What does "no command from the Lord" imply about Paul's advice in this verse? Setting the Context • 1 Corinthians 7 addresses marriage, singleness, and related matters during what Paul calls “the present distress” (v. 26). • In verse 25 he turns to “virgins” (unmarried believers) and writes: “Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has received the Lord’s mercy to be trustworthy.” Paul Distinguishes Between Command and Counsel • “No command from the Lord” means Jesus gave no recorded directive on this specific topic during His earthly ministry—unlike divorce, where Christ spoke plainly (Matthew 5:32; 19:4-9; cf. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11). • Paul is not retracting authority; he is simply clarifying source. When Jesus had spoken, Paul quoted Him (v. 10). When Jesus had not spoken, Paul provided Spirit-guided apostolic counsel. Why Paul’s Counsel Still Carries Divine Authority • Paul says he offers his “judgment as one who has received the Lord’s mercy to be trustworthy.” – The phrase signals inspiration. The Lord’s mercy had made Paul a reliable vessel (1 Timothy 1:12-16). – Peter classifies Paul’s writings with “the other Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15-16). • Throughout the same letter Paul insists his words are the Lord’s commands (1 Corinthians 14:37). The Spirit does not toggle between inspiration and non-inspiration; rather, He differentiates between quoting Jesus’ historical sayings and giving fresh revelation. • Comparable pattern: – 1 Thessalonians 4:15 “By the word of the Lord we declare to you…” (direct revelation). – 2 Corinthians 8:8 “I am not making a command, but testing the sincerity of your love” (Spirit-inspired counsel). What the Distinction Teaches • Scripture is entirely God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), yet God sometimes marks different modes of delivery—historic saying of Jesus versus apostolic guidance. • The believer hears both with obedience, recognizing: – Commands: universal, non-negotiable moral directives. – Counsel: Spirit-inspired wisdom applied to situational questions (here, whether the unmarried should stay single amid crisis). • This pattern guards Christian liberty. Where the Lord has not legislated, conscience-guided wisdom operates (Romans 14:5). Practical Takeaways for Believers Today • Value every word of Scripture, even when labeled “judgment”; it remains the Spirit’s trustworthy guidance. • Discern between clear moral absolutes (e.g., fidelity in marriage) and Spirit-led situational counsel (e.g., timing of marriage). • In areas without explicit command, seek the Lord’s wisdom through His Word, trusting He speaks through inspired apostolic counsel just as surely as through recorded sayings of Jesus. |
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