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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
- BSB 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.
- 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.
- NASB Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.
- 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Turning to the unmarried, Paul says he has no direct command from the Lord on this matter but offers his trustworthy judgment as one shown mercy. He distinguishes apostolic counsel from explicit dominical command.
Overview
"Virgins" likely refers to those never married, perhaps especially the betrothed. Paul carefully notes that Jesus left no recorded teaching on this specific question, so he gives Spirit-guided wisdom rather than a binding word. His humility ("one who has obtained mercy") models how faithful pastors apply biblical principle where Scripture gives no explicit rule, while his apostolic standing (cf. v. 40) lends real weight to his counsel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Cor 7:6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
- 1 Cor 4:2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
- 1 Cor 7:40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
- 2 Cor 8:8–10I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
- 1 Cor 7:12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
- 1 Cor 7:10And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
- 2 Cor 2:17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
- 2 Cor 11:17That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
- 2 Cor 4:1–2Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
- 1 Cor 7:34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
- Ps 78:63The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
- 1 Cor 7:28But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
- 1 Cor 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
- 1 Cor 7:36–38But 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.
- 1 Tim 1:12–16And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
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Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
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Original language
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