1 Corinthians 7:31

1 Corinthians 7:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
• New International Version (NIV)those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:31

29But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. 32But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:31 word by word

καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι τὸν κόσμον ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι. παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• theyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that useχράωchraomai · to useG5530
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• notμήmē · notG3361
• abusingκαταχράομαιkatachraomai · to use upG2710
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• the fashionσχῆμαschēma · formG4976
• passeth awayπαράγωparagō · to passG3855

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:31

• 1 Corinthians 9:18What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
• Ecclesiastes 2:24Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.
• Ecclesiastes 3:12I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
• Ecclesiastes 5:18Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
• Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.
• Ecclesiastes 11:2Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
• Matthew 24:48But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
• Matthew 25:14“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
• Luke 12:15And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
• Luke 16:1He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
• Luke 19:17And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
• Luke 21:34“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
• 1 Timothy 6:17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
• James 5:1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
• Psalms 39:6Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
• Psalms 73:20As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31And they that use this world - Let them who have earthly property or employments discharge conscientiously their duties, from a conviction of the instability of earthly things. Make a right use of every thing, and pervert nothing from its use. To use a thing is to employ it properly in order to accomplish the end to which it refers. To abuse a thing signifies to pervert it from that use. Pass through things temporal, so as not to lose those which are…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31And they that use this world - That make a necessary and proper use of it to furnish raiment, food, clothing, medicine, protection, etc. It is right so to use the world, for it was made for these purposes. The word using here refers to the lawful use of it ( ́ chrōmenoi). As not abusing it - ́ . The preposition katain composition here has the sense of “too much, too freely,” and is taken not merely in an intensive sense, but to denote evil, the abuse of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-35Verses 25-35 Considering the distress of those times, the unmarried state was best. Notwithstanding, the apostle does not condemn marriage. How opposite are those to the apostle Paul who forbid many to marry, and entangle them with vows to remain single, whether they ought to do so or not! He exhorts all Christians to holy indifference toward the world. As to relations; they must not set their hearts on the comforts of the state. As to afflictions; they…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-35Paul provides three reasons why it is often better for single people to stay unmarried. First, single people face fewer daily problems than married people. Second, since the end is near, Christians should not let marriage and worldly matters be their main focus. Their main focus should be Christ and eternity. Third, marriage involves earthly responsibilities and divided interests, so those who stay single can dedicate their lives more fully to serving…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. not abusing it--not abusing it by an overmuch using of it. The meaning of "abusing" here is, not so much perverting, as using it to the full [Bengel]. We are to use it, "not to take our fill" of its pursuits as our chief aim (compare Lu 10:40-42). As the planets while turning on their own axis, yet revolve round the sun; so while we do our part in our own worldly sphere, God is to be the center of all our desires. fashion--the present fleeting form…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:31

• Marriage
• Spirituality
• Watchfulness
• Worldliness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Abuse
• Attend
• Consent
• Contain
• Distraction
• Loose
• Mercy
• Revelation of Christ
• Snare
• Sorrow

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings