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"I say this as a concession..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 7:6

A DISTINCTION MADE

Paul was an eminent apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ! In his capacity, he was given much authority to speak and write! However, he was very careful to make a distinction when he was giving his own opinion.

“But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
For I wish that all men were even as I myself.
But each one has his own gift from God,
one in this manner and another in that.
But I say to the unmarried and to the widows:
It is good for them if they remain even as I am;
but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry.
For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
1 Corinthians 7:6-9

1. “As a concession”

a) This represents Paul’s opinion.

b) This was not a commandment given by the Lord.

i) That all men be as he was (the single-state).

ii) Perhaps Paul never married or he was widowed.

2. “Each one has his own gift from God”

a) To be in the single state.

b) Or to be in the married state.

c) Each state may be regarded as a gift from God.

d) The single state is not to be pitied.

e) The married state is not to be envied either.

3. “Self-control”

a) Some are better at self-control.

i) Thus, the single state does not affect them adversely.

ii) The single state could be either the unmarried state or the widowed state.

b) Marriage

i) Paul recognised that some were not able to exercise self-control.

ii) They may be struggling with their passions.

iii) In this instance, it was wiser to enter into marriage lest there is the problem of falling into the temptation of sexual immorality.