1 Corinthians 7 25

1 Corinthians 7:25 kjv

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

1 Corinthians 7:25 nkjv

Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

1 Corinthians 7:25 niv

Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

1 Corinthians 7:25 esv

Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

1 Corinthians 7:25 nlt

Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you.

1 Corinthians 7 verses

1 Corinthians 7 25 meaning

In this verse, the Apostle Paul transitions to address questions regarding virgins or unmarried individuals. He states clearly that he does not possess a direct, explicit command from Jesus Christ concerning this specific matter. Instead, he offers his authoritative judgment or counsel, which he considers trustworthy because he has received mercy from the Lord and has been appointed as a faithful apostle. This indicates that while not a direct dictate from Christ's earthly ministry, his advice is guided by the Holy Spirit and carries apostolic weight.

1 Corinthians 7 25 Context

First Corinthians chapter 7 is a pivotal section addressing a range of Corinthian questions regarding marriage, celibacy, and divorce. The city of Corinth was known for its moral laxity, yet paradoxically, some within the church advocated for an asceticism that disparaged marriage. The phrase "Now concerning..." (Greek: Peri de) appears frequently throughout 1 Corinthians (7:1, 7:25, 8:1, 12:1, 16:1, 16:12), indicating Paul is directly responding to specific questions the Corinthians posed to him, likely in a letter.

Prior to verse 25, Paul addressed those who are married, emphasizing mutual marital duty, sexual purity, and permanence of marriage (vv. 1-16), explicitly relaying Jesus' commands on divorce (v. 10). He then discussed the principle of remaining in one's calling (vv. 17-24), whether circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free. Verse 25 then shifts the focus to "virgins" or unmarried individuals, continuing the theme of how to live a sanctified life in different relationship statuses in anticipation of the "present distress" (v. 26). The verse navigates between divine command and apostolic counsel, setting the stage for his practical advice on singleness that follows.

1 Corinthians 7 25 Word analysis

• Now concerning:
  • Greek: Περὶ δὲ (Peri de)
  • Meaning: This transitional phrase signals Paul's shift to a new topic raised by the Corinthians. It indicates he is responding to their specific inquiries. This framing is crucial for understanding that Paul's ensuing counsel is directly relevant to their situation and questions.
• virgins:
  • Greek: τῶν παρθένων (tōn parthenōn)
  • Meaning: Literally means "of the virgins" (plural, genitive). Parthenos can refer to an unmarried woman (virgin), or broadly to any unmarried person (male or female) who has not yet engaged in sexual relations or is maintaining celibacy. In this context, it broadly covers unmarried individuals who are choosing a path of singleness, potentially implying a dedication to it, whether by choice or circumstance, without the obligations of marriage. The counsel is thus applicable to both unmarried men and women.
• I have:
  • Greek: ἔχω (echō)
  • Meaning: "I have" or "I hold." Paul directly states his possession (or lack thereof) of an authoritative directive.
• no commandment:
  • Greek: οὐκ ἔχω (ouk echō) ἐπίταγὴν (epitagēn)
  • Meaning: Ouk echō means "I do not have," and epitagē signifies a "command," "injunction," or "mandate" with authority. Paul explicitly states that Jesus did not provide a direct teaching or command during His earthly ministry on the specific topic of general advice for the unmarried or celibate. This contrasts with divorce (1 Cor 7:10), where he relayed a specific word from the Lord. It implies the need for Spirit-guided apostolic wisdom for situations not directly addressed by Jesus.
• from the Lord:
  • Greek: Κυρίου (Kyriou)
  • Meaning: Refers to Jesus Christ. Paul is careful to distinguish between direct sayings of the historical Jesus and his own Spirit-inspired apostolic teaching. This demonstrates humility and intellectual honesty, acknowledging sources of authority.
• but I give my judgment:
  • Greek: γνώμην δὲ δίδωμι (gnōmēn de didōmi)
  • Meaning: Gnōmē is "judgment," "opinion," "counsel," or "advice." Didōmi means "I give." Paul isn't merely offering a personal, non-binding thought. The context of hōs ēleēmenos hypo Kyriou pistos einai indicates this "judgment" is an apostolic judgment, divinely guided and authoritative for the church, even if it's not a direct quote from Jesus' earthly ministry.
• as one who by the Lord’s mercy:
  • Greek: ὡς ἠλεημένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου (hōs ēleēmenos hypo Kyriou)
  • Meaning: Hōs means "as," ēleēmenos (perfect participle) means "having received mercy," "shown mercy." Hypo Kyriou means "by the Lord." Paul underscores that his ability to offer such trustworthy counsel is not due to his own merit, wisdom, or authority, but is a direct result of God's sovereign grace and mercy upon him. His apostolic office itself is a product of this mercy.
• is trustworthy:
  • Greek: πιστὸς εἶναι (pistos einai)
  • Meaning: Pistos means "faithful" or "trustworthy," einai means "to be." This confirms the reliability of his counsel. Because God, in His mercy, deemed Paul faithful and appointed him as an apostle, his gnōmē (judgment) is sound and can be trusted by the Corinthian church. It is authoritative counsel from an inspired source.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord: This opening phrase carefully establishes the specific scope (unmarried individuals) and immediately clarifies the nature of the instruction—it's not a dominical word (a direct saying from Jesus). This distinction highlights Paul's integrity and his commitment to differentiating the historical Jesus' words from his own apostolic pronouncements, even though both carry divine authority through inspiration.
• but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy: This phrase contrasts the absence of a direct dominical command with the presence of Paul's Spirit-inspired apostolic gnōmē. The phrase "by the Lord's mercy" grounds Paul's authority not in personal merit but in God's unmerited favor, which called him to be a faithful and trustworthy apostle. This implies that while it's Paul's "judgment," it's delivered with divine backing and is thus authoritative counsel for the church. It reassures the readers of the reliability and spiritual validity of the forthcoming advice.

