1 Corinthians 7:32-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:35

The apostle here resumes his discourse, and gives directions to virgins how to act, concerning which we may take notice, I. Of the manner wherein he introduces them: ?Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, 1 Cor. 7:25. I have no express and universal law delivered by the Lord himself concerning celibacy; but I give my judgment, as one who hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful,? namely, in the apostleship. He acted faithfully, and therefore his direction was to be... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:26-35

7:26-35 I think that this is the right thing because of the present crisis-- that it is the right thing for a man to remain as he is. Have you been bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released from that bond. Are you free from marriage ties? Do not seek a wife. But, if you do marry, you have committed no sin. Those who do marry will have trouble about bodily things, and I would wish to spare you this. This I do say, brothers, the time is short, so short that, for the future those who have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:32

But I would have you without carefulness ,.... This is another reason, by which the apostle confirms the advice he gives to virgins to remain such, because the married state is full of cares, whereas the single life is no more free from them; and therefore he wishes them to continue in such a state, that they might be without anxious and distracting cares of temporal things, things relating to the good decorum and sustenance of a family, and so be more free and at leisure for the service of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:33

But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world ,.... Attending diligently to the business and calling of life, he is engaged in, that he may provide food and clothing, and other necessaries for the support and sustenance of his family: how he may please his wife : and make her and his children easy and comfortable. This also is not to be understood of every individual person in a married state as matter of fact; for, on the one hand, there are some who take no care to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:34

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin ,.... The word μεμερισται , translated "there is difference", stands in some copies at the end of the last verse, and in the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, by which it is rendered, "and is divided"; referring to the married man, whose thoughts are distracted with the cares of the world, and his mind divided between the Lord and his wife, between the things that please the one, and those that please the other; so that he cannot... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:35

And this I speak for your own profit ,.... The apostle suggests, that in giving the advice he did to unmarried persons to abide single, he had nothing else in view than their temporal and spiritual advantage; that they might be better able to meet and grapple with persecution for the sake of the Gospel; that they might be more free from the cares and encumbrances of life, and more at liberty to serve the Lord; whereby not only his glory, but their spiritual good, might be promoted; not that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:32

Without carefulness - Though all these things will shortly come to pass, yet do not be anxious about them. Every occurrence is under the direction and management of God. The wrath of man shall praise him, and the remainder of it he shall restrain, and none can harm you if ye be followers of that which is good. We should all take the advice of the poet: - "With patient mind thy course of duty run; God nothing does, nor suffers to be done, But thou wouldst do thyself, couldst thou but... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:33

But he that is married - He has a family to provide for, and his wife to please, as well as to fulfill his duty to God, and attend to the concerns of his own soul. The single man has nothing to attend to but what concerns his own salvation: the married man has all this to attend to, and besides to provide for his wife and family, and take care of their eternal interests also. The single man has very little trouble comparatively; the married man has a great deal. The single man is an atom in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:34

There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin - That is: There is this difference between a married and an unmarried woman. The unmarried careth (only) for the things of the Lord, having no domestic duties to perform. That she may be holy - separated to Divine employments, both in body and spirit. Whereas she that is married careth (also) for the things of the world, how she may please her husband, having many domestic duties to fulfill, her husband being obliged to leave to her the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:35

This I speak for your own profit - The advices belong to yourselves alone, because of the peculiar circumstances in which you are placed. Nothing spoken here was ever designed to be of general application; it concerned the Church at Corinth alone, or Churches in similar circumstances. Not that I may cast a snare upon you - Ουχ ἱνα βροχον ὑμιν επιβαλω - Here is a manifest allusion to the Retiarius among the Romans, who carried a small casting net, which he endeavored to throw over the... read more

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