Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
But and if she depart (ean de kai xwrisqh). Third class condition, undetermined. If, in spite of Christ's clear prohibition, she get separated (ingressive passive subjunctive),
let her remain unmarried (menetw agamov). Paul here makes no allowance for remarriage of the innocent party as Jesus does by implication.
Or else be reconciled to her husband (h tw andri katallaghtw). Second aorist (ingressive) passive imperative of katallassw, old compound verb to exchange coins as of equal value, to reconcile. One of Paul's great words for reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Romans 5:10). Diallassw (Matthew 5:24 which see) was more common in the older Greek, but katallassw in the later. The difference in idea is very slight, dia- accents notion of exchange, kat- the perfective idea (complete reconciliation). Dative of personal interest is the case of andri. This sentence is a parenthesis between the two infinitives xwrisqhnai and afienai (both indirect commands after paraggellw).
And that the husband leave not his wife (kai andra mh afienai). This is also part of the Lord's command (Mark 10:11). Apoluw occurs in Mark of the husband's act and afienai here, both meaning to send away. Bengel actually stresses the difference between xwrisqhnai of the woman as like separatur in Latin and calls the wife "pars ignobilior" and the husband "nobilior." I doubt if Paul would stand for that extreme.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
1 Corinthians 7:8
1 Corinthians 7:12
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
E-mail this page
