1 Corinthians 7:31 Meaning and Explanation
“And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →We may use the things of this world, but not cling to or be consumed by them, for the present order is passing away.
What Does 1 Corinthians 7:31 Mean?
Paul caps his series with a principle: use this world without misusing it, without being engrossed in it. The reason is plain -- "the fashion of this world passeth away." Its present form is temporary, like a scene that will change.
Believers are not told to flee the world but to hold it rightly: receiving its goods with thanks while never treating them as permanent. To grasp at a passing world is to build on sand. Knowing it will pass, the wise invest their hearts in what endures. This frees them to enjoy God's gifts gratefully and let them go gracefully, longing for the world that does not fade.
1 Corinthians 7:31 in the Original Language
schema (σχῆμα), 'fashion' -- the outward form or fleeting appearance of a thing.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 7:31
What does 1 Corinthians 7:31 mean?
We may use the things of this world, but not cling to or be consumed by them, for the present order is passing away.