1 Corinthians 7:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.

NIV: But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin--this man also does the right thing.

NASB: But the one who stands firm in his heart, if he is not under constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well.

CSB: But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will) and has decided in his heart to keep her as his fiancée, will do well.

NLT: But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: 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.

Paul is addressing the issue of whether a man engaged to be married should go through with the marriage. This is in light of what Paul has already taught in this chapter. Paul has been careful to note that marriage is a good thing, and his personal preference for a single life is not a universal command from God (1 Corinthians 7:25). He's been clear that those who are married should remain so (1 Corinthians 7:17–24). But, what about someone who is not yet married, but committed to someone else in an engagement—a betrothal? Should an engaged man back out of the agreement?

In the previous verse, Paul instructed the engaged man to go through with the marriage, for appropriate reasons. For instance, if he felt ending the engagement would be unfair or shameful for her (1 Corinthians 7:36). Or, if sexual desires were strong to the point of risking sexual immorality outside of marriage. Some interpreters suggest the previous verse was addressed to Christian fathers with daughters who were engaged to be married.

If Christian fathers are being addressed, they are encouraged to proceed with the marriage if ending the engagement would be dishonorable to their daughters. Or, if their daughters have given them any reason to believe they do not have the gift of celibacy, as Paul has described it. Paul repeats that it is not a sin for their daughters to marry.

Now, though, Paul says to these fathers that if they are firm in their conviction that their daughter should not get married, and assuming the items mentioned in the previous verse are not an issue, the father does well to keep her as his daughter and not allow her to marry the man she is betrothed to.

Still other translators believe these verses to be addressed to the engaged man himself, granting permission to break off the engagement if those other concerns are not an issue.

The reason for some of these alternate ideas is the underlying Greek of the passage. These specific phrases are difficult to translate from the original. Scholars have reached differing conclusions about the meaning of verses 36–38, but the principles are the same. Regardless of who is being addressed, the reasons behind these choices are the same, in practice. Paul is saying to all parties that they do well to get married or not to get married, based on the conditions he has laid out.

First Corinthians 7:25–40 explores Paul's response to a question about those who are engaged to be married. Should they go through with it, considering his teaching that singleness provides opportunity to serve Christ undivided? Both are permitted, Paul insists, and you do well in either case. Paul's unique, personal view is that unmarried Christians can serve without the troubles that come with even the best marriages; they can remain fully focused on living for Christ. That is neither a command nor a judgment binding on anyone.

Paul rejects an idea concerning the Corinthian believers: that married Christians should not have sex. Perhaps some even thought marriages should be dissolved and avoided. On the contrary, Scripture says married Christians should have regular sex in order to avoid temptation. Those who are married ought to remain married. Unmarried believers with the gift of celibacy, however, should consider remaining single in order to avoid the troubles of marriage. That is Paul's personal preference, though that gift is not given to all others. Single believers can devote themselves to serving Christ without distraction. The time is short. All believers should live and serve Christ now as if this world is passing away.

First Corinthians 7 follows Paul's teaching in the previous chapter, which focused mostly on avoiding sexual immorality. Here he commands married husbands and wives not to deprive each other of sex, or get divorced, in a misguided attempt to be more spiritual. Unmarried people who can live contentedly without sex, however, should consider remaining single in order to serve Christ undivided. Getting married is good, but the time is short. The form of this world is passing away. Unmarried people should think about the opportunities to avoid trouble and serve Christ that come with staying single.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.