1. 1 Corinthiens 7:36 (NEG79)
  2. Explication du texte

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:36 (Summary)

1 Corinthiens 7:36 (NEG79)

36 Si quelqu'un regarde comme déshonorant pour sa fille de dépasser l'âge nubile, et comme nécessaire de la marier, qu'il fasse ce qu'il veut, il ne pèche point; qu'on se marie.

Although he has spoken in a general way, Paul is still focusing on a specific group of people in the church: the betrothed girls (1 Corinthians 7:25). What counts for the unmarried men and the widows (1 Corinthians 7:8) counts also for them. For them, too, it is better to stay unmarried if possible.

This verse is not so easy to translate. One difficulty lies in the translation of the word strong. In a more literal sense, this word means “in [or past] ripeness of age.” It may well refer not to the man, but to the young woman who has reached sexual maturity. 

Taken in this way, Paul’s counsel can be paraphrased as follows: if a betrothed girl is of marriageable age, and the man to whom she is betrothed feels desire for her, then he should do what he wishes to do and marry her. The church should certainly let them marry, because marriage is no sin.