1 Corinthians 7:25-40

In this third part of the chapter, the apostle discusses the question of marriage as it relates to virgins (1 Corinthians 7:25-38), adding at the end a word in regard to widows (1 Corinthians 7:39-40). No doubt in the first part of the chapter (1 Corinthians 7:1-9) he was occupied with the formation of the marriagebond, and it might appear that the question of the marriage of virgins comes under this head. But the grounds which he had made good in this passage, as to celibates, widowers, and widows, did not altogether apply to virgins; and then, according to ancient custom, it was the father who decided the lot of these last. Hence Paul reserved to himself the opportunity of addressing parents on this subject in a separate passage. The advice which he gives, and then develops, is this: Parents, if circumstances allow it, will be right in preferring celibacy for their daughters (1 Corinthians 7:25-26), and that for these two reasons: the difficulties of the present situation (1 Corinthians 7:27-31); the advantage which will accrue from it to their Christian activity (1 Corinthians 7:32-38).