1 Corinthians 7:38-40

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:40

Verse 40 40.But she is happier if she so abide Why? Is it because widowhood is of itself a virtue? No; but because it will have less to distract, and is more exempt from earthly cares. As to what he adds — according to my judgment, he does not mean by this expression that his opinion was doubtful; but it is as if he had said that such was his decision as to this question; for he immediately adds that he has the Spirit of God, which is sufficient to give full and perfect authority. There... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Answers to the inquiries of the Corinthians respecting marriage. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Paul's conception of marriage. "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me," etc. All that Paul here says of marriage is in answer to some communication which the Church had addressed to him On the subject, and what he says he declares is not "of commandment," that is, not by Divine authority, but by "permission." All Scripture is therefore not inspired, even all the counsels of St. Paul do not seem to have been so. So desirous did he seem to be that all he says on this subject... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Advice respecting the unmarried. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Concerning virgins and widows. Paul now passes to another question referred to him, viz. the marriage of virgins and widows. This has been briefly touched upon already ( 1 Corinthians 7:8 ), and is now dealt with more in detail. Here also the apostle has no express commandment of the Lord to adduce, and he therefore proceeds to give his own inspired judgment on the matter, "as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful." This judgment is not in the form of explicit... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:29-40

Apostolic counsels for the times, and general principles applied now as before. Some minds are so organized as to be peculiarly open to those impressions which the local and circumstantial produce on thought and feeling. If these become excessive, they are almost sure to trench on principles. Such persons are devotees of sectionality; their prudence is shrewd, but not sagacious; intelligence is narrowed down to time, place, and immediate results; and expediency is with them "the previous... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:29-40

An argument from the shortness of the time. It is impossible to understand a large number of the apostolic allusions unless we recognize the early Church conception that the Christian dispensation would be very brief, and in all probability closed and completed in the first century, by the expected reappearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. This idea certainly prevailed among the disciples. To some extent at least it was shared by the apostles; but it is evident that they found it necessary to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:36-40

Duties of parents to children as to marriage. The apostle's words apply directly to daughters only. Among Jews and Greeks the disposal of the daughters of the family rested with the father. What is said, however, may extend very largely to sons as well. I. MARRIAGE IS NOT TO BE INSISTED UPON . It too commonly is in many circles, especially in the case of daughters, and thus becomes prolific of evils. The apostle rather commends the father who does not give his daughter in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:38

Doeth well. Because" marriage is honourable in all." Doeth better . Obviously not morally, because, if one course be morally better than another, we are bound to take it; but "better" with reference to expediency in "the urgent necessity" which rested on the Christian world in that day. It is quite clear that, if these words are meant to disparage matrimony in comparison with celibacy, or to treat celibacy in the abstract as a holier state that marriage, they have been set aside by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:39

Only in the Lord. The second marriage of the Christian widow must be a holy and a Christian marriage ( 2 Corinthians 6:14 ). read more

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