Scofield Reference Bible Notes
1 Corinthians 7

1Co 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

power of…power of

authority over.

1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Satan

Satan. 2Co 2:11. (Gen 3:1; Rev 20:10.)

tempt

Temptation. 1Co 10:9, 13. (Gen 3:1; Jas 1:14.)

for your incontinency

because of your lack of self-control.

1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

permission

concession.

1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

But every man hath his proper gift of God

Howbeit, each man hath his own gift from God, etc.

1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

let them marry

Jhn 2:1-2; 1Ti 5:14.

1Co 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

put away

leave.

1Co 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

speak I, not the Lord

So far from disclaiming inspiration, the apostle associates his teaching with the Lord's. Cases had arisen (e.g. 1Co 7:12-16), as the Gospel overflowed Jewish limitations, not comprehended in the words of Jesus (Mat 5:31-32; 19:5-9) which were an instruction, primarily, to Israel. These new conditions demanded authoritative settlement, and only the inspired words of an apostle could give that. See 1Co 7:40.

put her away

leave her.

1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

sanctified

Sanctify, holy (persons) (N.T.). 1Co 7:14, 34; Eph 1:4. (Mat 4:5; Rev 22:11.)

children

Greek tekna, born ones.

1Co 7:16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

save

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

1Co 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

every…every

each.

all churches

the churches.

Churches (local). 1Co 7:17-18; 10:32. (Act 2:41; Phl 1:1).

1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

Let every man abide

Luk 3:10, 14.

1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

is the Lord's freeman

Jhn 8:36; Rom 6:18, 22.

freeman

made free.

1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Ye are bought with a price

1Co 6:20; 1Pe 1:18-19.

1Co 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

abide with God

Eph 6:5, 8; Col 3:22, 24.

1Co 7:28 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.

sinned

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

but I spare you

and I would spare you.

1Co 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

the time is short

1Pe 4:7; 2Pe 3:8.

1Co 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

world [See also 1Co 7:33.]

kosmos = world-system. Jhn 8:23. (John 7:7, Revelation 13:3).

1Co 7:32 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:

without carefulness

free from cares.

1Co 7:34 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.

world

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

1Co 7:35 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.

cast a snare upon you

put constraint upon you.

1Co 7:36 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.

sinneth

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

only in the Lord

2Co 6:14.

1Co 7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

also that I have the Spirit of God

that I also have the Spirit of God.

Spirit of God

Holy Spirit (N.T.). 1Co 12:3-4, 7-9, 11, 13. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)