1 Corinthians 7 30

1 Corinthians 7:30 kjv

And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

1 Corinthians 7:30 nkjv

those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

1 Corinthians 7:30 niv

those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;

1 Corinthians 7:30 esv

and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,

1 Corinthians 7:30 nlt

Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions.

1 Corinthians 7 verses

1 Corinthians 7 30 Meaning

Those who have wives should live as if they do not. This emphasizes the believer's ultimate allegiance is to God, and earthly relationships, while valid, should not possess or control the heart. It encourages a detachment from worldly ties, not an abandonment of them, but a reordering of priorities towards the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 7 30 Context

First Corinthians chapter 7 addresses issues concerning marriage, singleness, divorce, and relationships within the body of Christ. Paul is responding to questions raised by the Corinthian church. In verse 30, he is advising believers, specifically those who are married, to relate to their spouses in a way that does not let that relationship dominate their primary commitment to Christ and the urgency of the present times. The "time is short" (v. 29) refers to the limited time before Christ's return or the end of an era. The cultural context in Corinth was a mixture of Roman and Greek influences, with diverse views on marriage and societal roles. While Paul is not denigrating marriage, he is counseling against an undue attachment that distracts from spiritual priorities.

1 Corinthians 7 30 Word Analysis

• καὶ (kai): "and". A conjunctive particle used to link clauses or sentences, indicating connection.
• οἱ (hoi): "they". The masculine plural definite article, referring to "those who have wives".
• γυναῖκας (gunaixas): "wives". The accusative plural of γυνή (gynē), meaning woman, wife.
• ἔχοντες (echontes): "having". The nominative plural present active participle of ἔχω (echō), meaning to hold, to possess, to have. It describes the state of those who possess wives.
• ὡς (hōs): "as". A particle used for comparison, indicating manner or likeness.
• μὴ (mē): "not". The negative particle.
• κατέχοντες (katechontes): "possessing". The nominative plural present active participle of κατέχω (katechō), meaning to hold fast, to possess, to occupy, to retain. This is a crucial word here.
• οἷον (hoion): "as if". An interrogative particle or demonstrative pronoun, here functioning like "as if" or "in such a way that they do not".
• κατεχόμενοι (katechomenoi): "being possessed". The nominative plural present passive participle of κατέχω (katechō). The contrast between the active participle "having" (echontes) and the passive participle "being possessed" (katechomenoi) is significant. Believers are to possess their wives (relationship), but not be possessed by them (mastered, overly attached).
• καὶ (kai): "and".
• οἱ (hoi): "they".
• κλαίοντες (klaiantes): "weeping". The nominative plural present active participle of κλαίω (klaio), meaning to weep, to lament.
• ὡς (hōs): "as".
• μὴ (mē): "not".
• κλαιόμενοι (klaiomenoi): "being made to weep". The nominative plural present passive participle of κλαίω (klaio). This again highlights the distinction between experiencing sorrow (active) and being controlled by it or having sorrow over the very things that are natural human experiences but could become idolatrous (passive).
• καὶ (kai): "and".
• οἱ (hoi): "they".
• ἀγαλλιώμενοι (agalliomenoi): "rejoicing". The nominative plural present middle/passive participle of ἀγαλλιάω (agalliaō), meaning to rejoice greatly, to exult.
• ὡς (hōs): "as".
• μὴ (mē): "not".
• ἀγαλλιόμενοι (agalliomenoi): "rejoicing". The nominative plural present active participle of ἀγαλλιάω (agalliaō). The nuance here is to rejoice in a manner that does not show a supreme, idolatrous attachment to worldly pleasures or circumstances.
• καὶ (kai): "and".
• οἱ (hoi): "they".
• ἀγοράζοντες (agorazontes): "buying". The nominative plural present active participle of ἀγοράζω (agorazō), meaning to buy, to purchase.
• ὡς (hōs): "as".
• μὴ (mē): "not".
• κατέχοντες (katechontes): "possessing". The nominative plural present active participle of κατέχω (katechō). This parallels the earlier use, indicating that even when acquiring possessions or engaging in business, the mindset should be one of not being possessed by them.

Words-group analysis:

• "οἱ ἔχοντες γυναῖκας ὡς μὴ κατέχοντες": "those who have wives as not possessing [them]". The contrast between the active verb "to have" and the active verb "to possess" is vital. It implies that while marriage is a reality to be acknowledged and "had", it should not become the dominating force, the ultimate "possession" that usurps Christ's Lordship.
• "οἱ κλαίοντες ὡς μὴ κλαιόμενοι": "those weeping as not being made to weep". This suggests experiencing sorrow naturally, but not being consumed or overcome by it in a way that suggests an ultimate dependence on present circumstances, rather than Christ.
• "οἱ ἀγαλλιώμενοι ὡς μὴ ἀγαλλιόμενοι": "those rejoicing as not rejoicing". Similar to the above, it means to experience joy, but not with a focus that displaces the eternal joy found in Christ. The passive sense could imply not letting present circumstances dictate a rejoicing that would be misplaced if they pass away.
• "οἱ ἀγοράζοντες ὡς μὴ κατέχοντες": "those buying as not possessing". Even in acquiring goods or managing resources, the focus should remain on the eternal, not becoming overly attached to the temporary.

1 Corinthians 7 30 Bonus Section

The phrasing here employs a rhetorical device known as "antithesis," where opposing ideas are placed side-by-side to create a strong emphasis. Paul masterfully uses active participles contrasted with passive participles. The active form (having, weeping, rejoicing, buying) represents a normal, appropriate engagement with life. The passive form (being possessed, being made to weep, being rejoiced by) suggests a state of being controlled, dominated, or overcome by these experiences. The counsel is to engage actively in life's circumstances but not be passively mastered by them. This echoes the teaching found in books like "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas à Kempis, which strongly advocates for internal detachment from worldly affections to foster a closer union with Christ. The teaching here is not about denying reality, but about viewing reality through the lens of eternity.

1 Corinthians 7 30 Commentary

This verse conveys a crucial principle of Christian detachment from worldly attachments, not as a mandate for asceticism or abandoning relationships, but as a reorientation of the heart's loyalty. The believer's identity and ultimate security are in Christ. Therefore, all earthly relationships and possessions should be engaged with a perspective that acknowledges their temporary nature and ultimate subservience to God's will. The married person should live with their spouse as if they were not exclusively bound to them in a way that could rival their commitment to Christ. Likewise, sorrow and joy, acquisition and loss, should be experienced without allowing them to define one's core identity or cause a breach in fellowship with God. The "time is short" calls for a focused, heavenly-mindedness that governs how believers interact with all aspects of the present world.

• Practical usage: A husband should love and cherish his wife, but his deepest fulfillment and authority should be Christ alone. When facing loss, a believer can grieve, but not with the despair of one who has no hope beyond this life. In financial dealings, one can earn and possess, but always with a readiness to be poor in spirit and give generously as God leads, never allowing possessions to control.