“What? Don’t marry”
I’m going to try to explain 1 Corinthians 7and especially verse 29
Is God suggesting “don’t marry?”
No
what does First Corinthians 7:29 mean then?
In 1 Corinthians 7:29 the Apostle Paul writes, "The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage."
He means that because earthly life is brief and this temporary world is passing away, believers should not let earthly relationships or possessions become their ultimate focus.
The Meaning of "The Time is Short"
A shifting focus: Paul is not telling people to abandon or neglect their spouses, which would go against his own teachings on caring for a partner.
Holding things loosely: Verses 29-31
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
“I mean, brethren, the appointed time has been winding down and it has grown very short. From now on, let even those who have wives be as if they had none,
And those who weep and mourn as though they were not weeping and mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not possess anything,
And those who deal with this world overusing the enjoyments of this life as though they were not absorbed by it and as if they had no dealings with it. For the outward form of this world (the present world order) is passing away.”
The verses above explain that people who mourn, rejoice, or buy things should not let those temporary experiences completely absorb or trap them.
Undivided devotion: The core idea is priority. Paul wants believers to keep an eternal perspective, ensuring that their primary devotion remains anchored on God rather than being consumed entirely by worldly comforts or cares.
does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 37
I am also trying to understand what Paul means in 1 Corinthians 7:37
But the man who stands firmly committed in his heart, having no compulsion [to yield to his daughter’s request], and has authority over his own will, and has decided in his own heart to keep his own virgin [daughter from being married], he will do well.
In 1 Corinthians 7:37, Paul means that a person who has strong self-control, feels no external pressure or constraint to marry, and makes a calm, deliberate choice to remain single honors God well.
Back then the father had the last word on whether his virgin married or not, today things are different in most of the world , but not all. Now the man proposing marriage asks the father for the hand of daughter in marriage. So the following key phrases apply to the potential fiancé who does the right thing by the father and his virgin daughter.
Key Phrases Explained
Stands steadfast in his heart: Having a clear, settled mind and inner peace about the choice.
Having no necessity: Experiencing no outside force, extreme social pressure, or uncontrollable physical compulsion to marry.
Power over his own will: Possessing personal self-control and freedom to choose.
Keeps his virgin / remains unmarried: And this applies once again to the father. And this to the single male deciding to stay single to focus entirely on serving God without the distractions of family life.
Context of the Passage
Scholars debate whether Paul refers to a father deciding on behalf of his daughter, an engaged couple choosing to delay or forego marriage, or an individual deciding for themselves. They shouldn’t because in the west the context is on the purpose of the male deciding whether or not to marry or remain single, but not necessarily in all parts of the world.
The overarching point is that singleness and marriage are both valid choices. Paul notes that staying single has practical advantages for devotion to Christ during difficult times, but getting married is completely fine and not a sin.