RESTORATION
Now in closing, with hope concerning the future of our children that they may be instructed righteously and prevail the deception of our time, I will discuss briefly a study concerning virgins. The Apostle Paul answering the letter of the Corinthians begins expounding concerning male virgins. The discourse is directed toward the male (I Cor. 7:25); (see) v. 28 . Paul, knowing the difficulties of marriage, and the problems people were having, thought it was a good thing for a man to remain a virgin (I Cor. 7:26). Some time had passed before Paul received the letter of the Corinthians. He accounted for the time which had passed before the Corinthians would receive his answer to their letter. So he asks a question, "Art you bound unto a wife?" (I Cor. 7:27) I believe what he meant simply in so many words is, "Have you married since I left?" Then he makes an imperative statement, "Seek not to be loosed." By this statement Paul means that if the male virgin is married now, then he should remain married and not seek a divorce. Then Paul asks, "Art you loosed from a wife?" Considering the possibility of the marriage of the male virgin, he also took consideration of the possibility of divorce. Then he makes another imperative statement, "Seek not a wife." Once having been divorced, Paul disallows a second marriage. Paul considered two possibilities which could have happened while he was away, and he gave his judgment according to each possibility; however, due to his absence, he did not know definitely who had married or divorced.
The Greek distinguishes clearly what sex he is speaking to: Paul is speaking directly to the male virgin, "But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned"; and he is speaking indirectly concerning the female virgin, " ... and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned" (I Cor. 7:28). He said that the ones who marry shall have tribulation in the flesh. Marriage involves more problems in the flesh, but Paul would allow them to marry if they desired to do so. Many people today seem to overlook that Paul commended celibacy. A virgin has the advantage of less difficulties than a married person, and besides, if by chance in the future, he or she decides to marry, it is permitted.
Br. Ken
P.S.
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