1 Corinthians 7:27

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

1 Corinthians 7:27 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 7:27

Art thou bound unto a wife?
&c.] Or to a woman; either by promise, or by espousal, or by consummate marriage; either of which is a tic, or obligation, a bond, and especially the latter; marriage is such a bond as cannot be dissolved, but by the death of one of the parties; see ( Romans 7:2 ) unless in case of adultery, or of wilful desertion: and it is a bond which mutually obliges; as the husband is bound by the law of marriage to live chastely and lovingly with his wife, and to take care of her, and provide for her; so the wife is bound by the same law to live in like manner with her husband, and to submit unto him, and obey him:

seek not to be loosed;
do not depart from her, nor seek to be divorced, nor even desire to be loosed by death:

art thou loosed from a wife?
being either never married, or else if having been married the wife is dead, or legally divorced for a just cause:

seek not a wife,
or woman; make no inquiry after one; be content to live without one; enter not into a marriage state, nor take any step towards it; it is best to continue loosed, for the reason above given, that is, provided the person has the gift of continence, otherwise not; see ( 1 Corinthians 7:5 ) .

1 Corinthians 7:27 In-Context

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give my advice, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26 I hold, therefore, this to be good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to be thus:

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have affliction in the flesh, but I forbear you.

29 But this I say, brothers, the time is short; for the rest, let those that have wives be as though they had none;