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1 Corinthians 7:25

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

27

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28

But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

29

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

30

And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32

But I would have ° you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33

But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36

But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

37

Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38

So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

1 Corinthians 7:25

7:25 give my judgment. There had been no previous commandment specifically concerning virgins, except to refrain from fornication, so Paul gives his own inspired judgment (note I Corinthians 7:40). Before giving his advice concerning virgins, however, he points out that the imminent “distress” (I Corinthians 7:26,29)—possibly referring to the soon-coming severe persecutions of Christians by the Romans—would indicate that it might be better to remain unmarried, even though getting married was certainly no sin (I Corinthians 7:28).

1 Corinthians 7:32

7:32 carefulness. In its former usage it means “worrying.”

1 Corinthians 7:36

7:36 if any man. This evidently is a reference to the virgin’s father, who normally determined when, and to whom, his daughter would marry (see I Corinthians 7:38).

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