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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:25 - 7:31
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Co_7:25-31
25 Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.
1Co_7:25 "Now concerning" This is a textual marker showing that Paul is moving on to another written question which he received from the Corinthian church (cf. 1Co_7:1; 1Co_7:25; 1Co_8:1; 1Co_12:1; 1Co_16:1; 1Co_16:12).
NASB, NKJV,
NRSV, NIV"virgins"
TEV "unmarried people"
NJB "people remaining virgin"
The major question about this term is how its use in 1Co_7:25 is related to its use in 1Co_7:36 (see note at 1Co_7:36). The context of 1Co_7:25-35 seems to relate to singleness vs. marriage as the preferred state in light of the current situation, which could refer to
1. the imminent Second Coming
2. governmental persecution
3. area-wide famine
4. the single person's ability to focus on serving Christ
▣ "I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion" Some have tried to use Paul's statement in 1Co_7:6; 1Co_7:25 to lower his authority as an Apostle or make this a disclaimer of inspiration. It is neither. This is an idiomatic way of admitting that he does not know whether Jesus ever addressed this issue specifically. 1Co_7:25; 1Co_7:40 show that Paul felt his apostleship and call gave him the authority to address issues that a rose in the life of the early Gentile church.
▣ "as on who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy" This is a perfect passive participle. This is an idiomatic way of asserting his apostolic authority and Spirit-led insight.
1Co_7:26
NASB, NKJV,
TEV "the present distress"
NRSV "the impending crisis"
NJB "because of the stress which is weighing upon us"
This has been interpreted in several ways, but it is very important to see that the majority of statements in chapter 7 are not universal principles, but are Paul's reactions to local, temporal situations. Some have seen this phrase as referring to
1. the crisis of pagan culture
2. the specific local situation in Corinth
3. a famine in the whole Mediterranean area
4. the nearness of the Second Coming (cf. 1Co_7:29)
▣ "that it is good for a man to remain as he is" There is a play on the word "good" (cf. 1Co_7:1; 1Co_7:18; 1Co_7:26), meaning "advantageous." The recurrent theme of "stay in the same condition as when you were saved" (cf. 1Co_7:8; 1Co_7:12-13; 1Co_7:18; 1Co_7:21; 1Co_7:24; 1Co_7:26-27; 1Co_7:37; 1Co_7:40) is Paul's theological standard in this letter.
1Co_7:27 "Are you bound to a wife" This is a perfect passive indicative from the tern dço, which means to tie or bind. It is used in a metaphorical sense for marriage (cf. 1Co_7:27; 1Co_7:39; Rom_7:2). There is a parallel to this phrase in the same verse, which is also a perfect passive indicative, "Are you released from a wife?" Paul wants his hearers to stay as they are.
▣ "Do not seek to be released. . .Do not seek a wife" These are both present active imperatives with the negative particle, which usually means stop an act in process. Here again one wonders whether different factions were advocating different family patterns (celibacy, marriage, promiscuity) or if Paul's purpose is maximum service to Christ. This is a recurrent issue. Paul seems to assert that
1. all should remain as they are
2. if single, focus on serving Christ
3. if there is a desire for marriage, no problem, but use your marriage to serve Christ!
Believers remain single to serve, marry to serve, live in persecution to serve, live in freedom to serve, live in theological conviction to serve! Believers are saved to serve!
1Co_7:28 "if. . .if" These are both third class conditional sentences, which mean potential action.
▣ "you have not sinned" Paul is addressing a unique situation, not making universal statements. Marriage is the God-given norm (cf. Gen_1:28).
▣ "if you. . .if a virgin" The question is to whom do these refer? The first relates to 1Co_7:27. If so, then this refers to remarriage. The second relates to 1Co_7:25, those who have never married. Both categories are addressed again in 1Co_7:34.
▣ "Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you" This does not relate to marriage in general, but to the present crisis (cf. 1Co_7:26). 1Co_7:32-34 do address marriage as a general principle.
▣ "trouble" See Special Topic: Tribulation at 2Co_1:4.
▣ "in this life" This is literally "flesh." See Special Topic at 1Co_1:26.
1Co_7:29 "the time has been shortened" This is a perfect passive periphrastic. There have been several interpretations of this phrase; it seems contextually to relate to 1Co_7:26 ("the present distress"). Calvin believed it referred to the brevity of human life; others along the same line believe it refers to the shortness of the opportunity of our Christian service. I believe it refers to the Second Coming (cf. 1Co_7:31; Rom_13:11-12).
Did Paul expect an imminent return of Jesus or a delayed return? There are texts on both sides. I do not think Paul's theology changed (or matured). In one of his first letters he teaches a delayed Second Coming (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2). Paul (as all NT authors) used the hope of the certain return of the Lord as an impetus to godly living and active service. The return of Christ is an expectation of every generation of believers, but the reality of only one! See Special Topic at 1Co_6:14.
For an interesting discussion on Apocalyptic eschatology and Paul's comments in 1Co_7:26; 1Co_7:28-29, see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 593-595.
1Co_7:29-30 "those who" These parallel phrases are describing normal daily human life. Believers are to remain focused on their ministry tasks, according to their spiritual giftedness (cf. 1Co_7:32; 1Co_7:35).
Believers are citizens of two realms, the spiritual and the physical or the church and the world. The physical is not evil but transitory. Believers must be service-minded, gospel-minded. We use the world and its resources to serve the Kingdom. Otherwise, physical thing, worldly things, use us!
Do not let marriage act as a release from spiritual priorities! Live in both worlds with godly wisdom.
1Co_7:30 "as though they did not possess" See Special Topic following.
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1Co_7:31 "for the form of this world is passing away" The OT prophets (esp. Isaiah 56-66) reveal a new heaven and a new earth. The new age will be like the old, but purified, redeemed (cf. 2Pe_3:10-13). Heaven will be a transformed garden of Eden-God, mankind, and the animals-perfect fellowship and order restored; Genesis 1-2 parallels Revelation 21-22.
Every generation of believers experiences the passing of this world's order (i.e., schçma) as they mature into Christlikeness. As we see Christ in clearer and clearer ways, the things of this life become duller and duller. We are in the world, but not of the world. We use the things of this world for evangelistic purposes, not personal purposes.