Now (1) concerning the things (a) whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] (b) good for a man not to touch a woman. (1) He teaches concerning marriage that although a single life has its advantages, which he will declare afterwards, yet that marriage is necessary for the avoiding of fornication. But so th... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) Let the husband render unto the wife (c) due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. (2) Secondly, he shows that the parties married must with singular affection entirely love one another. (c) The word "due" contains all types of benevolence, though he speaks more of one sort... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) 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. (3) Thirdly, he warns them, that they are in each other's power, with regard to the body, so that they may not defraud one another.... [ Continue Reading ]
Defraud ye not one the other, (4) except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may (d) give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. (4) He adds an exception: unless the one abstain from the other by mutual consent, that they may... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) But I speak this by permission, [and] not of commandment. (5) Fifthly he teaches that marriage is not necessary for all men, but for those who do not have the gift of continency, and this gift is by a special grace of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
For I (e) 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. (e) I wish.... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) I say therefore to the (f) unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. (6) Sixthly, he gives the very same admonition touching the second marriage, that is, that a single life is to be allowed, but for those who have the gift of continency. Otherwise they ought to marry a... [ Continue Reading ]
But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to (g) burn. (g) So to burn with lust, that either the will yields to the temptation, or else we cannot call upon God with a peaceful conscience.... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband: (7) Seventhly, he forbids contentions and the granting of divorces (for he speaks not here of the fault of whoredom, which was then death even by the law of the Romans also) by which he affirm... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) 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. (8) Eighthly, he affirms that those marriages which are already contracted between a faithful and an unfaithful or infidel, are firm: so that the... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) For the unbelieving husband is (h) sanctified by the (i) wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the (k) husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they (l) holy. (9) He answers an objection: but the faithful is defiled by the company of the unfaithful. The apostle denies tha... [ Continue Reading ]
(10) But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in (m) such [cases]: (11) but God hath called us to peace. (10) He answers a question: what if the unfaithful forsake the faithful? Then the faithful is free, he says, because he is forsaken by the unfait... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath (n) called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. (12) Taking occasion by that which he said of the bondage and liberty of matrimony, he digresses to a general doctrine concerning the outward state and condition o... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) Is any man called being circumcised? let him not (o) become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. (13) Nonetheless he shows us that in these examples all are not of the same type: because circumcision is not simply of itself to be desired, but such as are... [ Continue Reading ]
Art thou called [being] a servant? (p) care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use [it] rather. (p) As though this calling were too unworthy a calling for Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that is called in the (q) Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ's servant. (q) He that is in the state of a servant, and is called to be a Christian.... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. (14) He shows the reason of the unlikeness, because he that desired to be circumcised makes himself subject to man's tradition and not to God. And this may be much more understood of superstitions, which some do foolishly consider to a... [ Continue Reading ]
(15) Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with (r) God. (15) A repetition of the general doctrine. (r) So purely and from the heart, that your doings may be approved before God.... [ Continue Reading ]
(16) Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my (s) judgment, as (t) one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. (16) He commands virginity to no man, yet he persuades and praised it for another reason, that is, both for the necessity of the present time, b... [ Continue Reading ]
I suppose therefore that (u) this is good for the (x) present distress, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be. (u) To remain a virgin. (x) For the necessity which the saints are daily subject to, who are continually tossed up and down, so that their estate may seem most unfit for marriage,... [ 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 (y) flesh: but I (z) spare you. (y) By the "flesh" he understands whatever things belong to this present life, for marriage brings with it many problems. So that he l... [ Continue Reading ]
But this I say, brethren, the time [is] (a) short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; (a) For we are now in the latter end of the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that (b) weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; (b) By "weeping" the Hebrews understand all adversity, and by "joy", all prosperity.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that use this (c) world, as not abusing [it]: for the (d) fashion of this world passeth away. (c) Those things which God gives us here. (d) The guise, and shape, and fashion: by which he shows us that there is nothing in this world that continues.... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that is married (e) careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please [his] wife. (e) Those that are married have their minds drawn here and there, and therefore if any man has the gift of continency, it is more advantageous for him to live alone. But those who are married may c... [ 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 (f) spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband. (f) Mind.... [ Continue Reading ]
And this I speak for your own (g) 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. (g) He means that he will force no man either to marry or not to marry, but to show them plainly what type of life is most advantag... [ Continue Reading ]
(17) 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 (h) sinneth not: let them marry. (17) Now he turns himself to the parents, in whose power and authority their children are, warning th... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his (i) heart, having no (k) necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. (i) Resolved himself. (k) That the weakness of his daughter does not force him, or any other matter, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
So then he that giveth [her] in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth (l) better. (l) Provides better for his children, and that not in just any way, but by reason of such conditions as are mentioned before.... [ Continue Reading ]
(18) The wife is bound by the (m) 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 (n) Lord. (18) That which he spoke of a widower, he speaks now of a widow, that is, that she may marry again, but that she does it in the fe... [ Continue Reading ]