1 Corinthians 7:36
However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.
But if anyone thinks
The phrase "But if anyone thinks" introduces a conditional situation, suggesting a personal reflection or judgment. The Greek word for "thinks" is "nomizō," which implies a consideration or belief based on personal conviction or societal norms. In the context of 1 Corinthians, Paul is addressing concerns within the Corinthian church about marriage and celibacy, encouraging believers to thoughtfully consider their actions in light of their faith and circumstances.

he is acting improperly
The term "acting improperly" comes from the Greek "aschēmoneō," which means to behave in an unbecoming or indecent manner. This reflects the cultural and moral expectations of the time, where propriety in relationships was highly valued. Paul is acknowledging the potential for social or moral impropriety if a man is not handling his relationship with his betrothed appropriately, emphasizing the importance of maintaining honor and integrity.

toward his virgin
The word "virgin" is translated from the Greek "parthenos," referring to a young woman of marriageable age who is presumed to be chaste. In the historical context, a father's or guardian's responsibility was to ensure the well-being and proper marriage of his daughter. Paul is addressing the guardians or betrothed men, advising them on how to proceed if they feel they are not honoring their commitment.

and if she is past her youth
This phrase indicates a consideration of the woman's age and readiness for marriage. The Greek term "hyperakmos" suggests being beyond the prime of youth, implying that the woman is mature and perhaps at an age where marriage is socially expected. Paul is sensitive to the cultural pressures and personal circumstances that might influence the decision to marry.

and he feels that he ought to marry
The phrase "he feels that he ought to marry" reflects an internal conviction or necessity. The Greek "opheilō" conveys a sense of duty or obligation. Paul is recognizing that there may be compelling reasons, whether emotional, social, or moral, that lead a man to conclude that marriage is the right course of action.

he may do as he wishes
Here, Paul grants freedom of choice, emphasizing personal agency. The Greek "poieō" means to do or make, suggesting that the individual has the liberty to act according to his own judgment. This reflects the broader Christian principle of freedom within the bounds of righteousness and love.

He is not sinning
Paul reassures that choosing marriage in this context is not sinful. The Greek "hamartanō" means to miss the mark or err. By stating "He is not sinning," Paul affirms that marriage is a legitimate and honorable choice, countering any notion that celibacy is the only holy path.

they should get married
The conclusion "they should get married" is a straightforward directive. The Greek "gameō" means to marry, and Paul is providing a clear resolution to the dilemma. This underscores the sanctity and appropriateness of marriage as a God-ordained institution, aligning with the biblical view that marriage is honorable and should be pursued when it aligns with one's convictions and circumstances.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 1 Corinthians, addressing issues within the Corinthian church.

2. The Corinthian Church
The recipients of the letter, a diverse and often troubled early Christian community.

3. The Virgin
Refers to a young woman of marriageable age, possibly under the guardianship of a father or a betrothed.

4. Marriage
A central theme in this passage, reflecting cultural and spiritual considerations of the time.

5. Cultural Context
The societal norms and expectations regarding marriage and virginity in the Greco-Roman world.
Teaching Points
Understanding Cultural Context
Recognize the cultural and historical context of Paul's advice. In the first-century Greco-Roman world, marriage was often arranged, and the concept of a "virgin" was tied to familial honor and social expectations.

Freedom in Christ
Paul emphasizes that marriage is not a sin, offering freedom to believers to choose marriage without guilt. This reflects the broader Christian liberty found in Christ.

Discernment and Wisdom
The passage encourages discernment in personal relationships. Believers are called to act wisely and considerately, balancing personal desires with spiritual convictions.

Honoring Commitments
The importance of honoring commitments and acting with integrity in relationships is underscored. This aligns with the biblical call to love and faithfulness.

Balancing Personal Desires and Spiritual Convictions
Paul’s guidance reflects the need to balance personal desires with spiritual convictions, ensuring that decisions align with God’s will and purpose.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the cultural context of first-century Corinth help us interpret Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7:36?

2. In what ways does this passage reflect the broader biblical teaching on marriage found in Genesis 2:24 and Ephesians 5:22-33?

3. How can we apply the principle of Christian liberty in our own decisions about marriage and relationships today?

4. What role does discernment play in making decisions about marriage, and how can we seek God's wisdom in this area?

5. How can we ensure that our personal desires align with our spiritual convictions, particularly in the context of relationships and marriage?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 2:24
This verse establishes the foundational biblical principle of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, which Paul upholds.

