For I would that all men were even as I myself
The apostle speaks not of his state and condition, as married or
unmarried, for it is not certain which he was; some think he had
a wife, others not: it looks, however, as if he had not at this
time, as appears from ( 1
Corinthians 7:8 ) but be it which it will, it can hardly be
thought he should wish all men to be in either state, either all
married, or all unmarried; but he speaks of the gift of
continency, which he had, as the following words show; and this
he desires for all men, that they might not be in any danger from
Satan's temptations, and that they might be more fit for and
intent upon the service of Christ. The Syriac version adds,
(atwykdb) in "purity", or
"chastity"; which may be preserved in a marriage state, as well
as in single life:
but every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this
manner,
and another after that:
all the gifts of nature and grace which men have, they have of
God, and not of themselves; and every man has a gift proper to
himself; no one man has all gifts, but some one, and some
another; and with respect to the case in hand, one man has the
gift of continency, another the gift of marriage; all cannot
contain themselves, only to whom it is given: and all are not
disposed to marriage; some are inclined to a single life, and
some to a marriage state; and of those that are married, some can
abstain from the use of the marriage bed longer than others,
without being in danger of being tempted by Satan for their
incontinency; and such a disposition is desirable.