1 Corinthians 7:40
in 1 Corinthians 7In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
KJV
But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 7
Commentary
19 notes on this verseAnd again I asked him, saying, "Sir, since you have been so patient in listening to me, will you show me this also?" "Speak," said he. And I said, "If a wife or husband die, and the widower or widow marry, does he or she commit sin?" "There is no sin in marrying again," said he; "but if they remain unmarried, they gain greater honour and glory with the Lord; but if they marry, they do not sin. Guard, therefore, your chastity and purity, and you will live to God."
This site's exposition
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives
on 1 Corinthians 7:39-40
A widow is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord. Paul still judges she is happier if she remains as she is. The chapter ends as it proceeded, a preference stated and freedom kept.
This site's exposition
she is happier if she remains
Clarke limits the happier state to the present distress, and Severian calls remarriage blessed and widowhood for the sake of piety more blessed. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown hear a gentle irony toward Corinthians proud of their own opinions. Wesley denies that Paul doubted his possession of the Spirit.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Paul adds that he has the Spirit of God in order to show that his advice is reliable.
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 212 · Written before 458.
proposed
Note that Paul does not say that a woman who contracts a second marriage will be unhappy. Rather he says that she will be happier if she remains single. It is all a matter of degree.
A commentator
Severian of GabalaPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 425.
proposed
What Paul means is that she is blessed if she marries and has a husband to protect her, but she is more blessed if, for the sake of piety, she refuses marriage and devotes herself entirely to God.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureDisputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 3 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
That widowed continence according to the evangelical law ought to be vowed is shown by authority, as follows. 1 Corinthians 7: If the husband shall have died, the woman is freed from the law of the husband; but she will be more blessed if she …
A commentator
BonaventureDisputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 3 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
On that word Augustine says, in On Widowhood: "What I say to one widowed woman I say to every widow: She will be more blessed if she so remains": therefore this is proposed to all widows: therefore it is licit for anyone to vow continence …
11 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
A commentator
BonaventureDisputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 3 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Because marriage has something attached which diminishes both honor and utility and spiritual joy, no one is compelled to it against his will, because rather one is persuaded to abstain from it or to be continent, both by the Lord and by the Apostle himself, …
Here he teaches about second marriage, and although he permits it, nevertheless he considers more blessed the one who does not enter into a second marriage; for as virginity is higher than the first marriage, so the first marriage is higher than the second. "The …
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 7 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
This counselor, namely Christ, has many counselors, to whom he imparts his counsel. Paul said: 'She will be more blessed if she so remains according to my counsel; but I think that I also have the Spirit of God.' Whence to the Corinthians: 'You know …
The Puritans and the Awakening5 voices
Whoever, therefore, would conclude from hence, that St. Paul was not certain he had the Spirit of Christ, neither understands the true import of the words, nor considers how expressly he lays claim to the Spirit, both in this epistle, chap. ii, 16, xiv, 37, and the other.
At this juncture, at least, if not ordinarily, it will be much more for the peace and quiet of such, and give them less hindrance in the service of God, to continue unmarried. And this, he tells them, was by inspiration of the Spirit.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. The apostle comes now, as a faithful and skilful casuist, to answer some cases of conscience which the Corinthians had proposed to him.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:36w-of-59
), I think also that I have the Spirit of God. But, having thus prefaced his advice, we may attend, 1. To the advice itself, which is that if an unbelieving husband or wife were pleased to dwell with a Christian relative, the other should not separate.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
But she is happier if she so abide,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
happier-- (1Co 7:1, 28, 34, 35). I think also--"I also think"; just as you Corinthians and your teachers think much of your opinions, so I also give my opinion by inspiration; so in 1Co 7:25, "my judgment" or opinion.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
But she is happier if she so abide - If she continue in her widowhood because of the present distress; for this must always be taken in, that consistency in the apostle’s reasoning may be preserved. If this were not understood, how could St. Paul tell the widow that it would be more happy for her to continue in her widowhood than to remarry?
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
If she so abide - If she remain a widow even if she could be married to a Christian. After my judgment - In my opinion; 1Co 7:25. And I think also that I have the Spirit of God - Macknight and others suppose that this phrase implies entire certainty; and that Paul means to affirm that in this he was clear that he was under the influence of inspiration. He appeals for the use of the term (δωκῶ dōkō) to Mar 10:32; Luk 8:18; 1Co 4:9; 1Co 8:2; 1Co 11:16; Heb 4:1, etc. But the word does not usually express absolute certainty. It implies a doubt; though there may be a strong persuasion or conviction; or the best judgment which the mind can form in the case; see Mat 6:7; Mat 26:53; Mar 6:49; Luk 8:18; Luk 10:36; Luk 12:51; Luk 13:24; Luk 22:24; Act 17:18; Act 25:27; 1Co 16:12, 1Co 16:22, etc. It implies here a belief that Paul was under the influence of the infallible Spirit, and that his advice was such as accorded with the will of God. Perhaps he alludes to the fact that the teachers at Corinth deemed themselves to be under the influence of inspiration, and Paul said that he judged also of himself that he was divinely guided and directed in what he said - “Calvin.” And as Paul in this could not be mistaken; as his impression that he was under the influence of that Spirit was, in fact, a claim to divine inspiration, so this advice should be regarded as of divine authority, and as binding on all. This interpretation is further demanded by the circumstances of the case. It was necessary that he should assert divine authority to counteract the teaching of the false instructors in Corinth; and that he should interpose that authority in prescribing rules for the government of the church there in view of the special temptations to which they were exposed. Remarks On 1 Corinthians 7 We learn from this chapter: 1. […]
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μακαριωτέρα | makariotera | More blessed | G3107 → | |
| δέ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | she is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐὰν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | in the same manner | G3779 → | 208 times |
| μείνῃ, | meine | she shall remain, | G3306 → | 118 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐμὴν | emen | my | G1473 → | 839 times |
| γνώμην· | gnomen | judgment; | G1106 → | 9 times |
| δοκῶ | doko | I think | G1380 → | 62 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| κἀγὼ | kago | myself also | G1473 →G2532 → | 839 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | [the] Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἔχειν.¶ | echein | to have. | G2192 → | 707 times |
μακαριωτέραMore blessed
makarioteraG3107 →
δέhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐστινshe is
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἐὰνif
eanG1437 →352 times
οὕτωςin the same manner
houtosG3779 →208 times
μείνῃ,she shall remain,
meineG3306 →118 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἐμὴνmy
emenG1473 →839 times
γνώμην·judgment;
gnomenG1106 →9 times
δοκῶI think
dokoG1380 →62 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
κἀγὼmyself also
πνεῦμα[the] Spirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
ἔχειν.¶to have.
echeinG2192 →707 times
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
1 Corinthians 7:35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:33–34
But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
- 1 Corinthians 7:36
However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they…
- Luke 8:14
The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does…
- 1 Corinthians 7:2
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
- 1 Corinthians 7:33–34
Through
1 Corinthians 7:1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:26–27
Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 7:8
Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
- Matthew 19:10–11
His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:26–27
Through
1 Corinthians 7:8Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:32
I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 7:32
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
On this verse
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 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; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 7; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Severian of Gabala, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Shepherd of Hermas, Shepherd of Hermas, Commandment 4; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 212 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.