1 He treats of marriage;
4 shewing it to be a remedy against fornication,
10 and that the bond thereof ought not lightly to be dissolved.
20 Every man must be content with his vocation.
25 Virginity wherefore to be embraced;
35 and for what respects we may either marry, or abstain from marrying.

good. 8,26,27,37,38 Mt 19:10,11

touch. Ge 20:6 Ru 2:9 Pr 6:29

2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

to avoid. 9 6:18 Pr 5:18,19 1Ti 4:3

let. Pr 18:22 19:14 Mal 2:14 Eph 5:28,33

3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Ex 21:10 1Pe 3:7

4 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.

Ho 3:3 Mt 19:9 Mr 10:11,12

5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

except. Ex 19:15 1Sa 21:4,5 Joe 2:16 Zec 7:3 12:12-14

that Satan. Mt 19:11 1Th 3:5

6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

by. 12,25 2Co 8:8 11:17

7 For I 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.

I would. Said. Paul evidently gave this advice in reference to the necessities of the church, or what he calls (ver. 26) the present distress; for it would be perfectly absurd to imagine that an inspired apostle would in the general, discountenance marriage, since it was of the greatest importance to the existence and happiness of future generations, and expressly agreeable to a Divine institution.

9:5,15 Ac 26:29

But. 12:11 Mt 19:11,12

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

7:26,27,32,34,35

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

let. 2,28,36,39 1Ti 5:11,14

10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

yet. 12,25,40

Let. 15 Jer 3:20 Mal 2:14-16 Mt 5:32 19:6-9 Mr 10:11,12 Lu 16:18

11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

or. Jud 19:2,3 Jer 3:1

and let. De 22:19 Isa 50:1 Mr 10:2

12 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.

speak. 6,25 2Co 11:17

If. Ezr 10:2,3,11-19

13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

the unbelieving husband. 6:15-17 Ezr 9:1,2 1Ti 4:5 Tit 1:15

else. Ezr 9:2 Isa 52:1 Mal 2:15,16 Ac 10:23 Ro 11:16

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

A brother. Mt 12:50 Jas 2:15

but. 14:33 Ro 12:18 14:19 2Co 13:11 Ga 5:22 Heb 12:14 Jas 3:17,18

to peace. Gr. in peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

O wife. 9:22 Pr 11:30 Lu 15:10 1Ti 4:16 Jas 5:19,20 1Pe 3:1,2

how. Gr. what.

17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

as God. 7 Mt 19:12 Ro 12:3-8 1Pe 4:10,11

as the. 18,20,21,24

so ordain. 4:17 16:1 2Co 11:28

18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

being. Ac 15:1,5,19,24,28 Ga 5:1-3 Col 3:11

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Circumcision. 8:8 Ro 2:25-29 3:30 Ga 5:6 6:15

but. 1Sa 15:22 Jer 7:22,23 Mt 5:19 Joh 15:14 1Jo 2:3,4 3:22-24 1Jo 5:2,3 Re 22:14

20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

abide. 17,21-23 Pr 27:8 Lu 3:10-14 1Th 4:11 2Th 3:12

21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

being. 12:13 Ga 3:28 Col 3:11 1Ti 6:1-3 1Pe 2:18-24

a servant. Rather, a slave, [doulos,] the property of another, and bought with his money. In these verses the apostle shows that Christianity makes no change in our civil connections.

care. Lu 10:40,41 12:29 *marg: 21:34 Php 4:6,11 Heb 13:5 1Pe 5:7

22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

is the. Lu 1:74,75 Joh 8:32-36 Ro 6:18-22 Ga 5:1,13 Eph 6:5,6 Col 3:22-24 Phm 1:16 1Pe 2:16

freeman. Gr. made free. is Christ's. 9:19 Ps 116:16 Ro 1:1 Ga 1:10 Col 4:12 1Pe 2:16 2Pe 1:1 Jude 1:1

