1 Corinthians 7:36-40

The legitimacy of marriage 7:36-40

This section concludes Paul’s entire teaching on marriage in this chapter. However it contains problems related to the meaning of "virgin" as is clear from the three different interpretations in the NASB, the NIV, and the NEB. These verses may introduce a special case (advice to fathers of virgins [Note: E.g., Robertson and Plummer, p. 158; Lowery, p. 520.] ) or connect with 1 Corinthians 7:35. Perhaps the man in view is the fiancé of the virgin who is considering the possibility of marriage with her. [Note: Barrett, p. 184.] In the second case, the pericope then summarizes what Paul has already taught. I prefer the second view, but the first one has much to commend it.