Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 7

Verse 1

concernin g. App-104 .

the things whereo f = what things.

ye wrote . The Corinthians had written a letter, but carefully avoided any reference to the disorders among themselves. These had been reported by the members of Chloe's family (1 Corinthians 1:11 , 1 Corinthians 1:12 ), and the scandal referred to in 1Co 5 was a common report, which was perhaps made known by Stephanas and others (1 Corinthians 16:17 ). But see Hebrews 13:4 .

unto = to.

man . App-123 .

Verse 2

Nevertheless = But.

to avoid = on account of. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 7:2 .

every = each.

husband . App-123 .

Verse 3

benevolence . Greek. eunoia. Only here and Ephesians 6:7 ; but instead of "due benevolence", all the texts read "the debt", Greek. opheile, which Occurs elsewhere only in Matthew 18:32 .Romans 13:7 .

also the wife = the wife also.

Verse 4

hath . . . power . Greek. exousiazo. See 1 Corinthians 6:12 .

not . App-105 .

Verse 5

Defraud . Greek. apostereo , as in 1 Corinthians 6:7 . Here, deprive

one the other = one another.

except . Greek. ei me .

with = from. App-104 .

consent . Greek. sumphonos. Only here. Compare Acts 5:9 .

time = season.

that = in order that. Greek. hina .

give yourselves to = have leisure for. Greek. scholazo . Only here and Matthew 12:44 . Compare Acts 19:9 (school).

fasting and . All the texts omit.

prayer . App-134 .

together . Greek. epi to auto. See Acts 1:15 ; Acts 2:1 .

for = on account of. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 7:2 .

incontinency . Greek. alcrasia. Only here and Matthew 23:25 .

Verse 6

by = according to. App-104 .

permission . Greek. sungnome . Only here.

commandment . Greek. epitage. See Romans 16:26 .

Verse 7

would . App-102 :1.

proper . Greek. idios. Same as "own" in verses: 1 Corinthians 7:7 , 1Co 7:1 , 1 Corinthians 2:4 , 1Co 2:37 .

gift . App-184 .

of = from. App-104 .

God . App-98 .

after this manner . . . after that . Greek. houtos . . . houtos.

Verse 8

I say therefore = But I say.

unmarried . Greek. agamos. Only here, verses: 1Co 7:11 , 1 Corinthians 7:32 , 1 Corinthians 11:34 .

if . App-118 .

abide = remain. Greek. meno. Seep. 1511.

Verse 9

if . App-118 .

cannot contain = have not (Greek. ou) self-control. Greek. engkrateuomai. Only here and 1 Corinthians 9:25 . Compare Acts 24:25 .Titus 1:8 . Occurs in Septuagint Genesis 43:31 . 1 Samuel 13:12 (forced).

burn . Greek. puroomai. Elsewhere, 2 Corinthians 11:29 . Eph 6:16 . 2 Peter 3:12 .Revelation 1:15 ; Revelation 3:18 .

Verse 10

command . Greek. parangello. See Acts 1:4 .

yet , &c . Figure of speech Epanorthosis. App-6 .

Lord . App-98 . Compare Matthew 5:32 .

Let not the wife . Literally That the wife should not.

depart = be separated. Greek. chorizo. In Matthew 19:6 , put asunder.

from . App-104 .

Verse 11

remain = abide, as in 1 Corinthians 7:8 .

reconciled . Greek. katallasso . See Romans 5:10 .

put away = send away. Greek. aphiemi. App-174 .

Verse 12

the rest . App-124 .

any . App-123 .

a wife, &c . = an unbelieving (Greek. apistos, as in 1 Corinthians 6:6 ) wife.

be pleased . Greek. suneudokeo. See Acts 8:1 .

dwell . Greek. oikeo . See Romans 7:17 .

Verse 13

an husband, &c . = an unbelieving (as in 1 Corinthians 7:12 ) husband.

if . Omit.

leave . Greek. aphiemi, as in 1 Corinthians 7:11 . The same tense and voice, and should therefore be rendered "send away". The absolutely equal rights of husband and wife are insisted on throughout the chapter. See verses: 1Co 7:3 , 1 Corinthians 7:5 , &c.

him . All the texts read "her husband".

Verse 14

sanctified . Greek. hagiazo. See John 17:17 , John 17:19 .

by = in. App-104 .

husband . All the texts read "brother", i.e. believer, or Christian brother.

else = since otherwise.

children . App-108 .

unclean . Compare Peter's use of this word in Acts 10:14 , Acts 10:28 .

holy . Greek. hagios. This, as contrasted with "unclean", must be in the same ceremonial sense, but there maybe a thought of the dedication of the child to God by the believing parent, and the influence he or she would exercise upon it.

Verse 15

is not under bondage = has not been enslaved ( App-190 .)

in . App-104 .

to = in, as above. Peace is the atmosphere of the Christian calling, and should decide all the problems of life. Compare 1 Corinthians 14:33 .Romans 12:18 . 1 Chronicles 3:15; 1 Chronicles 3:15 .

Verse 16

knowest . App-132 .

whether = if. App-118 .

man = husband, as above. Here are the Figures of speech Antimetathesis and Apostrophe. App-6 .

Verse 17

But . Greek. ei me , as 1 Corinthians 7:5 .

