What commands, counsels and qualifications address marriage and remaining unmarried?

Answering what the readers wrote, Paul says it is good for a man not to touch a woman; because of fornication, each should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The printed note explains this as keeping an existing spouse rather than exhorting unmarried people to marry. Spouses should render their mutual debt, with each having power over the other’s body. They should not defraud one another except perhaps by consent for a time devoted to prayer, then return together lest Satan tempt them through incontinence. Paul speaks by indulgence rather than command; the note calls this condescension to weakness. He wishes all were as he is, while recognizing each person’s proper gift from God.

It is good for unmarried people and widows to remain as he is; if they do not contain themselves, they should marry rather than burn. The annotation applies this to those free to marry, distinguishes vows and the first faith given to God, says God never refuses the gift of continence when proper means are used, and rejects substituting cannot contain for do not contain. For married people, Paul gives the Lord’s command: a wife should not depart; if she does, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled, and a husband should not put away his wife. For the rest Paul speaks without an express command or ordinance of the Lord, as the note explains. A believer should not put away an unbelieving spouse willing to dwell together. The unbelieving spouse is sanctified and the children holy; the annotation expressly denies that the believer’s faith alone supplies grace or salvation to either spouse or children, explaining that it is often an occasion of bringing them to true faith. If the unbeliever departs, let the departure occur; the brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases, and God has called them in peace. Paul asks how either spouse knows whether they will save the other.

Each should walk as the Lord has distributed and as God has called them, a rule Paul teaches in all churches. A circumcised person should not seek uncircumcision, nor an uncircumcised person circumcision: keeping God’s commandments matters. Each should remain in the calling received. A bondman should not be concerned, but if able to become free should use that rather. The bondman called in the Lord is the Lord’s freeman, and the free person called is Christ’s bondman. Bought with a price, they should not become bondslaves of men; each should abide with God in the calling received.

For virgins Paul has no command from the Lord, but gives counsel as one made faithful through mercy. He thinks it good under the present necessity to remain as one is. One bound to a wife should not seek release; one released should not seek a wife. Marriage is not sin for either man or virgin, though those marrying will have tribulation of the flesh, which he would spare them. Time is short: those with wives should be as without, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not possessing, and those using the world as not using it, because its fashion passes away.

Paul wishes them without solicitude. The unmarried man attends to pleasing the Lord, while the married man attends to pleasing his wife and is divided. The unmarried woman and virgin attend to the Lord’s things to be holy in body and spirit, while the married woman attends to pleasing her husband. Paul seeks their profit, not a snare, promoting decency and unhindered attendance on the Lord. If a man thinks he dishonours his virgin, who is above age, and it must be so, he may do as he wills without sin if she marries. The annotation explains this as a father giving his virgin daughter in marriage, and rejects reading it as permission for libertine conduct followed by marriage. One steadfast in heart, without necessity and with power over his own will, who judges to keep his virgin, does well. Giving her in marriage does well; not giving does better. A wife is bound while her husband lives, and after his death may marry whom she wills, only in the Lord. Paul counsels that she is more blessed if she remains as she is, adding that he thinks he too has God’s Spirit.