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5. Mil d rroGrepsTre, defraud not ) So the LXX., Exod. xxi. 10, he shall not defraud her of her duty of marriage , rrjv bfiiXtav avryjg (nroy) o-jx dnoGTipr}Gu. This word agrees with the word due, ver. 3. — s/ [iji] n dv, except it he ) It is very much limited. When these conditions occur, it is not privation, but abstinence. — ha. Gy^oXd- fyrs, that you may he at leisure ) The apostle speaks here of great leisure, GyoXr\v, and ease. Previous abstinence is subservient to prayer. [ Those who fasted among the Greeks added here fasting. — Not. crit.1]. Abstinence may also have other motives originating it [besides the object of prayer], and those of a bad kind. — xai ndXiv, and again ) Concerning such intervals, and their measure, see Selden on the Hebrew wife. — Ivl ro a vrb, together ) This does not mean the very act of connubial intercourse, but is opposed to the previous separation. — w/pafy, should tempt ) to fornication, etc., ver. 2. — 6 laravdg, Satan ) who amid the exercises of the sub- limer virtues seeks an opportunity of doing the greatest injury. Temptation cannot be easily presupposed without Satan. — dxpaGlav, incontinency) ver. 9.
6. Tovro, this ) what has been mentioned all along from ver. 2. — xurd Gvyyvdfj^vjv ou xar effirayriv) See ver. 25, note.
7. 0sXu) I would for my part, ver. 32. Paul had tasted the sweetness of celibacy, and was desirous that others should have the same pleasure in it. The expression, I would, may be also taken absolutely for it is to he wished, comp. vi. 12, note : as he says on other occasions, obx r\v QeXrjfia, there was no wish . — ydp) for, used in its strict sense. The reference is to ver. 6. — ug xai epaurov, as even myself ) unmarried. The Corinthians seem to have looked to the example of Paul, ver. 8. — yupiG^u, gift ) That, which in the natural man is a natural habit, becomes in the saints a gift. The gift here is the entire habit [habitual bear- ing] of the mind and body in the Christian, in so far, for ex- ample, as marriage or celibacy is more suitable to him, along with the actions consonant to each state, being in accordance with the commandments of God. But in the case of godly men in an involuntary condition, the assistance of grace is more sure.
8. As yu Be, hut I say) Comp. ver. 12, where the statement is
1 Rec. Text inserts before tjj irpotnvxfi the words r> j vnaruct xocl with both Syr. Versions. But ABCD(A)G fg Vulg. Orig. Cypr. omit the words. — Ed.
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