Singleness

Responsibility for an unmarried woman

An unmarried woman is responsible to her father

Deuteronomy 22:16 KJV 1900

And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;

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An unmarried woman is dependent on her brothers

Leviticus 21:3 KJV 1900

And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.

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Widowed or divorced women could return to their parents’ home

Ruth 1:8–13 KJV 1900

And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.

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Regulations relating to the unmarried

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The unwelcome prospect of remaining unmarried

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Celibacy

Celibacy is a calling from God

1 Corinthians 7:7 KJV 1900

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

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It is better to marry than to burn with passion:

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Believers should remain as they are when called

1 Corinthians 7:25–28 KJV 1900

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. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

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Sexual abstinence within marriage is strictly limited

1 Corinthians 7:2–6 KJV 1900

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

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The desirability of being unmarried

1 Corinthians 7:8 KJV 1900

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

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The unmarried may devote themselves to God

1 Corinthians 7:32–35 KJV 1900

But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

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Marriage belongs to a passing order

Matthew 22:30 KJV 1900

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

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