7:12 To the rest I say – I, not the Lord 1 – if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her.
7:36 If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, 4 if she is past the bloom of youth 5 and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.
1 sn I, not the Lord. Here and in v. 10 Paul distinguishes between his own apostolic instruction and Jesus’ teaching during his earthly ministry. In vv. 12-16, Paul deals with a situation about which the Lord gave no instruction in his earthly ministry.
2 tn Grk “these will have tribulation in the flesh.”
3 tn Grk “I am trying to spare you.” Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context. “Such problems” has been supplied here to make the sense of the statement clear.
4 tn Grk “virgin,” either a fiancée, a daughter, or the ward of a guardian. For discussion see the note at the end of v. 38.
5 tn Or referring to an engaged man: “if he is past the critical point,” “if his passions are too strong.” The word literally means “to be past the high point.”