The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 7:36 Explained

1 Corinthians 7:36

KJV: 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.

YLT: and if any one doth think it to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought so to be, what he willeth let him do; he doth not sin -- let him marry.

Darby: But if any one think that he behaves unseemly to his virginity, if he be beyond the flower of his age, and so it must be, let him do what he will, he does not sin: let them marry.

ASV: But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter , if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Corinthians 7:36 Mean?

Study Notes

sinneth
Sin.
sinned
Sin, Summary: The literal meanings of the Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία sin," "sinner," etc)., disclose the true nature of sin in its manifold manifestations. Sin is transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil Psalms 51:1 ; Luke 15:29 , iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not; error, a departure from right; Psalms 51:9 ; Romans 3:23 , missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard; trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority Ephesians 2:1 , lawlessness, or spiritual anarchy 1 Timothy 1:9 , unbelief, or an insult to the divine veracity John 16:9 .
Sin originated with Satan Isaiah 14:12-14 , entered the world through Adam Romans 5:12 , was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted; Romans 3:23 ; 1 Peter 2:22 , incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death; Genesis 2:17 ; Genesis 3:19 ; Ezekiel 18:4 ; Ezekiel 18:20 ; Romans 6:23 and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ; Hebrews 9:26 ; Acts 4:12 availed of by faith Acts 13:38 ; Acts 13:39 . Sin may be summarized as threefold: An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God; a state, absence of righteousness; a nature, enmity toward God.

Verse Meaning

Paul urged any man not to feel that he must remain single or that he and his virgin girlfriend (or daughter) must forgo sexual fulfillment after marriage ( 1 Corinthians 7:1-7). He might have been reluctant to marry (or give her in marriage) because of what Paul had written about the single state being preferable ( 1 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 7:28-34). He might also have hesitated because of ascetic influences in the church that were due to a false sense of "spirituality" and possibly an overreaction to the fornication in Corinth.
"Roman and Greek fathers had the control of the marriage of their daughters." [1]

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 7:25-40 - Counsel For Times Of Emergency
The virgin here referred to is probably the young woman who was engaged to be married, and the counsel is expressly defined to be advice, and given only under the pressure of the times, when the dissolution of all things seemed at hand. It seemed wiser not to enter upon matrimony because everything was in flux, but no sin was contracted if marriage took place, so long as it was only in the Lord, 1 Corinthians 7:39. As pilgrims we should hold all earthly things but lightly, 1 Corinthians 7:30.
The allusion of 1 Corinthians 7:31 is to the shifting scenery of a theater. The fashion of the age is like the ever-changing moving-picture films that flash before the audience and cannot be arrested or recalled. Surely the unmarried among us should ponder carefully the recommendations of 1 Corinthians 7:32-34, the first of which refers to the man and the second to the wife. Where both are Christians, however, surely there may be union in caring for the things of the Lord, that the great cause of His Kingdom may be expedited rather than hindered. But everything in this chapter, as well as the general New Testament teaching, emphasizes the absolute importance of marriage being only in the Lord, 1 Corinthians 7:39. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 7

1  He discusses marriage;
4  showing it to be a remedy against sinful desires,
10  and that the bond thereof ought not lightly to be dissolved
20  Every man must be content with his vocation
25  Virginity wherefore to be embraced;
35  and for what respects we may either marry, or abstain from marrying

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 7:36

That he behaveth himself unseemly [ασχημονειν]
Old verb, here only in N.T., from ασχημων — aschēmōn (1 Corinthians 12:23), from α — a privative and σχημα — schēma Occurs in the papyri. Infinitive in indirect discourse after νομιζει — nomizei (thinks) with ει — ei (condition of first class, assumed as true). [source]
If she be past the flower of her age [εαν ηι υπερακμος]
Old word, only here in N.T., from υπερ — huper (over) and ακμη — akmē (prime or bloom of life), past the bloom of youth, superadultus (Vulgate). Compound adjective with feminine form like masculine. Apparently the Corinthians had asked Paul about the duty of a father towards his daughter old enough to marry. If need so requireth (και ουτως οπειλει γινεσται — kai houtōs opheilei ginesthai). “And it ought to happen.” Paul has discussed the problem of marriage for virgins on the grounds of expediency. Now he faces the question where the daughter wishes to marry and there is no serious objection to it. The father is advised to consent. Roman and Greek fathers had the control of the marriage of their daughters. “My marriage is my father‘s care; it is not for me to decide about that” (Hermione in Euripides‘ Andromache, 987). Let them marry Present active plural imperative (long form). [source]
If need so requireth [και ουτως οπειλει γινεσται]
“And it ought to happen.” Paul has discussed the problem of marriage for virgins on the grounds of expediency. Now he faces the question where the daughter wishes to marry and there is no serious objection to it. The father is advised to consent. Roman and Greek fathers had the control of the marriage of their daughters. “My marriage is my father‘s care; it is not for me to decide about that” (Hermione in Euripides‘ Andromache, 987). [source]
Let them marry [γαμειτωσαν]
Present active plural imperative (long form). [source]
Behaveth himself uncomely [ἀσχημονεῖν]
Acts unbecomingly, either by throwing temptation in the daughter's way by constraining her to remain unmarried, or by exposing her to the disgrace which was supposed to attach to the unmarried state. But Paul, in his preceding words, has regarded the latter consideration as set aside by the peculiar circumstances of the time. [source]
His virgin [τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ]
Rev. properly inserts daughter. It is an unusual expression for daughter. Xenophon uses it with the word θυγάτηρ daughter(“Cyropaedia,” iv., 6,9), and Oedipus speaks of his two daughters as my maidens (Sophocles, “Oedipus Tyrannus,” 1462) [source]
Pass the flower of her age [ᾐ ὑπέρακμος]
Rev., correctly, be past. Beyond the bloom of life. Plato fixes the point at twenty years (“Republic,” 460). Diogenes Laertius says: “An undowered maiden is a heavy burden to a father after she has outrun the flower of her age” (“Lycon,” v., 65) [source]
Let them marry []
Evidently there was assumed to be another in the case beside the father and the virgin. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 7:36

