1 Corinthians 7:6

Contextual Overview

¹ Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. You asked if it is better for a man not to have any sexual relations at all. ¹ Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ As concerninge the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me: it is good for a ma not to touche a woman. ¹ Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now concerning the things you wrote about: It's good for a man not to touch a woman.[fn]1 Corinthians 7:8,26;">[xr] ¹ Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. ¹ Now concerning the things whereof you wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

by: 1 Corinthians 7:12, 1 Corinthians 7:25, 2 Corinthians 8:8, 2 Corinthians 11:17

Reciprocal: Matthew 19:8 - suffered

Cross-References

Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:32
And Noah was 500 years old: And Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:32
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:32
Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:32
After Noah was five hundred years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:32
Forsothe Noe whanne he was of fyue hundrid yeer gendride Sem, Cham, and Jafeth.

Genesis 5:32
And Noah is a son of five hundred years, and Noah begetteth Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But I speak this by permission,.... Referring either to what he had said before, though not to all; not to 1 Corinthians 7:2 that for the avoiding of fornication, every man should make use of his own wife, and every woman of her own husband; since this is not by permission, but by command, Genesis 2:24 that carnal copulation should be between one man and one woman in a married state; nor to 1 Corinthians 7:3 for that married persons ought to render due benevolence to, and not defraud each other, having a power over each other's bodies, is a precept, and not a permission, Exodus 21:10 but to 1 Corinthians 7:5 their parting for a time, and coming together again: it is not an absolute command of God that they should separate for a time, on account of fasting and prayer, but if they thought fit to do so by agreement, they might; nor was there any positive precept for their coming together again directly, after such service was over. The apostle said this,

not of commandment; but, consulting their good, gives this advice, lest Satan should be busy with them, and draw them into sin; but if they had the gift of continence, they might continue apart longer; there was no precise time fixed by God, nor did the apostle pretend to fix any: or it may refer to what follows after, that he would have all men be as he was; though he laid no injunction, but left them to their liberty; unless it can be thought to regard marriage in general, and to be said in opposition to a Jewish notion, which makes marriage מצוה, a "command";

"a man, they say f, is bound to this command at seventeen years of age, and if he passes twenty and does not marry, he transgresses, and makes void an affirmative precept;''

but the apostle puts it as a matter of choice, and not of obligation.

f Maimon. Hilch, Isbot, c. 15. sect. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But I speak this by permission ... - It is not quite certain whether the word “this” (τοῦτο touto), in this verse, refers to what precedes, or to what follows. On this commentators are divided. The more natural and obvious interpretation would be to refer it to the preceding statement. I am inclined to think that the mare natural construction is the true one. and that Paul refers to what he had said in 1 Corinthians 7:5. Most recent commentators, as Macknight and Rosenmuller, however, suppose it refers to what follows, and appeal to similar places in Joel 1:2; Psa 49:2; 1 Corinthians 10:23. Calvin supposes it refers to what was said in 1 Corinthians 7:1.

By permission - συγγνώμην sungnōmēn. This word means “indulgence,” or “permission,” and stands opposed to that which is expressly enjoined; compare 1 Corinthians 7:25. “I am ‘allowed’ to say this; I have no express command on the subject; I give it as my opinion; I do not speak it directly under the influence of divine inspiration;” see 1 Corinthians 7:10, 1 Corinthians 7:25, 1 Corinthians 7:40. Paul here does not claim to be under inspiration in these directions which he specifics. But this is no argument against his inspiration in general, but rather the contrary. For:

(1) It shows that he was an honest man, and was disposed to state the exact truth. An impostor, pretending to inspiration, would have claimed to have been always inspired. Who ever heard of a pretender to divine inspiration admitting that in any thing he was not under divine guidance? Did Mahomet ever do this? Do impostors now ever do it?

(2) It shows that in other cases, where no exception is made, he claimed to be inspired. These few exceptions, which he expressly makes, prove that in everywhere else he claimed to be under the influence of inspiration.

(3) We are to suppose, therefore, that in all his writings where he makes no express exceptions, (and the exceptions are very few in number,) Paul claimed to be inspired. Macknight, however, and some others, understand this as mere adVice, as an inspired man, though not as a command,

Not of commandment - Not by express instruction from the Lord; see 1 Corinthians 7:25. I do not claim in this to be under the influence of inspiration; and my counsel here may be regarded, or not, as you may be able to receive it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 7:6. I speak this by permission, c.] It was a constant custom of the more conscientious rabbins, to make a difference between the things which they enjoined on their own judgment, and those which they built on the authority of the law. Thus Rabbi Tancum: "The washing of hands before meat is in our own power washing after meat is commanded." In relation to this point Dr. Lightfoot produces some examples from the Jewish writers: "The man is commanded concerning begetting and multiplying, but not the woman. And when does the man come under this command? From the age of sixteen or seventeen years; but, if he exceeds twenty years without marrying, behold he violates and renders an affirmative precept vain. The Gemara says: It is forbidden a man to be without a wife; because it is written, It is not good for man to be alone. And whosoever gives not himself to generation and multiplying is all one with a murderer: he is as though he diminished from the image of God, c." We may understand the apostle here as saying that the directions already given were from his own judgment, and not from any Divine inspiration and we may take it for granted that where he does not make this observation he is writing under the immediate afflatus of the Holy Spirit.