1 Corinthians 7 · Verse 31

1 Corinthians 7:31

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1 Corinthians 7:31, King James Version

1 Corinthians 7:31 in other translations

BSBand those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
WEBand those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.
ASVand those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
YLTand those using this world, as not using it up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.
DARBYand they that use the world, as not disposing of it as their own; for the fashion of this world passes.
BBEAnd for those who make use of the world, not to be using it fully; for this world's way of life will quickly come to an end.
WebsterAnd they that use this world, as not abusing it. For the fashion of this world passeth away.

What does 1 Corinthians 7:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. not abusing it--not abusing it by an overmuch using of it. The meaning of "abusing" here is, not so much perverting, as using it to the full [Bengel]. We are to use it, "not to take our fill" of its pursuits as our chief aim (compare Lu 10:40-42). As the planets while turning on their own axis, yet revolve round the sun; so while we do our part in our own worldly sphere, God is to be the center of all our desires. fashion--the present fleeting form. Compare Psa 39:6, "vain show"; Psa 73:20, "a dream"; Jas 4:14, "a vapor." passeth away--not merely shall pass away, but is now actually passing away. The image is drawn from a shifting scene in a play represented on the stage (1Jo 2:17). Paul inculcates not so much the outward denial of earthly things, as the inward spirit whereby the married and the rich, as well as the unmarried and the poor, would be ready to sacrifice all for Christ's sake.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 31. And they that use this world. That make a necessary and proper use of it to furnish raiment, food, clothing, medicine, protection, etc. It is right so to use the world, for it was made for these purposes. The word using here refers to the lawful use of it, (χρωμενοι.)

As not abusing it. καταχρωμενοι. The preposition κατα, in composition, here has the sense of too much, too freely, and is taken not merely in an intensive sense, but to denote evil, the abuse of the world. It means that we are not to use it to excess; we are not to make it a mere matter of indulgences, or to make that the main object and purpose of our living. We are not to give our appetites to indulgence our bodies to riot; our days and nights to feasting and revelry.

For the fashion of this world. τοσχημα. The form, the appearance. In 1Jn 2:17, it is said that "the world passeth away and the lust thereof." The word "fashion" here is probably taken from the shifting scenes of the drama; where, when the scene changes, the imposing and splendid pageantry passes off. The form, the fashion of the world is like a splendid, gilded pageant. It is unreal and illusive. It continues but a little time; and soon the scene changes, and the fashion that allured and enticed us now passes away, and we pass to other scenes.

Passeth away. παραγει. Passes off like the splendid, gaudy, shifting scenes of the stage. What a striking description of the changing, unstable, and unreal pageantry of this world! Now it is gay, splendid, gorgeous, lovely; tomorrow it is gone, and is succeeded by new actors and new scenes. Now all is busy with one set of actors; tomorrow a new company appears, and again they are succeeded by another, and all are engaged in scenes that are equally changing, vain, gorgeous, and delusive. A similar idea is presented in the wellknown and beautiful description of the great British dramatist:
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances.
And one man in his time plays many parts."


If such be the character of the scenes in which we are engaged, how little should we fix our affections on them, and how anxious should we be to be prepared for the real and unchanging scenes of another world!

(b) "fashion" Ps 39:6, Jas 4:14, 1Pet 4:7, 1Jn 2:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 And they that use this world - Let them who have earthly property or employments discharge conscientiously their duties, from a conviction of the instability of earthly things. Make a right use of every thing, and pervert nothing from its use. To use a thing is to employ it properly in order to accomplish the end to which it refers. To abuse a thing signifies to pervert it from that use. Pass through things temporal, so as not to lose those which are eternal. For the fashion of this world - Το σχημα του κοσμον τουτου signifies properly the present state or constitution of things; the frame of the world, that is, the world itself. But often the term κοσμος, world, is taken to signify the Jewish state and polity; the destruction of this was then at hand, and this the Holy Spirit might then signify to the apostle.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:25-35

Considering the distress of those times, the unmarried state was best. Notwithstanding, the apostle does not condemn marriage. How opposite are those to the apostle Paul who forbid many to marry, and entangle them with vows to remain single, whether they ought to do so or not! He exhorts all Christians to holy indifference toward the world. As to relations; they must not set their hearts on the comforts of the…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 7:25-35 →

1 Corinthians 7:31 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532
οἱhoithoseG3588
χρώμενοιchrōmenoiusingG5530
τὸνton<the>G3588
κόσμονkosmonworldG2889
τούτῳtoutōthisG3778
ὡςhōsasG5613
μὴmēnotG3361
καταχρώμενοι.katachrōmenoiusing [it] as their own.G2710
παράγειparageiIs passing awayG3855
γὰρgarforG1063
τὸtotheG3588
σχῆμαschēmapresent formG4976
τοῦtouof theG3588
κόσμουkosmouworldG2889
τούτου·toutouthis;G3778

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 7:31

  • 1 John 2:17

    And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

  • 1 Peter 4:7

    But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

  • Luke 21:34

    And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

  • James 4:14

    Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

  • 1 Peter 1:24

    For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

  • Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

    Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:4

    One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

    I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17-18

    Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

  • Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

    There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

  • Psalms 39:6

    Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  • Luke 19:17-26

    And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
use.
9:18; Ec 2:24,25; 3:12,13; 5:18-20; 9:7-10; 11:2,9,10; Mt 24:48-50
Mt 25:14-29; Lu 12:15-21; 16:1,2; 19:17-26; 21:34; 1Ti 6:17,18
Jas 5:1-5
for.
Ps 39:6; 73:20; Ec 1:4; Jas 1:10,11; 4:14; 1Pe 1:24; 4:7; 1Jo 2:17
the fashion.[To schema ,] the form or appearance. Grotius remarks that the apostle's expression is borrowed from the theatre, where [to schema tes skenes paragei] means that the scene changes, and presents an appearance entirely new.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 7:30

    And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

  • 1 Corinthians 7:31

    And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:32

    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:

Read all of 1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y los que usan de este mundo, como los que no usan: porque la apariencia de este mundo se pasa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et ceux qui usent du monde, comme n’en usant pas à leur gré; car la figure de ce monde passe.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und die der Welt Gebrauchenden als ihrer nicht als Eigentum Gebrauchende; denn die Gestalt dieser Welt vergeht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et qui utuntur hoc mundo, tamquam non utantur: præterit enim figura hujus mundi.