1 Corinthians 7:28
in 1 Corinthians 7But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.
KJV
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.
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 7
Commentary
16 notes on this verseFor even if you do not "sin" in re-marrying, still he says "pressure of the flesh ensues." Wherefore, so far as we can, let us love the opportunity of continence; as soon as it offers itself, let us resolve to accept it, that what we have not had strength (to follow) in matrimony we may follow in widowhood.
This site's exposition
Are you committed to a wife?
on 1 Corinthians 7:27-28
Paul removes any shadow of sin from marrying: if you do marry, you have not sinned. He names the cost instead, those who marry will face troubles in this life, and wants to spare them this.
This site's exposition
will face troubles in this life
Paul twice clears marriage of sin before he names its cost. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the troubles as outward hardship in the flesh under the present distress, distinct from the soul's trouble that sin brings. Theophylact hears a father's wish to spare his children cares and sorrow.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
The man who marries does not sin because he is doing something which is permitted. But if he refuses to do it, he earns merit and a crown in heaven, for it takes great self-control to avoid doing something which is not expressly forbidden.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 3.39.51-52 · Written before 253.
proposed
The virgin is spared earthly troubles and set free by her purity, as she awaits the blessed Bridegroom.
For this is acceptable to God, he does not wish these things to be said as by authority, and as the mind of the Lord, with reference to the giving of a virgin in marriage; for after he had said. So, immediately after he had said, "if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned "he added, "such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you."
Then, lest this should seem to be laying down a law, he subjoins, "but if thou marry, thou hast not sinned." He next alleges the existing state of things, "the present distress, the shortness of the time," and "the affliction." For marriage draws along with it many things, which indeed he hath glanced at, as well here as also in the discourse about continence: there, by saying, "the wife hath not power over herself;" and here, by the expression, "Thou art bound." "But if and thou marry, thou hast not sinned." He is not speaking about her who hath made choice of virginity, for if it comes to that, she hath sinned. Since if the widows are condemned for having to do with second marriages after they have once chosen widowhood, much more the virgins. "But such shall have trouble in the flesh." "And pleasure too," you will say: but observe how he curtails this by the shortness of the time, saying, "the time is shortened;" that is, "we are exhorted to depart now and go forth, but thou art running further in." And yet even although marriage had no troubles, even so we ought to press on towards things to come. But when it hath affliction too, what need to draw on one's self an additional burden. What occasion to take up such a load, when even after taking it you must use it as having it not? For "those even that have wives must be," he saith, "as though they had none."
The Medieval Church1 voice
With the words "are you bound to a wife?" he showed that marriage, as a bond, brings with it troubles. By "divorce" he means not abstinence by mutual agreement, but divorce without sufficient cause; for if the spouses abstain by mutual agreement, then this is …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
A commentator
BonaventureDisputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 3 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
That conjugal chastity is to be approved according to the evangelical law is shown by authority, as follows. 1 Corinthians 7: If you have taken a wife, you have not sinned: and if a virgin shall have married, she does not sin: therefore if one …
A commentator
BonaventureDisputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 3 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
To that objection that the act of marriage is by way of indulgence: it must be said that this is not said of marriage itself and of the nuptial act that is performed for the procreation of children, but of that which is performed for …
By "tribulations" he means the cares and sorrows connected with marriage. "And I," he continues, "feel sorry for you," as for children, and I wish that you were free and without sorrow. Marriage is a bond; and those who are under its yoke do not …
By "virgin" here he means not one who is consecrated to God (for if such a one marries, she undoubtedly sins, since by this, besides her Bridegroom Christ, she introduces an adulterer to herself), but a still-unmarried maiden. So if such a one marries, she …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But and if thou marry, thou sinnest not,.... If a man that has never been married, or one that has, if legally loosed from his wife, thinks fit to marry, he commits no sin, he breaks no law of God, far from it; marriage is honourable in all.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
But, and if thou marry - As there is no law against this, even in the present distress, thou hast not sinned, because there is no law against this; and it is only on account of prudential reasons that I give this advice. And if a virgin marry - Both the man and the woman have equal privileges in this case; either of them may marry without sin.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
