The Skeptics Annotated Bible (916 page)

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that
it is good for a man so to be.

(7.26)
“It is good for a man so to be
[a virgin]
.”

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed
. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

(7.27)
“Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.”
Those who are unmarried should never marry.
15 Is marriage a good thing?

28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren,
the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none
;

(7.29)
“The time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none.”
Paul, like Jesus and the other New Testament writers, expected the end to come soon. “The time is short.” So there’s no time for sex and marriage since the world will be ending soon.

30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

8
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge.
Knowledge puffeth up
, but
charity edifieth.

(8.1a)
“Knowldedge puffeth up.”
Knowledge is bad.

(8.1b)
“Charity edifieth.”
Love is a good.

2 And
if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing
yet as he ought to know.

(8.2)
“If any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing.”

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

(8.4-8) “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols….” The short answer (that you’ll find scattered around in this chapter) is this: Go ahead and eat animals that were sacrificed to other gods. Try not to do it, though, when weaker Christians are watching. You don’t want to scandalize the weaklings, do you?
460 Is it OK to eat meat sacrificed to other gods?