1 Corinthians 7:29 Meaning and Explanation
“But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Because time is short, even the married are to hold their earthly ties loosely, with hearts set on the Lord.
What Does 1 Corinthians 7:29 Mean?
Paul lifts his readers' eyes to the horizon: "the time is short." The present age is passing, and Christ's purposes press in. In that light, even those with wives are to live "as though they had none" -- not neglecting them, but never letting any earthly bond become their whole world.
This is the language of holy detachment, not coldness. Every good gift, marriage included, is held within the larger reality of eternity. Paul calls believers to keep first things first, so that nothing temporary usurps the place of the Lord. To live with loosened grip on passing things is to be ready, free, and rightly ordered toward God.
1 Corinthians 7:29 in the Original Language
kairos (καιρός), 'time' -- an appointed season, the decisive hour, not mere clock-time.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 7:29
What does 1 Corinthians 7:29 mean?
Because time is short, even the married are to hold their earthly ties loosely, with hearts set on the Lord.