too very gently. [$o far is this from being a subject , which ought to be obtruded upon mankind by human precepts. — V.g.] — xctXov, good ) This agrees with the feeling, which pervades the preceding chapter. Comp, below ver. 7, 8, 26, 34, in the middle of the verse, 35 at the end, 40. It is good , i.e. becoming, suitable, for the sake of liberty and exemption from what is due [by a husband to his wife], ver. 3, and for the sake of keeping one’s ‘ power,’ which he has over himself undiminished, ver. 4 ; though on the other hand touching , ver. 1, has always modesty as its accompani- ment among them that are chaste. — for a man ) in general, although he be not a Christian, ver. 7, 26. — ywaizoc, a woman) and in like manner for the woman not to be touched. In what follows, the one relation involves the other.
2. A/a, on account of) comp, the for, ver. 5. — rag rropveiag, for- nications) constantly practised at Corinth [ and not even considered to be sins by the heathens , and especially by the Greeks. — V.g.], to which unmarried persons might be easily allured. The plural denotes irregular lusts, and is on that account more opposed to the unity of the marriage relation [wherein there is but one con- sort].— rijv saurou, his own) the same as 7 d/ov, her own, [which im- mediately after occurs. The same variation occurs in Eph. v. 22, 23. lavrov , his own , indicates the rights of the husband. Both words exclude all community, in which polygamy consists, comp. ver. 4. Now the reason, why a man should have a wife, is the same as that, for which he should retain her, namely, to avoid fornication. Hence also concubinage is refuted, for a con- cubine is either a wife or she is not ; if she is not, there is sin, if she is, then she ought to continue, ver. 10, 11.
3. ’o psi'kriv, what is due [ due benevolence , Engl. Vers.]) This is explained in the next verse. Gataker shows, that the same duty was called by the Greeks %ap/v, by the poets p/Xonjra . The read- ing of this passage, due benevolence , ops/Xo^st^v evvotuv, is a spurious paraphrase.1 [bpuXriv is the native (genuine) and simple reading . — Not. crit.]
4. ’i dlov, of her owti) This word with the phrase, she has not power , makes an elegant paradox. The rights of both are equal.
1 ’0<pg/Xik is the reading of ABCDG Vulg. fg Memph. Orig. Cypr. ’O (pit’hopdvYiv ivvoiocv of Rec. Text is the reading of both the Syriac Versions, but of none other of the oldest authorities. — Ed.