1 Corinthians 7:27

Art thou bound to a wife? (dedesai gunaiki;). Perfect passive indicative of dew, to bind, with dative case gunaiki. Marriage bond as in Romans 7:2 . Seek not to be loosed (mh zhtei lusin). Present active imperative with negative mh, "Do not be seeking release" (lusin) from the marriage bond, old word, here only in N.T. Seek not a wife (mh zhtei gunaika). Same construction, Do not be seeking a wife. Bachelors as well as widowers are included in lelusai (loosed, perfect passive indicative of luw). This advice of Paul he only urges "because of the present necessity" (verse Romans 26 ). Whether he held on to this opinion later one does not know. Certainly he gives the noblest view of marriage in Ephesians 5:22-33 . Paul does not present it as his opinion for all men at all times. Men feel it their duty to seek a wife.