1 Corinthians 7:37

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; (2) the absence of constraint (μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην) arising from previous engagement or irresistible circumstances; (3) his full authority to act as he will (ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἔχει κ. τ. λ.) slaves, on the other hand, could not dispose of their children, and the unqualified patria potestas belonged only to Roman citizens (see Ed [1208] in loc.); ἐξουσία, however, signifies moral power, which reaches in the household far beyond civil right; (4) a judgment deliberately and independently formed to this effect (τοῦτο κέκρικεν ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ καρδίᾳ). Granting all this, the father who “has decided to keep his own maiden, does well” καλῶς, rightly, honourably well (see note on καλόν, 1). The repeated καρδία (the mind, the seat of thought and will, rather than the heart with its modern emotional connotation; cf. 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 4:5, and notes), and the phrase περὶ τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος, press on the father the necessity of using his judgment and acting on his personal responsibility; as in 1 Corinthians 7:6 f., 1 Corinthians 7:35; 1 Corinthians 7:35, the Ap. is jealous of allowing his own authority or inclination to overbear the conscience of his disciples; cf. Romans 14:4-10; Romans 14:22 f. This ἀνάγκη urges in the opp [1209] direction to that of 1 Corinthians 7:26; in both cases the word signifies compulsion, dictating action other than that one would independently have taken. ἐξουσίαν … περί κ. τ. λ. is “power as touching his own resolve,” the right to act as one will in other words, mastery of the situation. The obj [1210], τ. παρθένον, suggests the tacit complement to τηρεῖν (see parls.): “to keep intact, in what he believes to be the best state” for the Lord's service (Ed [1211]). “The will of the maiden is left wholly out of court” (Hn [1212]); social custom ignored this factor in marriage; for all that, it might constitute the opposed ἀνάγκη, and might, in some circumstances, practically limit the paternal ἐξουσία; see 1 Corinthians 7:28 b, and note.

[1208] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[1209] opposite, opposition.

[1210] grammatical object.

[1211] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[1212] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).