaste between themselves, and beware both of excess and defect. Chastity is a man's honour,1 Thessalonians 4:5. And modesty is the best preserver of nuptia... [ Continue Reading ]
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Ver. 4. _The wife hath no power, &c._] The husband's body is servant to the wife, and the wife's to the husband: they have passed themselves one to another by mutual... [ Continue Reading ]
Defraud ye not one the other, except _it be_ with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. Ver. 5. _To fasting and prayer_] _Preces nobis ieiuniis alendum et quasi saginandum._ Fasting days are so... [ Continue Reading ]
But I speak this by permission, _and_ not of commandment. Ver. 6. _And not of commandment_] Among the Jews marriage was not held a thing indifferent, or at their own liberty to choose or refuse, but a binding command. (Targum on Gen 1:28) Hereto Paul seems in this verse to allude. In this day every... [ Continue Reading ]
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. Ver. 7. _For I would that all, &c._] He had a peculiar gift, that he was so eminently chaste; such as might be in reprobates. So Moses' meekness was partly from... [ Continue Reading ]
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. Ver. 8. _I say therefore to the unmarried_] Yet doth not the apostle simply prefer virginity on viduity before marriage as better. The Saturnalian heretics said that marriage was of the devil. And the blemish... [ Continue Reading ]
But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. Ver. 9. _Let them marry_] There is no lust so hot and violent, but God's medicines rightly applied will cool and heal. Only remember that it is not the having, but the loving of a wife that keepeth a man chaste and... [ Continue Reading ]
And unto the married I command, _yet_ not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from _her_ husband: Ver. 10. _Yet not I_] By prudential advice only. _ But the Lord_] Not in so many words, but by just consequence drawn from Matthew 19:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to _her_ husband: and let not the husband put away _his_ wife. Ver. 11. _Or let her be reconciled_] _Ut quae mode pugnarant iungant sua rostra columbae._ (Ovid.) Why should married couples be as glass, that being once broken can neve... [ Continue Reading ]
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. Ver. 12. _Let him not put her away_] For to the pure all things are pure. _Uxoris vitium aut tollendum, aut tolerandum est, _ saith Varro in Gellius.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. Ver. 13. _If he be pleased, &c._] If he blaspheme not Christ, force her not to deny the faith, &c., as that king of Denmark that would have compelled his wife to go to mass, who wa... [ Continue Reading ]
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. Ver. 14. _But now they are holy_] With a federal holiness, and are therefore to be baptized, as being partakers of the covenant of gr... [ Continue Reading ]
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such _cases_ : but God hath called us to peace. Ver. 15. _But God hath called us to peace_] To domestic peace, which they that lack, _Plus quam dimidiae beatitudinis suae parte privati sunt, _ saith Aristot... [ Continue Reading ]
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save _thy_ husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save _thy_ wife? Ver. 16. _Whether thou shalt save_] And to have any hand in saving a soul is the highest honour.... [ Continue Reading ]
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Ver. 17. _But God hath distributed_] In case you should not save your yoke fellow, yet keep your station, be content with your condition, and adorn it, 1 Peter 3:1,2. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Ver. 18. _Let him not become uncircumcised_] Some Jews, for fear of Antiochus, made themselves uncircumcised, RAPC 1Ma 1:15. Others for shame after they were gained to... [ Continue Reading ]
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Ver. 19. _But the keeping of the commandment_] This is that _bonum hominis, _ good of man, Micah 6:8, that _totum hominis, _ the whole of man,Ecclesiastes 12:13, that one thing necessary, that is bet... [ Continue Reading ]
Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Ver. 20. _Abide in the same calling_] And therein learn to "maintain good works," or to be their craftsmen, to excel in their profession, _honestis functionibus praeesse, _ as some render the apostle there, Titus 3:8; Titus 3:14. Αιεν α... [ Continue Reading ]
