John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 7:25

"Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy." — 1 Corinthians 7:25 (ASV)

Concerning virgins He now returns to address marriage, of which he had begun to speak in the beginning of the chapter. What he is now about to state, he had previously touched upon, but briefly and somewhat obscurely. He accordingly states more explicitly what his views are regarding virginity. However, as it is a matter that is liable to be misunderstood and is full of difficulties, he always speaks, as we shall see, conditionally.

I understand virgins here as meaning virginity. Regarding this, he says he has no commandment of the Lord, because the Lord does not in any part of the Scriptures declare which persons ought to remain unmarried. Indeed, on the contrary, since the Scripture says that male and female were created together (Genesis 2:21), it seems as if it called everyone equally and without exception to marriage. At least, celibacy is nowhere enjoined upon anyone or commended.

He says that he gives advice, not as if it were anything doubtful or had little stability, but as something certain and deserving to be upheld without controversy. The word he employs, γνώμη, signifies not merely advice but a decisive judgment. Papists, however, rashly infer from this that it is permissible to go beyond the limits of God’s word. Yet nothing was further from Paul’s intention than to do so; for if anyone examines more closely, he will see that Paul here advances nothing but what is included in what Christ says in Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:5. But, by way of anticipating an objection, he acknowledges that he has no express precept in the law identifying who ought to marry and who ought not.

Having obtained mercy to be faithful. He secures authority for his decision, so that no one may think himself free to reject it. For he declares that he does not speak simply as a man, but as a faithful teacher of the Church and an Apostle of Christ. According to his custom, he declares himself to be indebted for this to the mercy of God, as it was no common honor—indeed, superior to all human merits.

Hence it appears that whatever things have been introduced into the Church by human authority have nothing in common with this advice of Paul. But faithful here means truthful—one who does not act merely from pious zeal but is also endowed with knowledge, so as to teach with purity and faithfulness. For it is not enough for a teacher to be conscientious if he also lacks prudence and acquaintance with the truth.