Matthew 19:4-6
Jesus' teaching on marriage, emphasizing its sanctity and divine intention.

1 Corinthians 7:9
Earlier in the chapter, Paul advises those who cannot exercise self-control to marry, reinforcing the idea that marriage is a legitimate and honorable choice.

Ephesians 5:22-33
Provides a broader theological context for understanding Christian marriage as a reflection of Christ's relationship with the Church.
Concerning Virgins and WidowsH. Bremner, B. D.1 Corinthians 7:25-40
Concerning Virgins and WidowsH. Bremner 1 Corinthians 7:25-40
How to Give AdviceJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:25-40
How to Judge in Difficult MattersJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:25-40
Works of Supererogation and Counsels of PerfectionPrincipal Edwards.1 Corinthians 7:25-40
An Argument from the Shortness of the TimeR. Tuck 1 Corinthians 7:29-40
Apostolic Counsels for the TimesC. Lipscomb 1 Corinthians 7:29-40
Advice Should be GivenJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Against CarefulnessC. Simeon, M. A.1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Characteristics of ChristianityJ. W. Burn.1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Free from CaresClerical World1 Corinthians 7:32-40
The Cares of Married LifeJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Torment of Little CaresClerical Library1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Will-PowerBishop Thorold.1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Without CarefulnessC. H. Spurgeon.1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Duties of Parents to Children as to MarriageE. Hurndall 1 Corinthians 7:36-40
People
Corinthians, Paul
Places
Corinth
Topics
Acting, Age, Allowed, Along, Anyone, Behaves, Behaveth, Behaving, Best, Betrothed, Beyond, Bloom, Commits, Daughter, Desires, Doesn't, Engaged, Feels, Flower, Getting, However, Improperly, Inappropriately, Man's, Married, Marry, Matter, Opinion, Ought, Pass, Passed, Passions, Past, Properly, Require, Requires, Requireth, Seems, Sin, Sinneth, Sinning, Strong, Suitor, Thinketh, Thinks, Towards, Unbecomingly, Uncomely, Unmarried, Unseemly, Urgent, Virgin, Virginity, Wants, Willeth, Wishes, Youth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Corinthians 7:24-38

     5736   singleness

1 Corinthians 7:32-38

     5740   virgin

1 Corinthians 7:36-38

     5654   betrothal
     5710   marriage, customs
     8339   self-control

1 Corinthians 7:36-39

     5709   marriage, purpose

Library
Forms Versus Character
'Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.'--1 COR. vii. 19. 'For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love.'--GAL. v. 6. 'For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.'--GAL. vi. 16 (R.V.). The great controversy which embittered so much of Paul's life, and marred so much of his activity, turned upon the question whether a heathen man could come
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Slaves and Free
'He that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's free man: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.'--1 COR. vii. 22. This remarkable saying occurs in a remarkable connection, and is used for a remarkable purpose. The Apostle has been laying down the principle, that the effect of true Christianity is greatly to diminish the importance of outward circumstance. And on that principle he bases an advice, dead in the teeth of all the maxims recognised by worldly
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Christian Life
'Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.'--1 COR. vii. 24. You find that three times within the compass of a very few verses this injunction is repeated. 'As God hath distributed to every man,' says the Apostle in the seventeenth verse, 'as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.' Then again in the twentieth verse, 'Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he is called.' And then finally in our text. The reason for
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Marriage and Celibacy.
Preached January II, 1852. MARRIAGE AND CELIBACY. "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 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; and they that use this world as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."--1 Corinthians vii. 29-31. The subject of our exposition last Sunday was an essential portion
Frederick W. Robertson—Sermons Preached at Brighton

A Drama in Five Acts
Dear brethren, the important lesson which we endeavor to teach this morning is just this--that because time is so short, and the things of this world so frail and fleeting, it becomes us always to look at the things which are seen in their true character, and never to build substantial hopes on unsubstantial comforts, nor seek for solid joy from unreal things. In order that I may make this matter very plain, and may be the more likely to enlist your attention, and to secure the friendship of your
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