23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

are. 6:20 Le 25:42 Ac 20:28 Tit 2:14 1Pe 1:18,19 3:18 Re 5:9

be. Mt 23:8-11 Ga 2:4

24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

let. 17,20

abide. 10:31 Ge 5:22-24 17:1 1Sa 14:45 Col 3:23,24

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

concerning. 28,34,36-38 Ps 78:63

virgins. The word [parthenos,] as well as the Latin virgo, 'a virgin,' though it generally signifies a maid, frequently denotes unmarried persons of both sexes; in which sense it is evidently used here by the apostle.

have. 6,10,12,40 2Co 8:8-10 11:17

obtained. 4:2 15:10 2Co 2:17 4:1,2 1Ti 1:12-16

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

that. 1,8,28,35-38 Jer 16:2-4 Mt 24:19 Lu 21:23 23:28,29 1Pe 4:17

distress. or, necessity.

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

thou bound. 12-14,20

28 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 flesh: but I spare you.

thou hast. 36 Heb 13:4

Nevertheless. 26,32-34

but. 35 2Co 1:23

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

the time. Job 14:1,2 Ps 39:4-7 90:5-10 103:15,16 Ec 6:12 9:10 Ro 13:11,12 Heb 13:13,14 1Pe 4:7 2Pe 3:8,9 1Jo 2:17

that both. Ec 12:7,8,13,14 Isa 24:1,2 40:6-8 Jas 4:13-16 1Pe 1:24

30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

that weep. Ps 30:5 126:5,6 Ec 3:4 Isa 25:8 30:19 Lu 6:21,25 16:25 Joh 16:22 Re 7:17 18:7

31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

use. 9:18 Ec 2:24,25 3:12,13 5:18-20 9:7-10 11:2,9,10 Mt 24:48-50 25:14-29 Lu 12:15-21 16:1,2 19:17-26 21:34 1Ti 6:17,18 Jas 5:1-5

for. Ps 39:6 73:20 Ec 1:4 Jas 1:10,11 4:14 1Pe 1:24 4:7 1Jo 2:17

the fashion. [To schema,] the form or appearance. Grotius remarks that the apostle's expression is borrowed from the theatre, where [to schema tes skenes paragei] means that the scene changes, and presents an appearance entirely new.

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

I would. Ps 55:22 Mt 6:25-34 13:22 Php 4:6

He that. 1Ti 5:5

that belong to the Lord. Gr. of the Lord, as. 34

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

careth. Ne 5:1-5 Lu 12:22 1Th 4:11,12 1Ti 5:8

how. 3 1Sa 1:4-8 Eph 5:25-33 Col 3:19 1Pe 3:7

34 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 spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

careth. Lu 2:36,37 2Co 7:11,12 8:16 11:28 1Ti 3:5 Tit 3:8

both. 6:20 Ro 6:13 12:1,2 Php 1:20 1Th 5:23

she that. Lu 10:40-42

35 And this I speak for your own 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.

not. This is an allusion to the Retiarius among the Romans, who carried a small casting net, rete, which he endeavoured to throw over his adversary's head.

2,5-9,28,36 Mt 19:12

comely. 36 Eph 5:3 Php 4:8 1Ti 1:10 Tit 2:3

and that. 33,34 Lu 8:14 10:40-42 21:34

36 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 sinneth not: let them marry.

his virgin. Some interpret this of a man's continuing in a state of celibacy, and render [parthenos,] not a virgin, but virginity; but such a construction of the original appears without example. It appears most obvious to explain it of a parent, or guardian, who had the charge of a virgin; and Kypke has shown that [ten parthenon autou] is an elegant phrase for his virgin daughter.

the flower. 1Sa 2:33

and need. 9,37

he sinneth. 28

37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

then. 28

doeth well. 2 Heb 13:4

doeth better. 1,8,26,32-34,37

39 The wife is bound by the 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 Lord.

wife. 10,15 Ro 7:2,3

only. Ge 6:2 De 7:3,4 Mal 2:11 2Co 6:14-16

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

she. 1,8,26,35

I think. Rather, 'I judge (or consider) also that I have the Spirit of God;' for [dokein] is frequently used to express not what is doubtful, but what is true and certain.

25 9:1-3 14:36,37 2Co 10:8-10 12:11 1Th 4:8 2Pe 3:15,16