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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:6

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:7

For I would that all men were even as I myself ,.... The apostle speaks not of his state and condition, as married or unmarried, for it is not certain which he was; some think he had a wife, others not: it looks, however, as if he had not at this time, as appears from 1 Corinthians 7:8 but be it which it will, it can hardly be thought he should wish all men to be in either state, either all married, or all unmarried; but he speaks of the gift of continency, which he had, as the following... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:8

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows ,.... Not by way of command, but advice: by the "unmarried" he means, either such men who never were in a married state, or else such who had been married, but their wives were dead; which latter sense seems more agreeable, since they are joined with "widows", who had lost their husbands: it is good for them if they abide ; unmarried, and do not change their condition any more; not that it was sinful to marry again, for he allows of it in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:9

But if they cannot contain , &c.; Or "if they do not contain", as the words may be rendered, and as almost all versions do render them; if they have not the gift of continency; if they are not willing, and do not think fit to contain, for none are to be compelled; if either therefore they want a will or power to contain, let them marry; it is not only lawful for them to marry, but it is right and best for them; hence it appears that second marriages are lawful, which were condemned by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:10

And unto the married I command ,.... To the unmarried and widows he spoke by permission, or only gave advice and counsel to remain unmarried, provided they could contain; but if not, it was advisable to marry; but to persons already in a married state, what he has to say to them is by commandment, enjoining what they are under obligation to observe, not being at liberty to do as they will: yet not I, but the Lord ; not as if he took upon him the dominion over them, to make laws for them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:11

But and if she depart ,.... This is said, not as allowing of such a departure, which only in case of fornication is lawful; but supposing it a fact, that a woman cannot be prevailed upon to stay with her husband, but actually forsakes him upon some difference arising between them, let her remain unmarried : she ought not to marry another man; her departure does not make the marriage void; nor is it to be made void by any difference between them, either on religious or civil accounts,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:12

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord ,.... He had spoken before to married persons in general, and had delivered not his own sentiments barely, but the commandment of the Lord, that such should never separate from, or put away each other; in which he has respect to such as were upon equal foot in matters of religion, who were both of them believers in Christ; but now he speaks to the rest, to such as were unequally yoked, the one a believer, the other an unbeliever; and what he delivers on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:13

And the woman which hath an husband that believeth ,.... The apostle puts the case both ways, there being the same reason for one as for another; that if she that was a sister, who was partaker of the grace of God, and a member of the church, had a husband to whom she was married before her conversion; who was an unbeliever, had no faith in Christ, nor any notion of the Gospel, but an infidel to both: and if he be pleased to dwell with her ; loves her, and is willing to continue with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:14

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife ,.... That is, "by the believing wife"; as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, and so it is read in some copies; and likewise in the next clause the same is read, by the believing husband ; this is a reason given by the apostle why they should live together. This cannot be understood of internal sanctification, which is never the case; an unbeliever cannot be sanctified by a believer in this sense, for such a sanctification is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:1

The things whereof ye wrote unto me - It is sufficiently evident that the principal part of this epistle was written in answer to some questions which had been sent to the apostle in a letter from the Corinthian Church; and the first question seems to be this: "Is it proper for a man to marry in the present circumstances of the Church?" The question concerning the expediency or inexpediency of marriage was often agitated among the ancient philosophers; and many, though inclined to decide... read more

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