FOURTH TOPIC MARRIAGE. Hitherto the burden of this Epistle has been reproof, founded on information received from others. Henceforward, to near the end, all appears to have been drawn forth by written inquiries of the Corinthians themselves, as to how, as Christians, they were to act and to judge i... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:1. NOW CONCERNING THE THINGS WHEREOF YE WROTE: [1] IT IS GOOD FOR A MAN NOT TO TOUCH A WOMAN _i.e._ to marry (an Old Testament phrase). Not as if he meant that marriage was wrong in itself, as the next verse and 1 Corinthians 7:28 sufficiently shew. Indeed, the “present distress” (1... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:2. BUT, BECAUSE OF FORNICATIONS of the prevalence of this sin, and the temptations to it in a vicious community. LET EACH MAN HAVE HIS OWN WIFE, AND EACH WOMAN HER OWN HUSBAND the designed and normal condition of the sexes.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:3. LET THE HUSBAND RENDER UNTO THE WIFE HER DUE, [1] etc. [1] The received reading, “due benevolence,” has hardly any authority.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:5. THAT YE MAY GIVE YOURSELVES UNTO PRAYER. [1] [1] The words “and fasting “are wanting in all the greater authorities.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:6. BUT THIS I SAY BY PERMISSION, NOT OF COMMANDMENT as permissible in the married state, but giving no commandment, for what is suitable in one case may be the reverse in another.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:7. YET I WOULD THAT ALL MEN WERE AS I MYSELF _i.e._ in present circumstances (see 1 Corinthians 7:1). HOWBEIT EACH MAN HATH HIS OWN GIFT _Gr. ‘_ gracious gift;' for in Christians natural gifts are presumed to be brought under the influence of grace for the good of others.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:10. BUT UNTO THE MARRIED I GIVE CHARGE, YEA NOT I, BUT THE LORD _(i.e._ the Lord Jesus), THAT THE WIFE DEPART NOT FROM HER HUSBAND. The Lord Jesus had Himself emphatically given this charge (Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9), and it is on this that the apostle falls back.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 7:11. (BUT AND IF SHE DEPART, LET HER REMAIN UNMARRIED, OR ELSE BE RECONCILED TO HER HUSBAND.) The case here supposed is that of such disagreement between Christian husband and wife as induces the wife, in spite of the prohibition, to leave her husband. In this case she must either get... [ Continue Reading ]
_Duties of the Married where One of the Parties is unconverted,_ 12-17. 1 Corinthians 7:12. BUT TO THE REST SAY I, NOT THE LORD: IF ANY BROTHER HATH AN UNBELIEVING WIFE, AND SHE IS CONTENT TO DWELL WITH HIM, LET HIM NOT LEAVE HER. 1 Corinthians 7:13. AND THE WOMAN, ETC. Two noteworthy reasons are... [ Continue Reading ]
_The forgoing Principles applied to other Cases,_ 18-24. And first, _Circumcision._ 1 Corinthians 7:18. WAS ANY MAN CALLED BEING CIRCUMCISED? LET HIM NOT BECOME UNCIRCUMCISED which, under the persecution of Antiochus, the Jews contrived to accomplish, to conceal their nationality (1Ma 1:15; Joseph... [ Continue Reading ]
_Answers to Corinthian Questions regarding Marriage,_ 25-40. 1 Corinthians 7:25. NOW CONCERNING VIRGINS I HAVE NO COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD: BUT I GIVE MY JUDGMENT, AS ONE THAT HATH OBTAINED MERCY OF THE LORD TO BE FAITHFUL. When the apostle thus sharply distinguishes between what he utters by author... [ Continue Reading ]