independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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Concerning marriage — the conjugal debt 7:1–7
vv. 1–5 — the maxim qualified: each their own spouse, the debt mutual
1
Περὶ δὲ ὧν ἐγράψατε,independent — the Περὶ δέ formula — the first of their letter's topics (cf. vv. 25; 8:1; 12:1)
καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ γυναικὸς μὴ ἅπτεσθαι·independent — the maxim — perhaps their own slogan, at once to be qualified
2
διὰ δὲ τὰς πορνείας ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἐχέτω,independent — the counter-rule — πορνεῖαι plural, the Corinthian reality
καὶ ἑκάστη τὸν ἴδιον ἄνδρα ἐχέτω.independent — the symmetrical command — the chapter's even-handedness begins
3
τῇ γυναικὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἀποδιδότω,independent — ὀφειλή — the conjugal debt (the critical text, not the later εὔνοια)
ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ἀνδρί.independent — elliptical — ἀποδιδότω understood
4
ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ὁ ἀνήρ·independent — the ground — bodily authority mutually surrendered
ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ἡ γυνή.independent — the exact mirror — striking symmetry for the period
5
μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους,independent — ἀποστερέω — to withhold the due is to defraud
εἰ μήτι ἂν ἐκ συμφώνου πρὸς καιρὸνconditional — εἰ μήτι ἄν — the fenced exception, backward on the prohibition (anchored)
ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇpurpose — the sole sanctioned purpose
καὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἦτε,purpose — ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό — resumption assumed; abstinence is the interlude
ἵνα μὴ πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν.purpose — the negative purpose of the whole rule — realism about ἀκρασία
vv. 6–7 — concession, not command; each has his own gift
6
τοῦτο δὲ λέγω κατὰ συγγνώμην, οὐ κατ' ἐπιταγήν.independent — the authority-grading begins — συγγνώμη against ἐπιταγή (cf. vv. 10, 12, 25, 40)
7
θέλω δὲ πάντας ἀνθρώπους εἶναι ὡς καὶ ἐμαυτόν·independent — Paul's own preference — the celibate example
ἀλλὰ ἕκαστος ἴδιον ἔχει χάρισμα ἐκ θεοῦ,independent — the wish relativized — both states are charismata
ὁ μὲν οὕτως, ὁ δὲ οὕτως.phrase modifier — distributive apposition — ὁ μέν … ὁ δέ
To the unmarried and widows 7:8–9
8
Λέγω δὲ τοῖς ἀγάμοις καὶ ταῖς χήραις,independent — new addressees — the formerly married paired with widows
καλὸν αὐτοῖςcontent — verbless — καλόν again, expedient rather than obligatory
ἐὰν μείνωσιν ὡς κἀγώ·conditional — the condition follows its apodosis — anchored, not leaning; μένω, the chapter's keynote
9
εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται,conditional — protasis — leans on the imperative below; the opposite of v. 5's ἀκρασία
γαμησάτωσαν,independent — apodosis — marriage the God-given remedy, not a failure
κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν γαμῆσαι ἢ πυροῦσθαι.cause — the ground — πυροῦσθαι of consuming desire, not of judgment
To the married, and the mixed marriage 7:10–16
vv. 10–11 — the Lord's command: no separation
10
Τοῖς δὲ γεγαμηκόσιν παραγγέλλω,independent — παραγγέλλω — now a binding word, not concession
οὐκ ἐγὼ ἀλλὰ ὁ κύριος,phrase modifier — the parenthetic correction — dominical authority (cf. Mark 10:9–12)
γυναῖκα ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς μὴ χωρισθῆναιcontent — accusative + infinitive — the charge's content
11
— ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ,conditional — protasis — the case contemplated despite the command; leans on the imperative below
μενέτω ἄγαμοςindependent — parenthetic apodosis — no remarriage; the proviso rides on the charge
ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω —independent — the alternative — καταλλάσσω, Paul's reconciliation verb (Rom 5:10)
καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.content — the charge's second limb — resuming after the parenthesis
vv. 12–14 — the mixed marriage: do not divorce the willing unbeliever
12
Τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς λέγω ἐγώ,independent — the case Jesus did not address — apostolic ruling
οὐχ ὁ κύριος·phrase modifier — the mirrored correction of v. 10 — grading, not disclaiming, authority
εἴ τις ἀδελφὸς γυναῖκα ἔχει ἄπιστον,conditional — protasis — the first member of the pair