trouble in the flesh--Those who marry, he says, shall incur "trouble in the flesh" (that is, in their outward state, by reason of the present distress), not sin, which is the trouble of the spirit. but I spare you--The emphasis in the Greek is on "I." My motive in advising you so is, to "spare you" such trouble in the flesh.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Thou hast not sinned - There is no express command of God on this subject. The counsel which I give is mere advice, and it may be observed or not as you shall judge best. Marriage is honorable and lawful; and though there may be circumstances where it is advisable not to enter into this relation, yet there is no law which prohibits it. The same advice would be proper now, if it were a time of persecution; or if a man is poor, and cannot support a family; or if he has already a dependent mother and sisters to be supported by him, it would be well to follow the advice of Paul. So also when the cares of a family would take up a man’s time and efforts; when but for this he might give himself to a missionary life, the voice of wisdom may be in accordance with that of Paul; that a man may be free from these cares, and may give himself with more undivided interest and more successful toil to the salvation of man. Such shall have trouble in the flesh - They shall have anxiety, care; solicitude, trials. Days of persecution are coming on, and you may be led to the stake, and in those fiery trials your families may be torn asunder, and a part be put to death. Or you may be poor, and oppressed, and driven from your homes, and made wanderers and exiles, for the sake of your religion. But I spare you - I will not dwell on the melancholy theme. I will not pain your hearts by describing the woes that shall ensue. I will not do anything to deter you from acting as you deem right. If you choose to marry, it is lawful; and I will not imbitter your joys and harrow up your feelings by the description of your future difficulties and trials. The word “flesh” here denotes outward circumstances in contradistinction from the mind. They might have peace of mind, for religion would furnish that; but they would be exposed to poverty, persecution, and calamity.
The words behind it
24 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐὰν | ean | If | G1437 → | 352 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γαμήσῃς, | gameses | you shall marry, | G1060 → | 28 times |
| οὐχ | ouch | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἥμαρτες· | hemartes | you did sin; | G264 → | 42 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐὰν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| γήμῃ | geme | shall marry | G1060 → | 28 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| παρθένος, | parthenos | virgin, | G3933 → | 15 times |
| οὐχ | ouch | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἥμαρτεν· | hemarten | she did sin; | G264 → | 42 times |
| θλῖψιν | thlipsin | tribulation | G2347 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τῇ | tea | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σαρκὶ | sarki | flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| ἕξουσιν | hexousin | will have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| οἱ | hoi | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τοιοῦτοι· | toioutoi | such; | G5108 → | 56 times |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| φείδομαι.¶ | pheidomai | am sparing. | G5339 → |
ἐὰνIf
eanG1437 →352 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γαμήσῃς,you shall marry,
gamesesG1060 →28 times
οὐχnot
ouchG3756 →1664 times
ἥμαρτες·you did sin;
hemartesG264 →42 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐὰνif
eanG1437 →352 times
γήμῃshall marry
gemeG1060 →28 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
παρθένος,virgin,
parthenosG3933 →15 times
οὐχnot
ouchG3756 →1664 times
ἥμαρτεν·she did sin;
hemartenG264 →42 times
θλῖψινtribulation
thlipsinG2347 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τῇin the
teaG3588 →19766 times
σαρκὶflesh
sarkiG4561 →146 times
ἕξουσινwill have
hexousinG2192 →707 times
οἱ<the>
hoiG3588 →19766 times
τοιοῦτοι·such;
toioutoiG5108 →56 times
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
φείδομαι.¶am sparing.
pheidomaiG5339 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:4Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
it leads to
- Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
- Proverbs 5:15–23
Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.
- 1 Corinthians 7:2–16
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
- Galatians 5:19
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
- Genesis 1:27–28
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
- Genesis 2:24
Through
2 Corinthians 1:23I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
it leads to
- Galatians 1:20
I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.
- 1 Corinthians 4:21
Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
- Galatians 1:20
Through
1 Corinthians 7:26Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:1
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
- 1 Corinthians 7:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Bonaventure, Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Methodius of Olympus, Methodius Discourse III. Thaleia; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 3.39.51-52; Tertullian, To His Wife Book I and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.