保羅對是否成家的意見 — 哥林多前書讀經隨筆 第7章

哥林多前書第七章第25—35節，保羅就單身的弟兄姐妹是否應該成家闡明了他的意見（注意，保羅說這隻是他的意見，而不是主的命令）。

保羅說由於基督徒所麵臨的艱難與壓迫，一個人在什麽狀況裏就最好保持在那個狀況裏，比如，有妻子的就繼續與妻子生活，還沒有妻子的就不要找妻子。但是單身的弟兄若結婚或單身的姐妹要出嫁，並不是犯罪，但是肉身要受苦，因為結了婚需要為世上的事掛慮，比如花精力服事自己的配偶孩子等世上的關係，保羅說他不想單身的弟兄姐妹們受這些苦。保羅說時間短暫，世界將要過去，因此，那有妻子的要像沒有妻子，購買的要像不曾擁有所購買的。保羅願大家無所掛慮，以合宜的方式服事主，沒有分心的事。

林前7:25 論到童身的人、我沒有主的命令、但我既蒙主憐恤、能作忠心的人、就把自己的意見告訴你們。
Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
林前7:26 因現今的艱難、據我看來、人不如守素安常才好。
I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is.
林前7:27 你有妻子纏著呢、就不要求脫離．你沒有妻子纏著呢、就不要求妻子。
Are you bound to a wife? Don't seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don't seek a wife.
林前7:28 你若娶妻、並不是犯罪．處女若出嫁、也不是犯罪．然而這等人肉身必受苦難．我卻願意你們免這苦難。
But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.
林前7:29 弟兄們、我對你們說、時候減少了．從此以後、那有妻子的、要像沒有妻子．
But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;
林前7:30 哀哭的、要像不哀哭．快樂的、要像不快樂、置買的、要像無有所得．
and those who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn't rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn't possess;
林前7:31 用世物的、要像不用世物．因為這世界的樣子將要過去了。
and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.
林前7:32 我願你們無所掛慮。沒有娶妻的、是為主的事掛慮、想怎樣叫主喜悅。
But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
林前7:33 娶了妻的、是為世上的事掛慮、想怎樣叫妻子喜悅。
but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
林前7:34 婦人和處女也有分別。沒有出嫁的、是為主的事掛慮、要身體靈魂都聖潔．已經出嫁的、是為世上的事掛慮、想怎樣叫丈夫喜悅。
There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.
林前7:35 我說這話、是為你們的益處．不是要牢籠你們、乃是要叫你們行合宜的事、得以殷勤服事主、沒有分心的事。
This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.