1 Corinthians 7 25 Bonus section

The distinction Paul makes in this verse has profound implications for understanding authority within the church and discerning divine will. It suggests that not all inspired guidance takes the form of an explicit command from Jesus' own mouth. The Holy Spirit continues to guide and illuminate through trusted servants, whose counsel, though described as "judgment," is imbued with apostolic authority. This perspective allows for flexibility in application for various contexts while firmly anchoring guidance in divine inspiration. It guards against both an overly legalistic approach (insisting only on explicit commands) and an overly subjective one (dismissing anything not directly from Jesus as mere human opinion). Paul's emphasis on "mercy" rather than his own inherent wisdom also highlights the grace-based nature of all spiritual gifts and ministries, including apostleship and teaching.

1 Corinthians 7 25 Commentary

In 1 Corinthians 7:25, Paul, ever a diligent shepherd, directly addresses the issue of celibacy for unmarried individuals. His nuanced declaration ("no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment") is key. It reveals a sophisticated understanding of divine revelation, differentiating between specific mandates given by Jesus during His earthly ministry and apostolic teaching provided by the Holy Spirit. This is not Paul offering a mere "personal opinion" that could be dismissed. His subsequent qualification, "as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy," elevates his "judgment" to divinely inspired, authoritative counsel. His faithfulness as an apostle, a role granted through God's mercy and grace (rather than personal worth), ensures the reliability and divine origin of his advice. The verse thus sets a paradigm for discerning truth: sometimes it comes as a direct, explicit word from Christ, other times as Spirit-led apostolic wisdom, both bearing divine weight for the Church's life and practice. This provides flexibility while maintaining the foundation of divine guidance, particularly useful for matters where universal rules might prove impractical, like the varying circumstances surrounding marriage and singleness.

• Example 1: When facing a moral dilemma not directly addressed in scripture, we don't invent new commands, but seek wisdom from trustworthy spiritual leaders whose counsel aligns with broader biblical principles, understanding it as guided counsel, not new divine law.
• Example 2: A church leader giving advice on an administrative matter, which isn't a biblical command, but is informed by sound biblical wisdom and a trustworthy, Spirit-led discernment.