Paul thus expresses his authority for the opinion that he is about to give. His conversion and consecration had been accepted, and the Lord had honored him with special enlightenment. He had devoted his life to the one object of honoring God and doing His will. He was constantly seeking to reach perfection in Christ (see Phil. 3:13, 14). Because of this, it is certain that he would not give advice for any selfish or worldly consideration. What he wrote was to be accepted as the will of God concerning the matter under discussion.

 The apostle has no direct previous statement from Scripture or from the teachings of Jesus for his authority in regard to what he is about to say on the subject of the unmarried. For his counsel to the “married” he cited the command given by Christ Himself (see on v. 10). This fact does not in any way lessen the force of, or remove the inspiration from, the instruction that follows on this subject.

 Paul now deals with another question concerning which the Corinthians had evidently sought his advice (see on v. 1).