I say this as a concession, not as a command.
Parallel translations
- WEB But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.
- KJV But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
- NKJV But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
- NASB But this I say by way of concession, not of command.
- NLT I say this as a concession, not as a command.
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
Paul clarifies that this is a concession, not a command. It matters because it shows his careful distinction between general counsel and binding requirement.
Overview
Paul notes that some of his counsel here (likely regarding marriage and abstinence) is permitted advice, not absolute command. This pastoral precision reflects his honesty in distinguishing his applied wisdom from direct divine mandate. It models humility and care in teaching, neither over-binding nor loosening God's standards.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 2 Cor 8:8I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.
- 1 Cor 7:25Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
- 1 Cor 7:12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
- 2 Cor 11:17In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
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.
How 1 Corinthians 7:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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