Who is your virgin

[good samaritan]

1 Cor. 7:35

Many people have used this passage to justify premarital relations as long as they later get married. I have been studying this recently and many of the commentators refer to this scripture to be about a husband giving his virgin daughter to marry. Just curious if anyone else has any thoughts on these scriptures? I am not debating whether fornication is wrong (of course it is), but I am looking for more insights into these verses.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

1 Cor. 7:35

Many people have used this passage to justify premarital relations as long as they later get married. I have been studying this recently and many of the commentators refer to this scripture to be about a husband giving his virgin daughter to marry. Just curious if anyone else has any thoughts on these scriptures? I am not debating whether fornication is wrong (of course it is), but I am looking for more insights into these verses.

Definitely a man's daughter.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Definitely a man's daughter.

The chapter mentions persecution that made it better to stay single. " This distress. " That's persecution. But if the daughters marry then let them marry so long as its to a saved man.... in the Lord.

1 Cor 7: 26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. note

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 marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

36 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.

Just because Paul said it's better to remain single to be free to do more for God and also due to burden of persecution in those days, having to care for family in times of danger, it's still not a son to marry.

Only to saved people.

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; >>>>only in the Lord.<<<<

[good samaritan]

This makes sense. The word uncomely is what has thrown me off in the past. I have always taken that to mean some immorality, but if it means unfairly then the rest of it makes more sense. I wonder what exactly the KJV translators where meaning originally though. I definitely now believe it is referring to fathers and daughters. I used to think to those betrothed men and women.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

This makes sense. The word uncomely is what has thrown me off in the past. I have always taken that to mean some immorality, but if it means unfairly then the rest of it makes more sense. I wonder what exactly the KJV translators where meaning originally though. I definitely now believe it is referring to fathers and daughters. I used to think to those betrothed men and women.

Right. Uncomely means inappropriately in an unfair sense.

The ASV brings it out:

1Co 7:36 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.

[Servant's <3]

How is there any justification whatsoever for premarital relations? God doesn't view a ceremony as the moment when you are married but the first time a man and a woman "have relations".

In that respect the old testament hasn't changed.

[mfblume]

1Co 7:36 WNT If, however, a father thinks he is acting unbecomingly towards his still unmarried daughter if she be past the bloom of her youth, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin; she and her suitor should be allowed to marry.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Servant's <3

How is there any justification whatsoever for premarital relations? God doesn't view a ceremony as the moment when you are married but the first time a man and a woman "have relations".

In that respect the old testament hasn't changed.

People misread the text as thought it is talking of a young man fornicating with a girl, and saying they have not sinned. Let them marry each other.

[Servant's <3]

Really?? Really?? just... wow

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by mfblume

People misread the text as thought it is talking of a young man fornicating with a girl, and saying they have not sinned. Let them marry each other.

I am pro KJV, but if you take it at a quick face value, this is what most people will come up with. I recently taught from Acts 21, and I when I got to Phillip's daughters the fact that they where virgins jumped out at me. I got to thinking about how virginity today is held in contempt. People who are virgins are viewed as naive, and never been out of the house. I actuality they are strong and intelligent.

I brought this out and I heard a snicker or two. I believe the sin of fornication is one of the stronger. I am a OP and it amazes me all the attention placed upon holiness standards (clothing), but the small amount of teaching on sexual immorality. I think we expect people to know these things, but I believe if we are going to run certain holiness issues into the ground this should be one of those issues. I have seen more single people walk away from God over another man or woman than probably anything else in all of my time in the church.