THE THINGS WHEREOF YE WROTE; these were certain things about which the
Christians at Corinth had, in a letter to Paul, requested him to give
his views.
GOOD FOR A MAN; best under the peculiar circumstances to which the
letter of the Corinthians related.
NOT TO TOUCH A WOMAN; not to be married.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS; notwithstanding it may sometimes be best for persons not
to be married, it is in all ordinary cases best that they should be.
HIS OWN WIFE-HER OWN HUSBAND; no man is allowed by God to have at once
more than one wife, and no woman to have more than one husband. The
union for life of on... [ Continue Reading ]
DUE BENEVOLENCE; these words express the mutual duty of husband and
wife towards each other, as explained in verses 1 Corinthians 7:4-5.
Whatever increases temptations to evils which marriage was designed to
prevent, or renders it ineffectual for the purposes for which it was
instituted, should be c... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT POWER; not to live apart, even for a time, without mutual consent.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEFRAUD YE NOT ONE THE OTHER; deprive not one another by separation of
any safeguard against temptation. Do nothing which shall tend to
impurity, or give Satan advantage over you.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY PERMISSION; this was a subject about which persons were permitted
to judge for themselves; and on which they should exercise an
enlightened and conscientious Christian discretion.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS I; I wish they had the same self-control, and could live as
contentedly in any condition to which Providence calls them. He
evidently refers to his condition as unmarried.
PROPER GIFT OF GOD; control over one's bodily appetites and passions
is one of these gifts; but all do not have it in t... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS GOOD FOR THEM; it was well, under their then peculiar
circumstances, to remain as Paul was, unmarried, provided they thought
so, and could do it without inconvenience.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BURN; be disturbed with ungratified passion, or tempted by it to
the commission of sin. God bestows on different persons different
gifts, and places them in different conditions. That course which is
wise for one may not be so for another. Their wishes as well as their
situations and habits may b... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT I, BUT THE LORD; not Paul only, but Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:32;
Matthew 19:3-10.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT THE LORD; he had not given specific directions about the case
which follows, and Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
proceeded to do it.
BELIEVETH NOT; believeth not the gospel. It is evident that some of
the Corinthians had scruples about the lawfulness of living in the
marriage relat... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT KNOWEST THOU; another argument why the believing party should
continue to live with the unbelieving. The Christian party may be
instrumental in saving the other.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS GOD HATH DISTRIBUTED TO EVERY MAN; assigned him his place and lot
in life. The apostle here begins an exhortation to contentment in
present circumstances.
SO LET HIM WALK; let each one continue in the condition and business
to which God in his providence calls him, and do all the good he can.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING CIRCUMCISED; having been circumcised as a Jew.
LET HIM NOT BECOME UNCIRCUMCISED; not try to undo or disavow his
circumcision.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOTHING; as to acceptance with God.
THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD; the keeping of them was all that he required,
and this might be done whether a man was circumcised or not.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME CALLING; let a man after his conversion continue in the
same business in which he was before, provided it is a moral and
useful one, and the providence of God does not call him to change it.... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED; converted to Christ.
CARE NOT FOR IT; be not so anxious to change your condition as to
unfit you to discharge its duties.
IF THOU MAYEST BE MADE FREE; in the original, If thou canst be free;
that is, if thou art able in doing right to be free, USE IT RATHER; be
free, because freedom is a b... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED IN THE LORD; converted.
IS THE LORD'S FREEMAN; through divine power and grace, he is delivered
from the condemnation and bondage of sin; and under the teaching of
the Holy Ghost pursues his own free choice, cheerfully, as an
affectionate child, doing the will of his Father in heaven.
IS CHR... [ Continue Reading ]
YE; Christians of all countries and conditions, high and low, rich and
poor, bond and free.
ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; redeemed from endless bondage to sin, Satan,
and death by the precious blood of Christ.
BE NOT YE THE SERVANTS OF MEN; act from supreme regard not to them,
but to Christ. Honor him,... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIDE WITH GOD; in union with God, and acting in such a manner as to
meet his approbation and enjoy his favor.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE NO COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD; God had given no specific command
concerning the marriage of virgins in times of great and peculiar
trials. Therefore Paul, in answer to their inquiry, gave his view of
the matter.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SUPPOSE; in my judgment.
FOR THE PRESENT DISTRESS; on account of the peculiarly distressing
circumstances in which they were then placed.
SO TO BE; to remain, during the continuance of those trials,
unmarried. But some understand the words "so to be" as meaning, to be
so as he is now-to remain i... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE HATH NOT SINNED; in marrying even in those troublous times, if she
chose this, and thought it best for her.
TROUBLE IN THE FLESH; special trials in those times of peculiar
difficulty and danger.
I SPARE YOU; am sparing of you; have a fatherly feeling towards you,
and in giving you this advice... [ Continue Reading ]
BE AS THOUGH THEY HAD NONE; live above the world and its temporary
relations, remembering how soon this earthly scene, with all its joys
and sorrows, will be over, and eternity come in its place. So also are
the following clauses to be understood. No worldly circumstances
should so disturb or occupy... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT ABUSING IT; not using it to excess, depending upon it, or seeking
your chief good in it.
THE FASHION; circumstances and condition of earthly things.
PASSETH AWAY; like a shadow or dream. Psalms 39:6; 1 JOHN 2:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT CAREFULNESS; not distracted by worldly cares.
CARETH FOR THE THINGS THAT BELONG TO THE LORD; is able to give his
undivided attention to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
CARETH FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE OF THE WORLD; he is more exposed than
the unmarried, in peculiarly troublous times, to be so engrossed with
cares as to be hindered from wholly following the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT THAT I MAY CAST A SNARE; his object was not to bind all to act
alike, but to induce each to take the course which would be most
proper, and in which he or she could best serve God.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHAVETH HIMSELF UNCOMELY; acts unsuitably towards his daughter or one
under his care, in withholding her from marriage. If she is of a
proper age, and is disposed to be married, he would do well to consent
to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS; on the other hand.
HAVING NO NECESSITY; if circumstances do not call for her marriage, he
does well to let her remain unmarried.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT GIVETH HER IN MARRIAGE; when circumstances require it, DOETH
WELL; that which is right.
HE THAT GIVETH HER NOT; when circumstances do not require or favor it,
DOETH BETTER; what will be more comfortable for her, that is, "for the
present distress," as is to be understood throughout this cha... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY IN THE LORD; only within the limits of the Christian body. Others
interpret these words to mean, only in the spirit of obedience to the
Lord. But the former is the preferable view. So important is the
institution of marriage, so honorable in all, and so numerous its
blessings to those who faith... [ Continue Reading ]
SO ABIDE; continue unmarried during these troublous times, if she can
so remain consistently.
I HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD; to guide me in the views expressed on this
subject.... [ Continue Reading ]