1 Corinthians 7:25–40

²⁵ Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. ²⁶ I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is: ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you. ²⁹ But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, ³⁰ those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, ³¹ and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. ³² But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. ³³ But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. ³⁴ There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. ³⁵ And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction. ³⁶ But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. ³⁷ Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. ³⁸ So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better. ³⁹ A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Commentary

Vs. 25 "Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy."

The Apostle Paul now addresses questions regarding those who are virgins. The word Paul uses here of virgins is not gender specific, and so this could be either male or female believers. That the Apostle Paul has no commandment from the Lord means that the Lord left no specific verbal instructions regarding this to the Apostles. Yet as the Apostle Paul states here he gives judgment (gnṓmē), regarding this "as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy." And thus the Apostle Paul is here giving his own Spirit guided counsel on this matter, as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy for all such things (see 1 Cor 7:40).  

Vs. 26-28  ²⁶ I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is: ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

Present distress here should not be thought limited to the early Christians, for every believer who follows Jesus Christ faithfully will have to endure tribulations in this world (see Acts 14:22). Therefore the Apostle Paul reaffirms his earlier counsel that each one of us should live as we are called (vs. 8-17), and thus if called while married don't seek to be loosed from your wife. Or if loosed from a wife don't seek a wife (vs. 26-27). Now this the Apostle Paul's says not as a commandment forbidding any believers marriage, rather as counsel given to spare unmarried believers the inevitable difficulties and distractions that come with being married. Thus Paul counsels that we remain in the state in which we are called, whether married or single, and thus trust God who has called us in the state in which He called us. Which again is not the Apostle Paul forbidding anyone's marriage, for he says, ..."even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you." (vs. 28). Thus the Apostle Paul's counseling such things is not to put a leash on anyone (1 Cor. 7:35), rather it is to spare believers the inevitable troubles that come with being married as a believer in this broken and degenerating world. 

Vs. 29-31 ²⁹ But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, ³⁰ those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, ³¹ and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

Because of the brevity (and uncertainty) of all our lives, the time truly is short. Therefore we should all strive to make the most of our lives in Christ's service while we can, whether we are married or single. Therefore Paul's saying that those who have wives should live as though they had none, is not saying to forsake ones responsibilities to ones wife, rather one should not let one being married keep them from serving the Lord in whatever ways He has called them to serve Him in. "Those who weep should live as those they did not weep."  Though some of us will have much sorrow down here, we must see all things in the light of eternity. For truly those tears in reality are only for moment, for they will all be wiped away by the hand of God (consider Isaiah 25:8; 54:7-8; Luke 6:21; Rev. 7:17, 21:4). Similarly those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, and those who buy as though they did not posses. For all that now is, is temporary. Therefore those whose lives are now filled with abundance, and joy, and laughter should consider that if their lives are only lived in the comfortable places, where joy and laughter and earthly prosperity now abounds, they will miss out on the everlasting consolation of God (consider Luke 6:24-26). Finally the Apostle Paul says here "and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away." Therefore though we have contact with many things in this world, and frequently the things in this world have a legitimate place in a believers life, these things should not be abused, nor should they define or dictate ones life. For loyalty to Christ means not being enraptured with the transient things and pursuits of this world and life, since the form of this world is passing away (consider 1 John 2:15-17). 

Vs. 32-33 ³² But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. ³³ But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 

The Apostle Paul in addressing the unmarried first, in exhorting these things, wants us to be without care, that is free from the distractions and worry (and thus the divided loyalties) which can invade the lives of those who are married. For as the Apostle Paul says here, "He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. ³³ But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife." Thus the unmarried man (if he chooses to be so) is largely free from the worldly pursuits that come with being married. While the married man's loyalties are often divided between the things of this world, and the things of Christ, in trying to please his wife.

Even his "spare time" to a certain degree will have to be spent on his wife and family if he hopes to maintain a healthy marriage and relationship with his children. And so it is very difficult for a married man to whole heartily serve the Lord, unless he and his wife are willing to make some very significant sacrifices so that he may do so. While the unmarried man is again truly free to serve the Lord whole heartily, something in which their is far less distractions and worry.  

Vs. 34 "There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband."

As with the married man who is often preoccupied with the things of this world in how he may please his wife. So it is with the married woman. Now the Apostle Paul makes a distinction between the married woman, who again cares for the things of this world, and the woman who is a virgin. For the woman who is a virgin, and is not married, having never none a man, can dedicate herself wholly to the Lord and His purposes, being concerned with being holy in both body and spirit. While the married woman, like the married man (vs. 32), is always juggling family and spousal duties, along with her own desires in wanting please her husband, with serving the Lord. Now man or a woman does not need to be a virgin in order to be set apart to the Lord, it's just that once one has been married, and if widowed or a widower, it's very likely they will desire marriage again, than one who has never known marriage, in which case marriage would be the best option for them if they cannot serve the Lord without distraction by their desires for another spouse.

Vs. 35 "And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction."

Throughout his exhortations in chapter seven the Apostle Paul has been very careful to make it clear that he is not opposed to marriage, or any believer marrying, rather as he says here, what he is saying is for our profit, so that we may serve the Lord without distractions. Now the Apostle Paul's colorful metaphor "leash" here is his using a word which describes a choke-collar sort of device by which people would compel a domesticated animal's obedience, or a war prisoner would be fully constrained; something the Apostle Paul is not doing here by his use of this word in this way. 

Vs. 36-38  ³⁶ But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. ³⁷ Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. ³⁸ So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

Now since the Apostle Paul's exhortations were going to come to people who may already be betrothed to be married (something that often took place then, as parents arranged marriages while their children were still children), thus he did not want them (either the father of the bride to be or the bridegroom himself) thinking it improper now for them to marry if they desired to do so. Thus if the virgin was past the flower of her youth, meaning if she is a biologically adult woman, than he does not sin if he takes her as his wife, let them marry (vs. 36). Nevertheless if the man was steadfast in his spirit, having no necessity for a wife, than he who keeps her as a virgin by not marrying her does better (vs. 37). Yet he only does better if he has his own bodily desires under control. Thus he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better (vs. 38). 

Now the reason he does better is that as the Apostle Paul has already reasoned they can be more dedicated to the Lord's service with their lives. However they are not to be thought of as being "better" than those believers who are married or marry. They are simply in a better position to serve the Lord with their entire persons and lives than one who is married, and in that sense they do better. 

Vs. 39-40 ³⁹ A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Here the Apostle Paul makes it clear that if one decides to marry it is a lifetime commitment that they are entering into in the eyes of the Lord. Thus marriage should never be entered into hastily. Therefore if a wife is bound to her husband as long as she lives (see Rom 7:2). However if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord (meaning a believing man). That said the Apostle Paul again reaffirms his counsel that singleness is the prefered state if one can live single, as he says, "But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God." Therefore though not forbidding the remarriage of widows, the Apostle Paul does not see this as being advantageous for them, unless of course these are younger widows who are unsupported and or cannot support themselves, then it is better for such women to re-marry and manage the household than to live idle and busy-body lives (see 1 Tim. 5, vs. 11-16). 

Scripture Quotation

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted for Vs. 36-38

MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.

Hindson, Edward E., and Woodrow Michael Kroll, eds. KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1994.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible First Edition Notes. Biblical Studies Press, 2006.