1 Corinthians 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
1 Corinthians 7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
That Paul spoke "by permission" does not necessarily mean he gives an uninspired opinion that can be disobeyed or disregarded. Paul had "revelations" (2 Cor. 12:1) from the Lord and was an apostle by the "commandment of God our Savior" (1 Ti. 1:1). Where he had no direct command from God on a particular matter, he gives his "judgment" by permission; that is, he was permitted and given authority by God to write his judgment, and the things that he wrote are to be acknowledged as "the commandments of the Lord".
|