καὶ αὕτη συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετ' αὐτοῦ,conditional — coordinate protasis — the unbeliever's willingness is decisive
μὴ ἀφιέτω αὐτήν·independent — apodosis — the believer must not initiate
13
καὶ γυνὴ εἴ τις ἔχει ἄνδρα ἄπιστον,conditional — protasis — γυνή fronted before εἴ; the mirror case
καὶ οὗτος συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετ' αὐτῆς,conditional — coordinate protasis — the same test
μὴ ἀφιέτω τὸν ἄνδρα.independent — apodosis — the even-handed ruling
14
ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί,cause — the ground — holiness, not defilement, is the contagious force
καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ·cause — the parallel ground — 'the brother' stresses the believer's faith
ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν,cause — ἐπεὶ ἄρα — the reductio: were it not so
νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν.independent — νῦν δέ logical — the actual case, sealing the argument
vv. 15–16 — but if the unbeliever departs
15
εἰ δὲ ὁ ἄπιστος χωρίζεται,conditional — protasis — leans on the permission below
χωριζέσθω·independent — apodosis — permissive imperative: let him go
οὐ δεδούλωται ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις·independent — the release — δεδούλωται, the language of bondage; its exact scope left open
ἐν δὲ εἰρήνῃ κέκληκεν ὑμᾶς ὁ θεός.independent — the governing call — peace outweighs coerced union
16
τί γὰρ οἶδας, γύναι,cause — the γάρ question — the outcome is not yours to secure
εἰ τὸν ἄνδρα σώσεις;content — indirect question — the uncertain hope
ἢ τί οἶδας, ἄνερ,cause — the question doubled — vocatives to each in turn
εἰ τὴν γυναῖκα σώσεις;content — indirect question — the symmetry complete
Remain in your calling 7:17–24
v. 17 — the rule for all the churches
17
Εἰ μὴ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ἐμέρισεν ὁ κύριος, ἕκαστον ὡς κέκληκεν ὁ θεός, οὕτως περιπατείτω.independent — Εἰ μή = 'only' — the governing rule, its double ὡς-clause fronted and resumed by οὕτως
καὶ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις διατάσσομαι.independent — the rule universalized — no Corinthian peculiarity
vv. 18–19 — the case of circumcision
18
περιτετμημένος τις ἐκλήθη;independent — diatribe question — the first test case
μὴ ἐπισπάσθω.independent — the answer — ἐπισπάομαι, the Hellenizing surgery (1 Macc 1:15)
ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ κέκληταί τις;independent — the mirror question
μὴ περιτεμνέσθω.independent — the answer — cf. Gal 5:2–6
19
ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν,cause — the warrant — asyndetic ground for both imperatives
καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν,cause — the balance — both badges weightless
ἀλλὰ τήρησις ἐντολῶν θεοῦ.cause — verbless — the counter-weight: obedience, not the badge
vv. 20–24 — the case of slavery; the μενέτω refrain
20
ἕκαστος ἐν τῇ κλήσει ᾗ ἐκλήθη ἐν ταύτῃ μενέτω.independent — the refrain — κλῆσις as the situation the call found; dative ᾗ by attraction
21
δοῦλος ἐκλήθης;independent — diatribe question — the second test case
μή σοι μελέτω·independent — the answer — impersonal μέλει, status no cause for anxiety
ἀλλ' εἰ καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι,conditional — protasis — the manumission possibility; leans on the imperative below
μᾶλλον χρῆσαι.independent — the crux — χρῆσαι read as 'use the freedom' (take manumission), not 'use the slavery'
22
ὁ γὰρ ἐν κυρίῳ κληθεὶς δοῦλος ἀπελεύθερος κυρίου ἐστίν·cause — the ground — status inverted in Christ: the slave a freedman
ὁμοίως ὁ ἐλεύθερος κληθεὶς δοῦλός ἐστιν Χριστοῦ.cause — the paradox completed — the free man enslaved to Christ
23
τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε·independent — the redemption-purchase — slave-market language (cf. 6:20)
μὴ γίνεσθε δοῦλοι ἀνθρώπων.independent — the inference — allegiance already owned by the purchaser
24
ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη, ἀδελφοί, ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρὰ θεῷ.independent — the refrain sealed — now παρὰ θεῷ: the station inhabited coram Deo
Concerning the virgins — the present distress 7:25–38
vv. 25–28 — no command, but a judgment: remain, yet marrying is no sin
25
Περὶ δὲ τῶν παρθένωνindependent — the second Περὶ δέ — the next topic from their letter
ἐπιταγὴν κυρίου οὐκ ἔχω,independent — ἐπιταγή — the term of v. 6 again; no dominical word covers the case
γνώμην δὲ δίδωμιindependent — γνώμη against ἐπιταγή — advisory counsel, weighed at v. 40