How to Use the Present Life, and the Comforts of It.
The divisions of this chapter are,--I. The necessity and usefulness of this doctrine. Extremes to be avoided, if we would rightly use the present life and its comforts, sec. 1, 2. II. One of these extremes, viz, the intemperance of the flesh, to be carefully avoided. Four methods of doing so described in order, sec. 3-6. 1. BY such rudiments we are at the same time well instructed by Scripture in the proper use of earthly blessings, a subject which, in forming a scheme of life, is by no mean to be
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Family Religion.
"Lo! where yon cottage whitens through the green, The loveliest feature of a matchless scene; Beneath its shading elm, with pious fear, An aged mother draws her children near, While from the Holy Word, with earnest air, She teaches them the privilege of prayer. Look! how their infant eyes with rapture speak; Mark the flushed lily on the dimpled cheek; Their hearts are filled with gratitude and love, Their hopes are centered in a world above!" The Christian home demands a family religion. This makes
Samuel Philips—The Christian Home

The Apostolic Scriptures.
"And I think that I also have the Spirit of God."--1 Cor. vii. 40. We have seen that the apostolate has an extraordinary significance and occupies a unique position. This position is twofold, viz., temporary, with reference to the founding of the first churches, and permanent, with regard to the churches of all ages. The first must necessarily be temporary, for what was then accomplished can not be repeated. A tree can be planted only once; an organism can be born only once; the planting or founding
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

It Is, Therefore, the Present Necessity that we are to Avoid...
14. It is, therefore, the present necessity that we are to avoid, but yet such as is a hindrance to somewhat of the good things to come; by which necessity the married life is forced to have thought of the things of the world, how to please, the husband the wife or the wife the husband. Not that these separate from the kingdom of God, as there are sins, which are restrained by command, not by counsel, on this account, because it is matter of condemnation not to obey the Lord when He commands: but
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

But Lest any Should Think that of Two Works...
19. But lest any should think that of two works, the good and the better, the rewards will be equal, on this account it was necessary to treat against those, who have so interpreted that saying of the Apostle, "But I think that this is good by reason of the present necessity," [2056] as to say that virginity is of use not in order to the kingdom of heaven, but in order to this present time: as though in that eternal life, they, who had chosen this better part, would have nothing more than the rest
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

After that the Same Apostle Adds, and Says...
15. After that the same Apostle adds, and says, "Thou art bound to a wife, seek not loosening: thou art loosed from a wife, seek not a wife." [2050] Of these two, that, which be set first, pertains unto command, against which it is not lawful to do. For it is not lawful to put away a wife, save because of fornication, [2051] as the Lord Himself saith in the Gospel. But that, which he added, "Thou art loosed from a wife, seek not a wife," is a sentence of counsel, not of command; therefore it is lawful
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Yet He Added, "But Such Shall have Tribulation of the Flesh...
16. Yet he added, "But such shall have tribulation of the flesh, but I spare you:" [2053] in this manner exhorting unto virginity, and continual continence, so as some little to alarm also from marriage, with all modesty, not as from a matter evil and unlawful, but as from one burdensome and troublesome. For it is one thing to incur dishonor of the flesh, and another to have tribulation of the flesh: the one is matter of crime to do, the other of labor to suffer, which for the most part men refuse
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Far be It, Therefore, that the Apostle So Said...
20. Far be it, therefore, that the Apostle so said, unto such as are married or are about to marry, "But I spare you," as if he were unwilling to say what punishment is due to the married in another life. Far be it that she, whom Daniel set free from temporal judgment, be cast by Paul into hell! Far be it that her husband's bed be unto her punishment before the judgment seat of Christ, keeping faith to which she chose, under false charge of adultery, to meet either danger, or death! To what effect
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

For not Even Herein Ought Such as are Married to Compare Themselves with The...
10. For not even herein ought such as are married to compare themselves with the deserts of the continent, in that of them virgins are born: for this is not a good of marriage, but of nature: which was so ordered of God, as that of every sexual intercourse whatever of the two sexes of human kind, whether in due order and honest, or base and unlawful, there is born no female save a virgin, yet is none born a sacred virgin: so it is brought to pass that a virgin is born even of fornication, but a sacred
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Here Some one Will Say, what Has this to do with Holy virginity...
21. Here some one will say, What has this to do with holy virginity, or perpetual continence, the setting forth of which was undertaken in this discourse? To whom I make answer in the first place, what I mentioned above, that the glory of that greater good is greater from the fact that, in order to obtain it, the good of married life is surmounted, not the sin of marriage shunned. Otherwise it would be enough for perpetual continence, not to be specially praised, but only not to be blamed: if it
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Let Marriages Possess their Own Good, not that they Beget Sons...
12. Let marriages possess their own good, not that they beget sons, but that honestly, that lawfully, that modestly, that in a spirit of fellowship they beget them, and educate them, after they have been begotten, with cooperation, with wholesome teaching, and earnest purpose: in that they keep the faith of the couch one with another; in that they violate not the sacrament of wedlock. All these, however, are offices of human duty: but virginal chastity and freedom through pious continence from all
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

