1 Corinthians 7:6

But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

BSB

I say this as a concession, not as a command.

KJV

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

ASV

But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

BBE

But this I say as my opinion, and not as an order of the Lord.

YLT

and this I say by way of concurrence--not of command,

DARBY

But this I say, as consenting [to], not as commanding [it].

Original Greek

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τοῦτο touto This demonstrative pronoun · accusative G3778 δὲ de now conjunction G1161 λέγω legō I say verb · present · indicative G3004 κατὰ kata by way of preposition G2596 συγγνώμην sungnōmēn concession noun · accusative G4774 οὐ ou not negative particle G3756 κατ kat᾽ by way of preposition G2596 ἐπιταγήν epitagēn command noun · accusative G2003
Study this passageThe verses around 1 Corinthians 7:6: translations side by side, notes, key words and a guided study

Study notes

Whole chapter

On 1 Corinthians 7:1–40

Paul often says that true Christians, as servants of Christ, belong completely to Christ for his service. Because of this, he suggests Christians stay single. However, he admits that getting married is not a sin.

On 1 Corinthians 7:6–7

Paul prefers being single, but he acknowledges that both marriage and being single are gifts from God to different people.

On this section 1 Corinthians 7:1–16

The Corinthians had written to Paul and asked questions about being single, sex and marriage. Paul answered their questions based on Jesus’ teachings about how to live.

Jesus treated every person as being important. Their needs mattered to him. He served others and did what was good for them. Paul showed examples of how this applied to marriage and sex.

Some Corinthians thought that if they followed God faithfully they shouldn’t have sex. Paul explained that couples should care for one another’s bodies and enjoy sex together. He encouraged people who weren’t married to stay single. But he made something clear. Each person is free to choose whether to marry or to stay single. The important thing is for people to honour God with their bodies.

Tyndale Open Study Notes (adapted by Mission Mutual) and Biblica Study Notes, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Paul (Saul)ProfileBiblical MarriageThemeHuman SexualityThemeHoliness and Sexual PurityThemeApocryphaDictionaryLoveDictionaryBible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament)DictionaryFirst Letter to the CorinthiansDictionary

The early church

"But this I say by way of permission, not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself; in a state of continence." This he doth in many places when he is advising about difficult matters; he brings forward himself, and says, "Be ye imitators of me." "Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that." Thus since he had heavily charged them saying, "for your incontinence," he again comforteth them by the words, "each one hath his own gift of God;" not declaring that towards that virtue there is no need of zeal on our part, but, as I was saying before, to comfort them. For if it be a "gift," and man contributes nothing thereunto, how sayest thou, "But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I: but if they have not continency let them marry?" Do you see the strong sense of Paul how he both signifies that continence is better, and yet puts no force on the person who cannot attain to it; fearing lest some offence arise?
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Corinthians

Commentary

Henry (concise) · Verses 1–9

The apostle tells the Corinthians that it was good, in that juncture of time, for Christians to keep themselves single. Yet he says that marriage, and the comforts of that state, are settled by Divine wisdom. Though none may break the law of God, yet that perfect rule leaves men at liberty to serve him in the way most suited to their powers and circumstances, of which others often are very unfit judges. All must determine for themselves, seeking counsel from God how they ought to act.

Read Henry (concise) on 1 Corinthians 7 →

What other commentators say on this verse

Henry (complete)Verses 1–9JFBVerse 6BarnesVerse 6ClarkeVerse 6CalvinVerse 6WesleyVerse 6Geneva notesVerse 6People’s NTVerse 6RobertsonVerse 6ScofieldVerses 1–11

Cross-references

4

Topics

Word Of God

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.