ὡς ἠλεημένος ὑπὸ κυρίου πιστὸς εἶναι.participial — ὡς + perfect participle — trustworthiness grounded in mercy received (cf. 1 Tim 1:13)
26
νομίζω οὖν τοῦτο καλὸν ὑπάρχειν διὰ τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν ἀνάγκην,independent — the judgment — ἡ ἐνεστῶσα ἀνάγκη, the crisis already upon them
ὅτι καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ τὸ οὕτως εἶναι.content — epexegetic of τοῦτο — the judgment's content
27
δέδεσαι γυναικί;independent — diatribe pair — the perfect δέδεσαι, the standing bond
μὴ ζήτει λύσιν·independent — the answer — no change of state
λέλυσαι ἀπὸ γυναικός;independent — the mirror question — λέλυσαι, the standing freedom
μὴ ζήτει γυναῖκα.independent — the answer — counsel, not prohibition (v. 28)
28
ἐὰν δὲ καὶ γαμήσῃς,conditional — protasis — leans on the verdict below
οὐχ ἥμαρτες·independent — apodosis — the categorical denial
καὶ ἐὰν γήμῃ ἡ παρθένος,conditional — the paired protasis
οὐχ ἥμαρτεν.independent — apodosis — marriage is no transgression
θλῖψιν δὲ τῇ σαρκὶ ἕξουσιν οἱ τοιοῦτοι,independent — the caveat — θλῖψις fronted; σάρξ as ordinary bodily life, not Romans' 'flesh'
ἐγὼ δὲ ὑμῶν φείδομαι.independent — the pastoral motive — φείδομαι, sparing them avoidable affliction
vv. 29–31 — the time shortened: the ὡς-μή refrain
29
τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί·independent — φημί — the solemn declaration; the deep rationale surfaces
ὁ καιρὸς συνεσταλμένος ἐστίν·content — συστέλλω — the sail furled; the eschatological premise of all that follows
τὸ λοιπὸν ἵνα καὶ οἱ ἔχοντες γυναῖκας ὡς μὴ ἔχοντες ὦσιν,purpose — ἵνα read as imperatival — the inference drawn; the ὡς-μή column opens
30
καὶ οἱ κλαίοντες ὡς μὴ κλαίοντες,purpose — coordinate member — grief held loosely
καὶ οἱ χαίροντες ὡς μὴ χαίροντες,purpose — coordinate member — joy without engrossment
καὶ οἱ ἀγοράζοντες ὡς μὴ κατέχοντες,purpose — coordinate member — commerce without clinging
31
καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι τὸν κόσμον ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι·purpose — the climax — the world used, not consumed (χράομαι/καταχράομαι)
παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.cause — the ground of every ὡς μή — the σχῆμα already in transit
vv. 32–35 — undivided care: μεριμνάω four times, μεμέρισται the verdict
32
θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀμερίμνους εἶναι.independent — the aim named — ἀμερίμνους, playing on the μεριμνᾷ-chain to come
ὁ ἄγαμος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κυρίου,independent — the contrast opens — undivided concern
πῶς ἀρέσῃ τῷ κυρίῳ·content — indirect deliberative question — the care's content
33
ὁ δὲ γαμήσας μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου,independent — the counterpart — legitimate, but worldly, concern
πῶς ἀρέσῃ τῇ γυναικί,content — the divided object — rightly pleasing the spouse
34
καὶ μεμέρισται.independent — the verdict — μεμέρισται read with v. 33's married man (see the data's text note)
καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄγαμος καὶ ἡ παρθένος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κυρίου,independent — the same contrast for women
ἵνα ᾖ ἁγία καὶ τῷ σώματι καὶ τῷ πνεύματι·purpose — the aim of her care — whole-person consecration
ἡ δὲ γαμήσασα μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου,independent — the counterpart completed
πῶς ἀρέσῃ τῷ ἀνδρί.content — the fourth μεριμνᾷ — the symmetry closes
35
τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν σύμφορον λέγω,independent — the motive disclosed — σύμφορον, their advantage, not his
οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω,purpose — the disclaimed purpose — βρόχος, the lasso of coercion
ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ εὐπάρεδρον τῷ κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.phrase modifier — the true aim — ἀπερισπάστως, unlike Martha 'distracted' (Luke 10:40)
vv. 36–38 — the man and his παρθένος: marry, or keep her — both good, one better
36
Εἰ δέ τις ἀσχημονεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ νομίζειconditional — protasis — the notorious crux: παρθένος read as his fiancée, not his daughter; leans on the imperative below
ἐὰν ᾖ ὑπέρακμος,conditional — the embedded condition — ὑπέρακμος, the marriageable time pressing on
καὶ οὕτως ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι,conditional — the third member of the protasis column — circumstances compel