And Now by Plainest Witnesses of Divine Scriptures...
22. And now by plainest witnesses of divine Scriptures, such as according to the small measure of our memory we shall be able to remember, let it more clearly appear, that, not on account of the present life of this world, but on account of that future life which is promised in the kingdom of heaven, we are to choose perpetual continence. But who but must observe this in that which the same Apostle says a little after, "Whoso is without a wife has thought of the things of the Lord, how to please
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

And not Without Just Cause a Doubt is Raised...
14. And not without just cause a doubt is raised, whether he said this of all married women, or of such as so many are, as that nearly all may be thought so to be. For neither doth that, which he saith of unmarried women, "She, that is unmarried, thinkest of the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit:" [1973] pertain unto all unmarried women: whereas there are certain widows who are dead, who live in delights. However, so far as regards a certain distinction and, as it were, character
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

And yet not to These Themselves is Marriage a Sin...
11. And yet not to these themselves is marriage a sin; which, if it were chosen in comparison of fornication, would be a less sin than fornication, and yet would be a sin. But now what shall we say against the most plain speech of the Apostle, saying, "Let her do what she will; she sinneth not, if she be married;" [1966] and, "If thou shalt have taken a wife, thou hast not sinned: and, if a virgin shall have been married, she sinneth not." [1967] Hence surely it is not lawful now to doubt that marriage
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

There is this Further, that in that Very Debt which Married Persons Pay One...
4. There is this further, that in that very debt which married persons pay one to another, even if they demand it with somewhat too great intemperance and incontinence, yet they owe faith alike one to another. Unto which faith the Apostle allows so great right, as to call it "power," saying, "The woman hath not power of her own body, but the man; again in like manner also the man hath not power of his own body, but the woman." [1943] But the violation of this faith is called adultery, when either
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Further, in the Very Case of the More Immoderate Requirement of the Due Of...
6. Further, in the very case of the more immoderate requirement of the due of the flesh, which the Apostle enjoins not on them by way of command, but allows to them by way of leave, that they have intercourse also beside the cause of begetting children; although evil habits impel them to such intercourse, yet marriage guards them from adultery or fornication. For neither is that committed because of marriage, but is pardoned because of marriage. Therefore married persons owe one another not only
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Therefore the Good of Marriage Throughout all Nations and all Men Stands in The...
32. Therefore the good of marriage throughout all nations and all men stands in the occasion of begetting, and faith of chastity: but, so far as pertains unto the People of God, also in the sanctity of the Sacrament, by reason of which it is unlawful for one who leaves her husband, even when she has been put away, to be married to another, so long as her husband lives, no not even for the sake of bearing children: and, whereas this is the alone cause, wherefore marriage takes place, not even where
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Therefore as Many Women as There are Now...
19. Therefore as many women as there are now, unto whom it is said, "if they contain not, let them be married, [1986] ^" are not to be compared to the holy women then, even when they married. Marriage itself indeed in all nations is for the same cause of begetting sons, and of what character soever these may be afterward, yet was marriage for this purpose instituted, that they may be born in due and honest order. But men, who contain not, as it were ascend unto marriage by a step of honesty: but
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

But I Marvel, If, as it is Allowed to Put Away a Wife Who...
7. But I marvel, if, as it is allowed to put away a wife who is an adulteress, so it be allowed, having put her away, to marry another. For holy Scripture causes a hard knot in this matter, in that the Apostle says, that, by commandment of the Lord, the wife ought not to depart from her husband, but, in case she shall have departed, to remain unmarried, or to be reconciled to her husband; [1950] whereas surely she ought not to depart and remain unmarried, save from an husband that is an adulterer,
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

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