1 Corinthians 7:35 kjv
And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
1 Corinthians 7:35 nkjv
And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
1 Corinthians 7:35 niv
I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:35 esv
I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:35 nlt
I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
1 Corinthians 7 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 7:1 | "It is good for a man not to touch a woman." | marital relations |
| 1 Cor 7:7 | "I wish that all were as I myself am." | Paul's marital status |
| 1 Cor 7:11 | "If she does, let her remain undivorced." | reconciliation |
| 1 Cor 7:25 | "Now concerning the betrothed..." | betrothal/engagement |
| 1 Cor 7:26 | "an issue peculiar to the present time: it is good for a person to remain..." | present distress |
| 1 Cor 7:28 | "But even if you do marry, you have not sinned..." | allowance for marriage |
| 1 Cor 7:29 | "But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, so forth..." | temporal perspective |
| 1 Cor 7:31 | "and those who use the world, as though they do not depend on it..." | world use without attachment |
| Rom 12:1 | "Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your..." | bodily sacrifice |
| Gal 5:22-23 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness..." | Spiritual qualities |
| Phil 3:7-8 | "But whatever were gains to me I have count as loss for the sake of Christ..." | Christ as supreme |
| Col 3:2 | "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." | Heavenly focus |
| Col 3:23 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." | working for the Lord |
| Heb 12:1-2 | "let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely..." | persevering in faith |
| 1 Pet 4:7 | "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober..." | sober-mindedness |
| John 17:15 | "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them..." | kept from evil in the world |
| Mark 10:29 | "Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or..." | rewards for leaving all for Christ |
| Matt 19:12 | "For there are eunuchs who have been born eunuchs from birth, and there..." | various forms of continence |
| 1 Cor 9:24 | "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one re..." | striving for the prize |
| Ps 27:4 | "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I..." | singular devotion |
| Luke 14:26 | "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and ..." | prioritizing Christ |
1 Corinthians 7 verses
1 Corinthians 7 35 Meaning
This verse by Paul encourages believers to live without unnecessary distraction or worry in their present circumstances. It's about devotion to the Lord and attentive service, free from marital entanglements that might pull one's focus away from spiritual priorities. The goal is undivided devotion to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7 35 Context
This verse is the concluding statement of Paul's extensive discussion on marriage and singleness in 1 Corinthians 7. The preceding verses address various marriage-related situations, including the advantages of remaining single in the context of existing societal pressures and a sense of urgency regarding the "present distress" (v. 26). Paul grapples with whether being married or unmarried offers a greater spiritual advantage in turbulent times. He consistently emphasizes that while both states are permissible and gifts from God (vv. 6-7), the unmarried state allows for less worldly distraction and greater focus on serving the Lord (vv. 32-34). This specific verse sums up his counsel on pursuing holiness and undivided devotion without unnecessary entanglement.
1 Corinthians 7 35 Word Analysis
- αὐτὸ (auto): "it," "itself" - referring back to the state of being unmarried or to the quality of attentiveness to the Lord.
- δὲ (de): "but," "and" - a connective particle, transitioning to the following thought.
- λέγω (lego): "I say" - Paul's direct statement of his personal counsel.
- πρὸς (pros): "for," "to," "towards" - indicating the direction or purpose of the speech.
- ὑμῶν (hymōn): "your" - referring to the Corinthians.
- τὸ (to): "the" - definite article.
- συμφέρον (symperon): "advantageous," "profitable," "beneficial" - referring to what is best or most helpful.
- ἀμέριμνον (amerimnon): "free from cares," "undistracted," "without anxiety" - the key benefit of the unmarried state in this context, allowing for singular focus.
- περισπασθῆναι (perispasthēnai): "to be drawn away," "distracted," "tangled up" - implies being pulled in different directions, hindering focus. This is in contrast to an unbroken focus.
- τὸ (to): "the" - definite article.
- εὐπρεπές (eupepēs): "comely," "proper," "graceful," "fitting" - suggesting an orderly and pleasing way of conducting oneself.
- καὶ (kai): "and" - a conjunction.
- ἀφιέμενον (afiemenon): "attending to," "devoted to," "cleaving to," "serving" - conveying an act of diligent service or unwavering attention.
- τῷ (tō): "the" - definite article.
- κυρίῳ (kyriō): "Lord" - referring to Jesus Christ.
Phrase/Passage Analysis:
- "to be free from care and to attend the Lord without distraction" (ἀμέριμνον, περισπασθῆναι, τῷ κυρίῳ) captures the essence of undisturbed devotion. The passive form of "perispasthēnai" highlights the danger of external factors causing distraction, rather than an internal inability. The active participle "afiemenon" emphasizes a voluntary, focused pursuit of the Lord. The connection is the purpose: undistracted service is the end goal of avoiding unnecessary marital entanglement in difficult times.
1 Corinthians 7 35 Bonus Section
The term "undistracted" (ἀμέριμνον) is closely related to the word used in Matthew 13:22 and Mark 4:19 (μερίμναις), which describes the "cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches" choking the word. Paul’s counsel here is a strategic step to avoid these choking cares. The pursuit of "fitting attendance to the Lord" (εὐπρεπές καὶ ἀφιέμενον τῷ κυρίῳ) reflects the biblical ideal of "cleaving" to the Lord (Deuteronomy 10:20; Joshua 22:5). This holistic approach to life and spirituality underscores the interdependence of our actions and our devotion.
1 Corinthians 7 35 Commentary
Paul offers a personal yet principled piece of advice aimed at maximizing one's spiritual availability. While marriage is honorable, the absence of marital responsibility allows for a unique and undivided focus on serving and pleasing the Lord. This isn't a universal command to remain single, but counsel on how to best utilize one's time and energy, especially given the pressures of the day. It emphasizes that spiritual growth and devotion are paramount, and certain life choices, like the marital state, can either facilitate or hinder that primary focus.
- Practical application: For someone seeking deeper spiritual disciplines, a season of reduced external commitments (whether marital, occupational, or otherwise) can indeed foster greater attentiveness to prayer, study, and service.
- Prioritization: The verse calls believers to consistently evaluate what pulls their focus and to align their life circumstances to prioritize their relationship with God.