Questions And Answers

Q1. When Paul says "But to the rest speak I, not the Lord.."
    (1 Corinthians 7:12) isn't he just giving his own opinion?
    Do you think it is right for him to do such a thing?

A1. Two questions are being asked, but I believe both deal with
    the same thing: the inspiration of the scriptures. If Paul
    was not an Apostle and inspired by God, then there would be
    no force to his writings. He would be just another "religious"
    author who was offering his personal opinions. But Paul was
    an Apostle of Christ, being sent (the Greek word "apos") by
    the Lord himself to preach to the Gentiles. When revealing
    the need for Saul of Tarsus (later named Paul) to hear the
    Gospel, Jesus said to Ananias, "Go thy way: for he is a
    chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles,
    and kings, and the children of Israel." (Acts 9:15) Later,
    when Paul was working with Barnabas at Antioch, the Holy
    Spirit commanded that Paul and Barnabas be separated for
    that work (Acts 12:2-4). So, Paul was an inspired man and
    his writings were directed by the Holy Spirit. Therefore,
    what he provided was that which was authored by the Holy
    Spirit, "Which things also we speak, not in the words
    which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
    teacheth..." (1 Corinthians 2:13)

    Under consideration then is the comment made by Paul in
    1 Corinthians 7:12. Paul was not expressing his own opinion,
    but was trying to make a contrast between something already
    revealed by Christ and that which was now being revealed.
    Jesus had already taught whether or not it was lawful to
    divorce one's mate in Matthew 19. Jesus said that except for
    the cause of fornication, it was not right (Matthew 19:9).
    Paul mentions that information in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 and
    then he provides a further teaching. All Paul was saying by
    the use of the phrase, "But to the rest speak I, not the
    Lord:..." (1 Corinthians 7:12) was that what he was about
    to reveal was not previously taught by Jesus, but still in
    accord with the Father's will, seeing Paul was being guided
    by the Spirit. Paul was not giving them an opinion, but
    was teaching them what God wanted them to obey.   [JW]

"Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if
perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."
(Acts 8:22)