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Transcript 525A — Understanding I Corinthians 7:36-37
HC: Good evening. Welcome to Open Forum.
CALLER: In I Corinthians 7:36 it says: "If any man think he behaveth uncomely toward his virgin." I believe it's talking about engaged people. This goes along with the American Revised Version and the English Standard Version, and several versions. I know that a lot of people would inject the idea that the father is involved here, but they get that from the Apocrypha, and I don't see how in any way you can get the father into this. I think this is two sanctified believers who are engaged to be married. And so I want you to comment on this, if you will.
"If she passes the flower of her age and needs so require, let him do what he will. He sinneth not. Let them marry. Nevertheless he that standeth fast [it's talking about the man now; this is talking about virgins who in this case are both male and female] . . . he that standeth steadfast, having no necessity, has power over his own will, has so decreed in his heart to keep his virgin, doeth well."
Now it says here that the man in an engaged situation has some say about whether or not the marriage is consummated finally. And I'd like for you to comment on that.
HC: The question is raised concerning I Corinthians 7:36-37. Just what is in view? I think our caller is correct. It is talking about a man and a woman. A father-daughter relationship certainly is not in view. It's talking about a man and a woman who are going together. They may be betrothed to each other, or we would use the word engaged today. They are not married. They are not permitted to touch or to have any sexual desires toward each other. And God says that if they're able to live this way, just as companions, fine. There's real blessing in this. That's verse 37: "He hath power over his own will and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well." He is able to keep his eyes focused on the Lord Jesus Christ in this relationship, and sexual ideas do not enter into his mind. That kind of relationship can exist between a man and a woman. I suppose in modern language we would call that a platonic engagement.
Now on the other hand, if they are going together and they find that sexual desire begins to develop between them, and of course the premise has to be that they are both born again believers. They shouldn't be going together unless they're both born again believers. They would be violating God's command of not being unequally yoked to an unbeliever. And they find that there is this desire developing, then let them marry. Let them marry. They don't have to feel that it's noble to remain restrained and not marry.
And so God concludes in verse 38: "So then he that giveth in marriage doeth well, but he that giveth not in marriage doeth better." God is indicating that there are some signal blessings in remaining single, but it's not at all contrary to the will of God to be married.
CALLER: Right. Even though this doesn't go along with the laws of the country, it nevertheless jibes with the Old Testament, in the aspect of marriage there, doesn't it?
HC: Yes, I think so.
CALLER: Thank you.
HC: Thank you for calling and sharing. Good night.