Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
Commentary on the Corinthians
24. Let him abide with God. I have already noticed above, that men are not here bound by a perpetual necessity, so as never to have it in their power to change their condition, if at any time there should be a fit occasion for it; but that he simply represses those thoughtless humors, which hurry men hither and thither, so that they are harassed by a continual restlessness. Hence Paul says, that it is all one in the sight of God what a person's manner of life is in this world, inasmuch as this diversity does not hinder agreement in piety.
1 Corinthians 7:25-28
1 Corinthians 7:25-28 25. Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
25. De virginibus autem praeceptum Domini non habeo: sed consilium do, tanquam misericordiam consequutus a Domino, ut sim fidelis.
26. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
26. Arbitror igitur hoc bonum esse propter instantem necessitatem, quod bonum sit homini sic esse.
27. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
27. Alligatus es uxori? ne quaeras solutionem. Solutus es ab uxore? ne quaeras uxorem
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.
28. Quodsi etiam duxeris uxorem, non peccasti: et si nupserit virgo, non peccavit: attamen afflictionem in carne habebunt eiusmodi. Ego autem vobis parco.
25. Concerning virgins He now returns to treat of marriage, of which he had begun to speak in the commencement of the chapter. What he is now about to state he had previously touched upon, but briefly and somewhat obscurely. He accordingly intimates more explicitly what his views are respecting virginity; but as it is a matter that is liable to be misapprehended, and is full of difficulties, he always speaks, as we shall see, conditionally. Virgins here I understand as meaning virginity. As to this, he says he has no commandment of the Lord; because the Lord does not in any part of the Scriptures declare what persons ought to remain unmarried. Nay, on the contrary, inasmuch as the Scripture says, that male and female were created together, (Genesis 2:21,) it seems as if it called every one equally and without exception to marriage: