First Corinthians 7:32 - 38
Concerning Virgins (Part 2)
Brian R. Kenyon

In First Corinthians 7:25, Paul began a section with specific instructions concerning virgins. Paul's inspired judgment was that virgins remain unmarried (1 Cor. 7:25-28). The reason why Paul advised this was because of the "present distress" (1 Cor. 7:26, 28), which was most likely persecution related. However, if one married, he or she was not in sin (1 Cor. 7:28). Paul added that the situation in Corinth especially necessitated that Christians be not so preoccupied with temporal affairs that they lose track of serving the Lord (1 Cor. 7:29-31). Paul finishes this section on virgins by giving truths that are particularly relevant today.

Serving the Lord without Distraction

By writing, "I would have you without carefulness [free from anxieties, ESV]" (1 Cor. 7:32a), Paul is letting the Corinthians know that he does not advise remaining single out of meanness, but he wants them to be free from added distress (cf. 1 Cor. 7:27-28).

Paul writes, "He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34There 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" (1 Cor. 7:32b-34). In these verses, Paul reveals two important truths.

First, Paul points out that one without the added responsibilities of a spouse and family will be less distracted from serving the Lord. "Careth [is careful, ASV] for the things of the Lord" (1 Cor. 7:32a, 34a) is a way of saying that this person is more focused on the Lord. Thus, he or she is better able to be acceptable to the Lord because the unmarried do not have the added concerns of family. "She may be holy both in body and in spirit" (1 Cor. 7:34a) is not saying that a virgin is more righteous than a wife. "Holy" here refers to consecration rather than moral purity (cf. 1 Cor. 7:14). Instead, Paul is saying that a virgin's consecration is unmodified by family responsibilities.

Second, one with the responsibilities of a family must divide his or her concern between the Lord and his or her family. "Things that are of the world" (1 Cor. 7:33a) is not speaking of worldliness, but, in contrast to the "things of the Lord," these are temporal matters, such as providing for and protecting one's family.1 "Please his wife...please her husband" (1 Cor. 7:33b, 34b) is a "thing of the Lord" (cf. 1 Cor. 7:3-5; Eph. 5:22-28), but in times of persecution, fulfilling one's marriage responsibilities can become an added burden.

Again, Paul reminds them, "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" (1 Cor. 7:35). "Cast a snare [put a leash, NKJ] upon" is from a hunting metaphor whereby one would throw a lasso over an animal to capture it.2 Although the unmarried can better focus on the Lord's work in this "present distress," Paul warns us not to turn his inspired counsel into a snare by construing it as a prohibition of marriage.3

Virgin Daughters Are Best Left Unmarried, But...

Paul instructs, "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" (1 Cor. 7:36). Although some consider the "man" and the "virgin" to refer to a young man and his fiancee, this view reflects our custom rather than the first century setting of Paul. Betrothal among Jews and Romans was much more involved than our marriage "engagements." To the Jews, betrothal was more like the first stage in a marriage (cf. Deut. 22:23-24; Mt. 1:18-20), which could only be broken by the divorce process. In Biblical times, and in some societies today, fathers controlled the marriage of their daughters.

If a father is convinced that not allowing his daughter to marry is doing her an injustice or subjecting her to dangerous sexual temptation (cf. 1 Cor. 7:2), then he should allow her to marry. "Behaveth...uncomely [improperly, NKJ]" means to behave disgracefully, dishonorably, or indecently. "Past the flower of her age [of full age, NAS]" is from a Greek word that means "past one's prime, marriageable age; the bloom of youth."4 In this case, neither the virgin daughter nor the father who gives her in marriage has sinned!

However, if a father detects no such danger in not allowing his daughter to marry, he does right by keeping her a virgin. Paul says, "Nevertheless he that standeth steadfast 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" (1 Cor. 7:37). "Steadfast [stands firm, NAS] in his heart" means to be firmly convinced that his daughter is not subject to dangerous sexual desire (cf. 1 Cor. 7:1-2). Thus, the father has no compelling reason to give his daughter in marriage. He has "power over his own will" in that the decision is purely his own, without being forced by her dangerous sexual desires. Paul concludes by saying, "So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better" (1 Cor. 7:38). In other words, although the father does right by allowing his virgin daughter to marry, he does even better by not giving her in marriage!

There are two major lessons we can learn from this section in Fist Corinthians 7. First, our main priority must be the Lord. While it is true that marriage is honorable for all who Scripturally qualify (Heb. 13:4), there are times, especially under persecution that it can lead to our unfaithfulness to God. Second, as parents, we can sometimes be so overbearing on our children that we drive them into sin, or further sin, as the case may be. We must not make unrealistic demands on them. May God give us the wisdom to know the difference! Let us keep the Lord first, and base all our judgments upon the truth of His word!

End Notes

1 Howard Winters, Commentary on First Corinthians: Practical and Explanatory (Greenville, SC: Carolina Christian, 1987) 98.

2 Leon Morris (quotes Milligan and Moulton), The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985) 116.

3 J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton, Standard Bible Commentary: Thessalonians, Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, n. d.) 84.

4 Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 2nd rev. ed. by William F. Arndt, F. Wilbur Gingrich, and Frederick W. Danker (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979) 795.