1 Corinthians 12:23 Uncomely - comeliness [ἀσχήμονα - εὐσχημοσύνην]
See on honorable, Mark 15:43; see on shame, Revelation 16:15. Compare ἀσχημονεῖν behavethuncomely, 1 Corinthians 7:36. The comeliness is outward, as is shown by the verb we put on, and by the compounds of οχῆμα fashionSee on transfigured, Matthew 17:2. [source]
1 Corinthians 12:23 More abundant comeliness [ευσχημοσυνην περισσοτεραν]
One need only mention the mother‘s womb and the mother‘s breast to see the force of Paul‘s argument here. The word, common in old Greek, from ευσχημων — euschēmōn (ευ — eu well, σχημα — schēma figure), here only in N.T. One may think of the coal-miner who digs under the earth for the coal to keep us warm in winter. So ασχημων — aschēmōn (deformed, uncomely), old word, here only in N.T., but see note on 1 Corinthians 7:36 for ασχημονεω — aschēmoneō f0). [source]
1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly [ουκ ασχημονει]
Old verb from ασχημων — aschēmōn (1 Corinthians 12:23). In N.T. only here and 1 Corinthians 7:36. Not indecent. [source]
1 Corinthians 7:25 I have no commandment of the Lord [επιταγην Κυριου ουκ εχω]
A late word from επιτασσω — epitassō old Greek verb to enjoin, to give orders to. Paul did have (1 Corinthians 7:10) a command from the Lord as we have in Matthew and Mark. It was quite possible for Paul to know this command of Jesus as he did other sayings of Jesus (Acts 20:35) even if he had as yet no access to a written gospel or had received no direct revelation on the subject from Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23). Sayings of Jesus were passed on among the believers. But Paul had no specific word from Jesus on the subject of virgins. They call for special treatment, young unmarried women only Paul means (1 Corinthians 7:36-383 1 Corinthians 7:28, 1 Corinthians 7:34, 1711710896_11) and not as in Revelation 14:4 (metaphor). It is probable that in the letter (1 Corinthians 7:1) the Corinthians had asked about this problem. [source]
Revelation 14:4 For they are virgins [παρτενοι γαρ εισιν]
Παρτενος — Parthenos can be applied to men as well as women. Swete takes this language “metaphorically, as the symbolical character of the Book suggests.” Charles considers it an interpolation in the interest of celibacy for both men and women. If taken literally, the words can refer only to adultery or fornication (Beckwith). Jesus recognised abstinence only for those able to receive it (Matthew 19:12), as did Paul (1 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Corinthians 7:8, 1 Corinthians 7:32, 1 Corinthians 7:36). Marriage is approved by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:3 and by Hebrews 13:4. The New Testament exalts marriage and this passage should not be construed as degrading it.Whithersoever he goeth (οπου αν υπαγει — hopou an hupagei). Indefinite local clause with modal αν — an and the present active indicative of υπαγω — hupagō The Christian life is following the Lamb of God as Jesus taught (Mark 2:14; Mark 10:21; Luke 9:59; John 1:43; John 21:19, etc.) and as Peter taught (1 Peter 2:21) and John (1 John 2:6).Were purchased from among men First aorist passive indicative of αγοραζω — agorazō repeating the close of Revelation 14:3.First fruits (απαρχη — aparchē). See for this word 1 Corinthians 16:15; Romans 11:16; Romans 16:5. This seems to mean that the 144,000 represent not the whole, but only a portion of the great harvest to come (Matthew 9:37), not only the first installment, but those marked by high spiritual service to God and the Lamb (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 7:36 mean?

If however anyone to be behaving improperly to the virgin of him supposes if she is beyond youth and so it ought to be what he wills let him do not he does sin let them marry
Εἰ δέ τις ἀσχημονεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ νομίζει ἐὰν ὑπέρακμος καὶ οὕτως ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι θέλει ποιείτω οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει γαμείτωσαν

δέ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τις  anyone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἀσχημονεῖν  to  be  behaving  improperly 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἀσχημονέω 
Sense: to act unbecomingly.
παρθένον  virgin 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: παρθένος  
Sense: a virgin.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
νομίζει  supposes 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: νομίζω  
Sense: to hold by custom or usage, own as a custom or usage, to follow a custom or usage.
  she  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ὑπέρακμος  beyond  youth 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ὑπέρακμος  
Sense: beyond the bloom or prime of life.
οὕτως  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
ὀφείλει  it  ought 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ὀφείλω  
Sense: to owe.
γίνεσθαι  to  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
θέλει  he  wills 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
ποιείτω  let  him  do 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ἁμαρτάνει  he  does  sin 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἁμαρτάνω  
Sense: to be without a share in.
γαμείτωσαν  let  them  marry 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: γαμέω  
Sense: to lead in marriage, take to wife.

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