Ver. 25. Περὶ δὲ τῶν παρθένων: a topic pointedly included in the περὶ ὧν ἐγράψατε of the Church Letter (1). In vy. 1-16 P. had spoken of the conduct of self-directing men and women in regard to marriage; there remains the case of daughters at home, for whose disposal the father was responsible (36 f.). On this point Paul has πο “οοπιπιαπά” to
give, whether proceeding immediately (1ο, ix. 14) or mediately (xiv. 37) from “the Lord”; he “gives” his γνώµη, his settled and responsible “opinion”. He pronounces ‘“‘as (i.e., feeling myselt to be; cf. 29 ff., iv. 7, 18) one ἠλεημένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου πιστὸς elvar’’—conscious that he is ‘faithful through the mercy effectually shown” him (pf. pass. ptp. ; Gf. EG) παν η. 3.006) 64 bythe. Τιοτά faithful in this pronouncement to his stewardship under Christ (see iv. τ f., and ii. 16). His advice is therefore to be trusted. The distinction made is not between higher and lower grades of inspiration or authority (cf. note on 12); but between peremptory rule, and condt- tional advice requiring the concurrence of those advised. Paul’s opinion, qua opinion, as much as his injunction, is that of the Lord’s steward and mouthpiece. Ver. 26. vopilw οὖν τοῦτο κ.τ.λ.;: “I consider therefore””—the formula by which one gives a γνώµη (contrast the παραγγέλλω, διατάσσοµαι of το, 17)— ‘“‘this to be good because of the present Straits’”’: καλὸν ὑπάρχειν, “good in principle” or “in nature’’ (6. xi. 7, xii. 22); the existing situation is such as to make the course recommended en- tirely right and honourable (see note on καλόν, 1, also 8, 38).—The ἀνάγκη--- narrowness, ‘pinching stress’? (Ev.)— belongs to the καιρὸς συνεσταλµένος (29), the brief earthly continuance visible for the Church, a period exposed to per- secution (28) with its hardships and perils; this “might or might not be the beginning of the ἀνάγκη µεγάλη pre- dicted by Jesus”’ in Luke xxi. 23 (Lt.). ἐνεστῶσαν signifies “present”? rather than ‘‘impending’”’ (see ili. 22, Gal. i. 4); the distress of the time, which P. was feeling keenly at Ephesus (iv. 9 ff., xv. 32), portended a speedy crisis.—ért καλὸν ἀνθρώπωῳ τὸ οὕτως εἶναι is open to three constructions, as ὅτι is rendered that, because, or which (6,71): (α) maxes
832