ὃ θέλει ποιείτω·independent — apodosis — full freedom granted
οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει·independent — the denial repeated from v. 28
γαμείτωσαν.independent — the plural takes in the couple — a point for the fiancée reading
37
ὃς δὲ ἕστηκεν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἑδραῖος,conditional — conditional relative — ὃς δέ ≈ 'if anyone', a protasis-like column leaning on ποιήσει below
μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην,participial — circumstantial — ἀνάγκη echoing v. 26, here the absence of constraint
ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἔχει περὶ τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος,conditional — coordinate member of the 'whoever' column — the decision genuinely his
καὶ τοῦτο κέκρικεν ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ καρδίᾳ,conditional — κέκρικεν — the settled resolve
τηρεῖν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον,content — epexegetic infinitive — the content of τοῦτο
καλῶς ποιήσει.independent — apodosis — the resolve commended
38
ὥστε καὶ ὁ γαμίζων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον καλῶς ποιεῖ,independent — the balance struck — γαμίζων ('gives in marriage') is the daughter-reading's best card; here taken loosely of the fiancé marrying
καὶ ὁ μὴ γαμίζων κρεῖσσον ποιήσει.independent — κρεῖσσον — the relative preference restated, neither course condemned
The widow's freedom — the closing judgment 7:39–40
39
Γυνὴ δέδεταιindependent — the final case — δέδεται, the perfect of v. 27 (cf. Rom 7:2)
ἐφ' ὅσον χρόνον ζῇ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς·relative — relative of extent — the bond is lifelong
ἐὰν δὲ κοιμηθῇ ὁ ἀνήρ,conditional — protasis — κοιμάομαι, the Christian euphemism for death (cf. 15:6, 18)
ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶνindependent — apodosis — death dissolves the bond
ᾧ θέλει γαμηθῆναι,content — epexegetic infinitive of the freedom — her own choice
μόνον ἐν κυρίῳ.phrase modifier — the single restriction — a believing union
40
μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστινindependent — μακαριωτέρα — the comparative verdict
ἐὰν οὕτως μείνῃ,conditional — the condition follows its apodosis — anchored, not leaning; μένω one last time
κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην·phrase modifier — γνώμη again — v. 25's advisory register, owned to the end
δοκῶ δὲ κἀγὼ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἔχειν.independent — the close — κἀγώ with quiet irony against the Corinthian pneumatics
Analysis. 1 Corinthians 7 is casuistry, and the shape shows it: again and again an olive conditional column stands above a flush-left imperative — εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται over γαμησάτωσαν (v. 9), the paired εἴ-τις protases of the mixed marriages over μὴ ἀφιέτω (vv. 12–13), εἰ δὲ ὁ ἄπιστος χωρίζεται over the permissive χωριζέσθω (v. 15), ἐὰν δὲ καὶ γαμήσῃς over οὐχ ἥμαρτες (v. 28), the three-membered Εἰ δέ τις column of v. 36 over ὃ θέλει ποιείτω, the 'whoever'-column of v. 37 over καλῶς ποιήσει, and ἐὰν δὲ κοιμηθῇ over the widow's freedom (v. 39). Between the cases run two refrains the layout makes visible: the flush-left μενέτω rule (vv. 8, 11, 20, 24, 40) with its clipped diatribe pairs (δοῦλος ἐκλήθης; μή σοι μελέτω — δέδεσαι γυναικί; μὴ ζήτει λύσιν), and the ὡς-μή column of vv. 29–31 — five coordinate lines suspended from ὁ καιρὸς συνεσταλμένος ἐστίν and sealed by the παράγει γάρ ground. Authority-grading is marked by parenthetic asides: οὐκ ἐγὼ ἀλλὰ ὁ κύριος (v. 10) mirrored by λέγω ἐγώ, οὐχ ὁ κύριος (v. 12), κατὰ συγγνώμην, οὐ κατ' ἐπιταγήν (v. 6), κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην (v. 40). Cruxes the layout takes a side on, named honestly: μᾶλλον χρῆσαι (v. 21) is read as 'use the freedom' (take manumission), not 'make use of the slavery'; the παρθένος of vv. 36–38 is taken as the man's fiancée, not his unmarried daughter — the plural γαμείτωσαν and the repeated τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον fit a betrothed couple, though the father-and-daughter reading of γαμίζων remains defensible and is flagged in the tags; μεμέρισται (v. 34) is read with the married man of v. 33, per the punctuation the chapter data follows; the ἵνα of v. 29 is taken as imperatival, governing the whole ὡς-μή series; and v. 15's οὐ δεδούλωται is laid out as release from bondage without adjudicating the remarriage question it has been made to carry.