ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 7 v39 - 40

OVERVIEW:

If the husband of a divorced woman dies, she may remarry but only in the Lord (AMBROSIASTER). Reconciliation is better than divorce (AUGUSTINE). Happy is the married woman, but still happier is the chaste widow. Happiest is the virgin who attains the highest prize without struggling (PELAGIUS, HERMAS, THEODORET OF CYR, SEVERIAN OF GABALA). It is the Spirit of God who enables good counsel (AMBROSIASTER).

7:39 | Guidelines for Wives

A WIFE IS BOUND TO HER HUSBAND. AMBROSIASTER: Paul writes this in order to make it clear that a woman who has been rejected by her husband is not free to marry again. If he should die, then she may remarry, but only in the Lord, which means without any suspicion of wrongdoing and within the bounds of the church. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

SEEK RECONCILIATION. AUGUSTINE: The death referred to here is clearly the death of the body, not of the soul. Forgiveness and attempts at reconciliation of the offending person are offered as better solutions than divorce. ADULTEROUS MARRIAGES.

7:40a | Happier If She Remains Single

REMARRIAGE NOT A SIN. HERMAS: If a wife or a husband falls asleep and the one left marries again, is that a sin? No, but if he remains single he covers himself with greater honor and glory in the sight of the Lord. SHEPHERD 4.4.

HAPPY, HAPPIER AND HAPPIEST. PELAGIUS: Happy is the woman who has a husband. Happier still is the widow who can remain chaste with little effort on her part. But happiest of all is the virgin, who can attain to the highest prize without struggling. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 7.

ENTIRE DEVOTION TO GOD IS HAPPIER. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: What Paul means is that she is blessed if she marries and has a husband to protect her, but she is more blessed if, for the sake of piety, she refuses marriage and devotes herself entirely to God. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

DEGREES OF HAPPINESS. THEODORET OF CYR: Note that Paul does not say that a woman who contracts a second marriage will be unhappy. Rather he says that she will be happier if she remains single. It is all a matter of degree. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 212.

7:40b | Having the Spirit of God

THE SPIRIT ENABLES GOOD COUNSEL. AMBROSIASTER: Paul adds that he has the Spirit of God in order to show that his advice is reliable. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS 1 CORINTHIANS 8:1-8

OVERVIEW: Love builds up (CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA). Knowledge on its own puffs up and does not necessarily produce love (AUGUSTINE, THEODORET OF CYR). It may prevent the unwary from discovering love (AMBROSIASTER) by making them proud. To be known by God is the death of pride. We cannot even say how wrong our perceptions of God are (CHRYSOSTOM). The so-called gods that the idolatrous worship have no existence (THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA). Though what we call idols have no existence, it is necessary to avoid them so as not to give cause for scandal to those who are weak in the faith (CHRYSOSTOM) in the one God in whom Father and Son are one (AMBROSIASTER, SEVERIAN OF GABALA, THEODORET OF CYR).