1 Corinthians 7:36-38 – An Analysis of the “Virgin Daughter”
Categories: Bible Questions and Answers, Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bible Lessons on MarriageA querist states, “Just ran into these verses (1 Corinthians 7:36-38) over the weekend. I have a sister in Christ whom I spend a lot of time with and we really enjoy looking at the relationship verses. We came to this one and got baffled on how to look at it. Any insight would be helpful.”
The KJV states:
“But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of [her] age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. So then he that giveth [her] in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth better.”
According to the custom of that day and time, the couple’s family usually made the marriage arrangement without consulting either the daughter or the son. (See also: Is Dating a Sin?) The father’s will was the authority in the matter. For example in the Old Testament, Hagar, as head of the family, “took him [Ishmael] a wife out of the land of Egypt” (Genesis 21:21 KJV). When Isaac was forty years old, he was quite capable of choosing his own wife (Genesis 25:20 KJV); yet Abraham sent his servant to Haran to seek a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24 KJV).
We also have to consider the historical and biblical background for our understanding of these verses. The first-century church was under severe persecution from the Roman government as well as Jewish religious authorities (Acts 4:5-21; Acts 5:17-29; Acts 6:9-15; Acts 7:51-60; Acts 9:1-2; Acts 12:1-4; Acts 17:1-9). This situation would place the marriage relationship under severe stress during this period of time (1 Corinthians 7:25-27). With these aforementioned facts in mind, and from a study of the context in 1 Corinthians 7:1-40, the following is what this Bible student believes Paul is saying in today’s vernacular [using the KJV in scripture quotes]:
1 Corinthians 7:36-38 in Today’s Words
1 Corinthians 7:36 KJV – If a virgin daughter desired to marry past the usual age of marriage, (“if she pass the flower of her age“), Paul exhorts fathers (who usually made the marriage arrangements) to “let them marry.” Not allowing their virgin daughters to marry might expose them to the temptation to sin outside of the marriage relationship (see 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 KJV). If the daughter could not live a satisfying life in an unmarried state, Paul is saying that her father should be allowed to give her away in marriage, not fearing that he has sinned in doing so.
1 Corinthians 7:37 KJV – If, however, he were to decide not to allow his virgin daughter to marry because of his concern for her welfare (because of the severe persecution of the church that was taking place at this time), i.e., “the present distress” – 1 Corinthians 7:25-27, he “doeth well.” In other words, he doesn’t sin if he allows her to marry or doesn’t allow her to marry.
1 Corinthians 7:38 KJV – The father violates no law of God in either allowing or not allowing his virgin daughter to marry. The decision to allow or to disallow his virgin daughter to marry was entirely his. However, because of the severe persecution that was at that time taking place in the Roman empire against Christians, the apostle Paul suggests, “but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.”
It is this writer’s prayer that this brief analysis will help our understanding of 1 Corinthians 7:36-38. May God richly bless us as we continue studying His Word (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; cf. Deuteronomy 4:9).