1 Corinthians 7:31

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι τῳ κόσμῳ τούτῳ, ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι: παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.

Transliteration

And those chrōmenoi the kosmō this, as mē katachrōmenoi: paragei gar the schēma of the kosmou this.

Grammar Details

• *chrōmenoi*: present middle participle, nominative, masculine, plural - using
• *kosmō*: dative, masculine, singular - world/universe/order
• *mē*: negative particle - not
• *katachrōmenoi*: present middle participle, nominative, masculine, plural - using to the full/misusing
• *paragei*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - passes away/passes by
• *gar*: postpositive particle - for/because
• *schēma*: nominative, neuter, singular - form/fashion/appearance
• *kosmou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of world/universe/order

Word Meanings

• *chrōmenoi*: using/employing/engaging with
• *kosmō*: world/universe/order/system
• *katachrōmenoi*: using to the full/misusing/abusing
• *paragei*: passes away/passes by/is passing
• *schēma*: form/fashion/appearance/external condition
• *kosmou*: world/universe/order/system

Referenced Verses

• 1 John 2:17 : 17 And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.
• 1 Pet 1:24 : 24 For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,
• 1 Pet 4:7 : 7 Service, Suffering, and Judgment For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.
• 1 Cor 9:18 : 18 What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.
• Jas 4:14 : 14 You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.
• Ps 39:6 : 6 Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”
• Ps 73:20 : 20 They are like a dream after one wakes up. O Lord, when you awake you will despise them.
• Eccl 1:4 : 4 A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains the same through the ages.
• Eccl 2:24-25 : 24 Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God. 25 For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.
• Eccl 3:12-13 : 12 Enjoy Life in the Present I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live, 13 and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.
• Eccl 5:18-20 : 18 Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward. 19 To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God. 20 For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.
• Eccl 9:7-9 : 7 Life is Brief, so Cherish its Joys Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works. 8 Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head. 9 Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth. 10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.
• Eccl 11:2 : 2 Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.
• Eccl 11:9-9 : 9 Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions. 10 Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.
• Matt 24:48-50 : 48 But if that evil slave should say to himself,‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with drunkards, 50 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee,
• Matt 25:14-29 : 14 The Parable of the Talents“For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. 19 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying,‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 His master answered,‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 The one with the two talents also came and said,‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ 23 His master answered,‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said,‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered,‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? 27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! 28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. 29 For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
• Luke 12:15-21 : 15 Then he said to them,“Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 He then told them a parable:“The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 17 so he thought to himself,‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said,‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself,“You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him,‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”
• Luke 16:1-2 : 1 The Parable of the Clever Steward Jesus also said to the disciples,“There was a rich man who was informed of accusations that his manager was wasting his assets. 2 So he called the manager in and said to him,‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in the account of your administration, because you can no longer be my manager.’
• Luke 19:17-26 : 17 And the king said to him,‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’ 18 Then the second one came and said,‘Sir, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 So the king said to him,‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another slave came and said,‘Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 The king said to him,‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to his attendants,‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.’ 25 But they said to him,‘Sir, he has ten minas already!’ 26 ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
• Luke 21:34 : 34 Be Ready!“But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.
• Jas 5:1-5 : 1 Warning to the Rich Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! 4 Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
• 1 Tim 6:17-18 : 17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.
• Jas 1:10-11 : 10 But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow. 11 For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.