God . . . the Lord . These should be transposed. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:9 . Romans 8:30 . Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:15 .Ephesians 4:4 . 1 Thessalonians 2:12 . 2Th 2:13 , 2 Thessalonians 2:14 ; 2 Timothy 1:9 .

distributed = divided, or imparted. Greek. merizo. Occurs fourteen times. Always translated divided, except here, 1 Corinthians 7:34 .Romans 12:3 . 2 Corinthians 10:13 .Hebrews 7:2 .

every one . Same as "every man".

ordain = appoint. Greek. diatassomai. See Acts 7:44 .

churches . App-186 .

Verse 18

Is = Was.

any man, any = any (one). Greek. tis . App-123 .

being = having been.

Verse 19

nothing . Greek. oudeis. Compare Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:6 ; Galatians 6:15 .

keeping = guarding. Greek. teresis. This is the Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ). Supply "is every thing", or "is alone important".

Verse 20

same . Omit.

wherein = in (Greek. en) which. The order in the Greek is, "Each one in the calling in which he was called, in this let him remain".

Verse 21

Art = Wast.

servant = slave. App-190 .

care, &c . = let it not be a care to thee.

mayest = canst.

be made = become.

use . Greek. chraomai. See Acts 27:3 .

Verse 22

is = was.

Lord . App-98 .

freeman = absolutely free. Greek. apeleutheros, a much stronger word than "free" in 1 Corinthians 7:21 . Only here.

also . Omit.

Christ's . App-98 .

Verse 23

are = were.

bought . See 1 Corinthians 6:20 .

Verse 24

therein = in (Greek. en) this.

with . Greek. para . App-104 .

Verse 25

no = not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

judgment = opinion. App-177 .

obtained mercy . See 1 Timothy 1:13 , 1 Timothy 1:16 .

of = by. App-104 .

faithful . App-150 and App-175 :4.

Verse 26

suppose = reckon. Greek. nomizo. See Luke 3:23 .Acts 14:19 .

is . Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48 .

present . Greek. enistemi. See Romans 8:38 .

distress = need. Greek. anangke. Compare Luke 21:23 .

Verse 27

bound . Greek. deo, not doudoe, as in 1 Corinthians 7:15

to be loosed = release. Greek. lusis . Only here.

loosed . Greek. pass, of luo.

Verse 28

But and = Moreover.

hast not = wouldst not have.

sinned . App-128 .

hath not = would not have.

trouble = tribulation. Greek. thlp sis. See Acts 7:10 , and compare Matthew 24:19-21 .

spare . Greek. pheidomai. See Acts 20:29 .

Verse 29

time = season.

short = shortened, or contracted. Greek. sustello Only here and Acts 5:6 . Compare 1 John 2:18 .

it remaineth = as for the rest it is. See "besides" in 1 Corinthians 1:16 .

though they had none = not (Greek. me) having (any).

Verse 30

possessed . Greek. katecho, to hold fast. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:2 .

Verse 31

world . Greek. kosmos. App-129 .

abusing = using to the full. Greek. katachraomai. Only here und 1 Corinthians 9:18 . The force of kata is intensive. Compare katesthio, devour, eat up (2 Corinthians 11:20 ). See Colossians 3:2 . 1 John 2:15 .

fashion . Greek. schema. Only here and Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:8 . Compare Psalms 39:6 .

passeth away . Greek. parago. Compare 1 John 2:17 , where the same word is used.

Verse 32

have you = that you should be.

without carefulness = free from anxiety. Greek. amerimnos. Only here and Matthew 28:14 .

careth . Gr merimnao. Occurs twelve times in the Gospels translated "take thought", save Luke 10:41 (be careful); four times in this chapter; 1 Corinthians 12:25 .Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:20 ; Philippians 4:6 .

that belong to = of. App-17 .

Verse 33

that are . Omit.

Verse 34

There is, &c . The texts vary here. See Revised Version.

There is difference between . Greek. merizo, as in 1 Corinthians 7:17 (distributed).

body = the body.

spirit = the spirit. App-101 .

Verse 35

profit . Greek. sumphe r o . Same as "expedient" (1 Corinthians 6:12 ).

snare . Greek. brochos . Only here. Something to hamper or fetter.

that which is comely = decorum or propriety. Greek. euschemon. See Acts 13:50 .

that ye may attend = for devoted attention. Greek. euprosedros. The texts read euparedros , with the same meaning. Only here.

without distraction . Greek. aperispastos. Only here. The verb penspaomai is used in Luke 10:40 (cumber).

Verse 36

think . Same as "suppose", 1 Corinthians 7:26 .

behaveth, &c . = acts unseemly. Greek. aschemoneo. Only here and 1 Corinthians 13:5 .

virgin , i.e. virgin daughter.

pass, &c . = be of full age. Greek. huperakmos. Only here.

need so require = it ought to be so.

Verse 37

stedfast . Greek. hedraios . Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 15:58 . Colossians 1:23 .

having no = not (Greek. me, as 1 Corinthians 7:1 ) having.

necessity = constraint. Greek. anangke, as in 1 Corinthians 7:26 .

power = authority. Greek. exousia. App-172 .

over = concerning. Greek. peri , as in 1 Corinthians 7:1 .

will . App-102 .

decreed = decided, or judged. App-122 .

Verse 38

giveth . . . in marriage . Greek. ekgamizo. Elsewhere, Matthew 22:30 ; Matthew 24:38 . Luke 17:27 .

Verse 39

by the law . The texts omit.

as long as = for (Greek. epi . App-104 .) such time as.

be dead . App-171 .

at liberty = free, as in verses: 1 Corinthians 7:21-22 .

Verse 40

after = according to. App-104 .

Spirit of God = Divine spirit. App-101 .