1 Corinthians 7:6-7: A Caveat and a Framework for the ‘Sayings’ in 7:8-24

Abstract

It is the case that, with verbs of saying, the neuter demonstrative pronoun (‘this’) often introduces the subordinate clause with an implied ‘that’ (as in, ‘I say this, [that]…’ We contend that this same construction in 1 Corinthians 7:6 helps to unlock the pattern of Paul’s thought in 1 Corinthians 7:8-24. 1 Corinthians 7:6 does not refer to the contents of 7:1-5, but emphatically to 7:7a where δέ assumes an adverbial role of ‘rather’ in Paul’s caveat. With the strong adversative ‘but’ (ἀλλά) in 7:7b he acknowledges that either singleness or marriage is a divine gift and then proceed to discuss aspects of these gifts and callings of God in 7:8-24