1 Corinthians 7:9 NIV

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 7:2-17

Marriage: its nature and duties. I. NATURE . 1. It is the union of one man and one woman. ( 1 Corinthians 7:2 .) Polygamy and polyandry are rigorously excluded from the sanction of the Christian faith. The former was tolerated by God in early times, but never enjoined or commended. The first union, in Eden, was of the Christian order. The wisdom of the dictum of Christianity has been exemplified by universal experience. All other arrangements are prolific of evils. 2. It is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:8-16

The marriage tie. When Christianity spread abroad among the heathen, very often, in a family, "one would be taken and another left," and much family and social difficulty was made when a heathen husband or a heathen wife was converted, and the other partner remained in heathen darkness. There could be no doubt that Christianity demanded separation from heathenism, and even declared a social connection with heathen people to be morally perilous; and it might very readily be inferred that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:9

If they cannot contain; rather, if they have not continency. Let them marry . In 1 Timothy 5:14 he lays down and justifies the same rule with reference to young widows. It is better to marry than to burn. The original tenses give greater force and beauty to this obvious rule of Christian common sense and morality. The "marry" is in the aorist—"to marry once for all," and live in holy married union; the "burn" is in the present—"to be on fire with concupiscence." Marriage once for all... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:9

But if they cannot contain - If they have not the gift of continence; if they cannot be secure against temptation; if they have not strength of virtue enough to preserve them from the danger of sin, and of bringing reproach and scandal on the church.It is better - It is to be preferred.Than to burn - The passion here referred to is often compared to a fire; see Virgil, Aeneas 4:68. It is better to marry, even with all the inconveniences attending the marriage life in a time of distress and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

1 Corinthians 7:8-9. I say, therefore I give this advice; to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them It is a condition of life which will tend to promote their eternal welfare, that, if they conveniently can, they abide even as I Namely, unmarried; for that Paul was then single is certain: and from Acts 7:58, compared with the following parts of the history, it seems probable that he always was so. It may not be improper to observe, that many of the things which the apostle... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:1-9

7:1-40 CHRISTIAN MARRIAGEResponsibilities of marriage (7:1-9)Paul now deals with those matters concerning which the Corinthians had written. One problem concerned marriage. Some thought it more honourable and a sign of moral purity not to marry. Paul replies that marriage is honourable. It is the normal course God has set out for humankind, though there are exceptions. In some cases it may be better not to marry (he will explain this in a moment), but because Corinth is an immoral city and full... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 7:9

if . App-118 . cannot contain = have not (Greek. ou) self-control. Greek. engkrateuomai. Only here and 1 Corinthians 9:25 . Compare Acts 24:25 .Titus 1:8 . Occurs in Septuagint Genesis 43:31 . 1 Samuel 13:12 (forced). burn . Greek. puroomai. Elsewhere, 2 Corinthians 11:29 . Eph 6:16 . 2 Peter 3:12 .Revelation 1:15 ; Revelation 3:18 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:9

But if they have no continency, let them marry: for it better to marry than to burn.McGarvey's analysis of Paul's answer has this: "He advises the unmarried who have the gift of self-control to remain unmarried, but those lacking it should avoid unlawful lusts by marriage."[21]Better to marry than to burn ... has reference to being on fire with passion. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:9

9. if they cannot contain—that is, "have not continency." burn—with the secret flame of lust, which lays waste the whole inner man. (Compare AUGUSTINE [Holy Virginity]). The dew of God's grace is needed to stifle the flame, which otherwise would thrust men at last into hell-fire. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:2-17

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:8-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:1-9

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 7:9

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:9

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:9

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