1 Corinthians 7:36,37 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Toward his virgin.— The word Παρθενον seems here, says Mr. Locke, used for the virgin state, and not for the person of a virgin. Whether there be examples of the like use of it, he adds, I know not; and therefore I propose it as my conjecture upon these grounds: First, because the resolution of mind here spoken of must be in the person to be married, and not in the father, who has the power over the person concerned. Secondly, the necessity of marriage can only be judged of by the persons themselves. A father cannot feel the child's sensations. Thirdly, hath power over his own will, 1 Corinthians 7:37 must either signify, "can govern his own desires,—is master of his own will," or "has the disposal of himself;" that is, is free from the father's power of disposing of his children in marriage. But the first cannot be meant, because it is sufficiently expressed before by steadfast in his heart; and afterwards too by decreed in his heart. I think the words should be translated, hath a power concerning his own will; that is to say, concerning what he willeth: for if St. Paul meant, a power over his own will, one mightthink he would have expressed that thought, as he does ch. 1 Corinthians 9:12 and Romans 9:21 without the word περι, or by the preposition επι, as it is Luke 9:1. Fourthly, because if keep his virgin had here signified, "keep his children from marrying," the expression would have been more natural, had he used the word τεκνα, which signifies both sexes, rather than the word παρθενος, which belongs only to the female. If therefore the word παρθενος be taken abstractedly for virginity, the 36th verse must be understood thus: "But if any one think it a shame to pass the flower of his age unmarried, and finds it necessary to marry, let him do as he pleases, he sins not; let such marry." St. Paul seems to obviate an objection which might be made against his dissuading from marriage; namely, that it might be an indecency which one would be guilty of, if one should live unmarried past one's prime, and afterwards be obliged to marry: To which he answers, That no body should abstain, upon the account of being a Christian, but those who are of a steady resolution, who are at their own disposal, and have fully determined it in their own minds. The word Καλως, rendered well, 1 Corinthians 7:37 signifies not simply good, but preferable, as in 1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 7:26. See Locke, Heinsius, Doddridge, on 1 Corinthians 7:25 and compare this note of Mr. Locke's with the introduction to this chapter.