1 Corinthians 7:26
in 1 Corinthians 7Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.
KJV
I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 7
Commentary
8 notes on this verseNow, if in all cases he says it is best for a man thus to be; "Thou art joined to a wife seek not loosing" (that you may give no occasion to adultery); "thou art loosed from a wife, seek not a wife," that you may reserve an opportunity for yourself: "but withal, if thou shalt have married a wife, and if a virgin shall have married, she sinneth not; pressure, however, of the flesh such shall have,"-even here he is granting a permission by way of "sparing them."
This site's exposition
Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord
on 1 Corinthians 7:25-26
Paul has no command from the Lord about virgins, so he gives a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. The present crisis, persecution, poverty or unsettled times, made the single state wise for that hour.
This site's exposition
Because of the present crisis
The crisis is left unnamed, and readers differ over its reach. Barnes takes it as a season of persecution and holds that the advice was never meant as a permanent rule for the church. Ambrosiaster reads virginity as better both for pleasing God and for facing the end times.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Here Paul teaches that virginity is better, not just because it is more pleasing to God but also because it is the more sensible course to follow in the present [end-time] circumstances.
The Medieval Church1 voice
In my opinion, he says, it is best of all for a person to abstain from marriage on account of the inconveniences and unpleasantnesses connected with it, and not because marriage is impure.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
I suppose, therefore, that this is good,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
This is good for the present distress - There was no period in the heathen times when the Church was not under persecutions and afflictions; on some occasions these were more oppressive than at others. The word αναγκη signifies, necessity, distress, tribulation, and calamity; as it does in Luk 21:23; 2Co 6:4; 2Co 12:
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
I suppose - I think; I give the following advice. For the present distress - In the present state of trial. The word “distress” (ἀνάγκην anagkēn, necessity) denotes calamity, persecution, trial, etc.; see Luk 21:23. The word rendered “present” (ἐνεστῶσαν enestōsan) denotes that which “urges on,” or that which at that time presses on, or afflicts. Here it is implied: (1) That at that time they were subject to trials so severe as to render the advice which he was about to give proper; and, (2) That he by no means meant that this should be a “permanent arrangement” in the church, and of course it cannot be urged as an argument for the monastic system. What the “urgent distress” of this time was, is not certainly known. If the Epistle was written about 59 a.d. (see the introduction), it was in the time of Nero; and probably he had already begun to oppress and persecute Christians. At all events, it is evident that the Christians at Corinth were subject to some trials which rendered the cares of the marriage life undesirable. It is good for a man so to be - The emphasis here is on the word “so” οὕτως houtōs; that is, it is best for a man to conduct “in the following manner;” the word so referring to the advice which follows. “I advise that he conduct in the following manner, to wit.” Most commentators suppose that it means “as he is:” that is, unmarried; but the interpretation proposed above best suits the connection. The advice given is in the following verses.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| νομίζω | nomizo | I think | G3543 → | |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| καλὸν | kalon | good | G2570 → | 101 times |
| ὑπάρχειν | huparchein | being | G5225 → | 60 times |
| διὰ | dia | because of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐνεστῶσαν | enestosan | being present | G1764 → | |
| ἀνάγκην, | anagken | necessity, | G318 → | 17 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| καλὸν | kalon | [it is] good | G2570 → | 101 times |
| ἀνθρώπῳ | anthropo | for a man | G444 → | 549 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | in the same manner | G3779 → | 208 times |
| εἶναι. | einai | to remain. | G1511 → | 123 times |
νομίζωI think
nomizoG3543 →
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
καλὸνgood
kalonG2570 →101 times
ὑπάρχεινbeing
huparcheinG5225 →60 times
διὰbecause of
diaG1223 →664 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἐνεστῶσανbeing present
enestosanG1764 →
ἀνάγκην,necessity,
anagkenG318 →17 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
καλὸν[it is] good
kalonG2570 →101 times
ἀνθρώπῳfor a man
anthropoG444 →549 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
οὕτωςin the same manner
houtosG3779 →208 times
εἶναι.to remain.
einaiG1511 →123 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 4:17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
it leads to
- Jeremiah 25:29
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword…
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8
in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
- Romans 2:9
There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
- Ezekiel 9:6
Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders…
- 1 Peter 2:8
and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
- Jeremiah 25:29
Through
1 Corinthians 7:1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:26–27
Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 7:8
Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
- 1 Corinthians 7:26–27
Through
1 Corinthians 7:28But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you…
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
- Hebrews 13:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
On this verse
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Tertullian, On Modesty and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.