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, 2 if she is past the bloom of youth 3 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 “virgin,” either a fiancée, a daughter, or the ward of a guardian. For discussion see the note at the end of v. 38.
3 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.”
4 tn Grk “what then is it?”
5 tn Grk “set aside, storing whatever he has been blessed with.”
6 tn Grk “set aside, storing.” The participle θησαυρίζων (qhsaurizwn) indicates the purpose or result of setting aside the extra income.
7 tn “To the extent that God has blessed you” translates an awkward expression, “whatever has been prospered [to you].” This verb has been translated as an active with “God” as subject, taking it as a divine passive.
8 tn Grk “so that collections will not be taking place.”