Art thou called _being_ a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use _it_ rather. Ver. 21. _Use it rather_] Liberty is that we lost by sin, and affect by nature. _Servus est nomen officii._ A servant is not αυτοματος, one that moveth absolutely of himself, he is the master's ins... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that is called in the Lord, _being_ a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, _being_ free, is Christ's servant. Ver. 22. _For he that is called_] See a parallel place to this, James 1:9,10. Our preferment in Christ should make us hold up our heads, but not too high,... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Ver. 23. _Ye are bought with a price_] The redeemed among the Romans were to addict themselves to the service of their redeemers, and to observe them as their parents all days of their lives. _ Be not ye the servants of men_] When they com... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. Ver. 24. _Let every man wherein, &c._] This is the same with 1 Corinthians 7:20. The apostle inculcateth it, as we not only anoint our benumbed limbs with ointments, but also rub and chafe them in.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. Ver. 25. _I give my judgment_] The Rhemists (after Erasmus) render it counsel, and thereupon ground a distinction between Divine commands and counsels. But t... [ Continue Reading ]
I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, _I say_, that _it is_ good for a man so to be. Ver. 26. _I suppose therefore_] This is his judgment, his vote or verdict: the first part thereof we have here; the second, 1 Corinthians 7:28; the third,1 Corinthians 7:35 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. Ver. 27. _Art thou bound to a wife?_] A manifest metaphor from oxen. Hence we call them yoke fellows: " _Quam male inaequales veniunt ad aratra iuvenci;_ Tam premitur magno, &c. " (Ovid. Epist.) Dare... [ Continue Reading ]
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. Ver. 28. _Thou hast not sinned_] If any man call lawful marriage a sinful defilement, he hath the apostate dragon dwelling in him, saith Ignat... [ Continue Reading ]
But this I say, brethren, the time _is_ short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; Ver. 29. _This then I say, brethren_] The best counsel I can give you, is, that you hang loose to all these outward comforts, as having yourselves but a while to be here. You have... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; Ver. 30. _And they that weep_] viz. In the loss of wife or children: let them moderate their grief, as Abraham did in the loss of Sarah, Genesis 23:2; "H... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that use this world, as not abusing _it_ : for the fashion of this world passeth away. Ver. 31. _As not abusing it_] Not shooting our affections overly far into it. David was as a weaned child, Paul as a crucified man. If Job's heart had not been weaned from the world, when as yet he wallo... [ Continue Reading ]
But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: Ver. 32. _Without carefulness_] That unavoidably attendeth the marriage state,Genesis 30:30; 1 Timothy 5:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please _his_ wife. Ver. 33. _Careth how he may please_] He taketh extraordinary care to please, and so doth she,1 Corinthians 7:34. The word μεριμνα implies a dividing of the mind into various thoughts, casting this way... [ Continue Reading ]
There is difference _also_ between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please _her_ husband. Ver. 34. _Careth for the things_] _Expeditius... [ Continue Reading ]
And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. Ver. 35. _That you may attend, &c._] Gr. ευπροσεδρον. That you may sit close to him, as Mary did, Luke 10:40, while Martha was distract... [ Continue Reading ]
But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of _her_ age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. Ver. 36. _If she pass the flower_] Childhood is counted the flower of age: so long the apostle would have marr... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. Ver. 37. _And hath so decreed_] Reserving still a liberty of doing otherwise, if need require: which Popish votaries... [ Continue Reading ]
So then he that giveth _her_ in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth _her_ not in marriage doeth better. Ver. 38. _Doth better_] 1. For the better waiting upon God's work without distraction. 2. For the better bearing of persecution.... [ Continue Reading ]
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. Ver. 39. _She is at liberty_] The Montanists therefore (and with them Tertullian in his old age) were in an error that condemned second marriag... [ Continue Reading ]
But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. Ver. 40. _But she is happier_] _i.e._ She shall live more at ease, and have less to care for. And we should contract our cares into as narrow a compass as we can, in hard times especially.... [ Continue Reading ]