1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

In this paragraph the apostle gives them direction in a case which must be very frequent in that age of the world, especially among the Jewish converts; I mean whether they were to live with heathen relatives in a married state. Moses's law permitted divorce; and there was a famous instance in the Jewish state, when the people were obliged to put away their idolatrous wives, Ezra 10:3. This might move a scruple in many minds, whether converts to Christianity were not bound to put away or... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:8-16

7:8-16 To the unmarried and to the widows I say, it would be a fine thing if they were to remain like myself, but if they find continence impossible, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to go on being inflamed with passion. To those who are married I give this order--and the order is not mine but the Lord's--that a wife should not separate herself from her husband; but if she does separate, let her either remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband; and that a husband should... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:15

But if the unbelieving depart ,.... If the unbelieving party, man or woman, separate themselves from the believing party on account of religion, and in hatred to it, and will not live with the believer unless Christ is denied, his Gospel abjured, and his ordinances and worship relinquished: let him depart ; he or she, though not without making use of all proper means to retain them; but if, after all, they will go, unless such things are complied with as are unreasonable and sinful, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:16

For what knowest thou, O wife ,.... These words may be understood, as containing a reason either why the believing party should be easy at the departure of the unbeliever, after all proper methods have been used in vain to retain him or her; taken from the uncertainty and improbability of being of any use to them, to bring them to the knowledge of Christ, and salvation by him; "for what knowest thou, O wife"; thou dost not know, thou canst not know, thou canst not be sure, whether thou... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 7:10

I command, yet not I, but the Lord - I do not give my own private opinion or judgment in this case; for the Lord Jesus commands that man shall not put asunder them whom God hath joined, Matthew 5:32 ; Matthew 19:6 . And God has said the same, Genesis 2:24 . The following extracts will prove that the law among the Jews was very loose relative to the firmness of the marriage bond: - A woman might put away or depart from her husband by giving this simple reason to the elders, who would... read more

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