1 Corinthians 7:40

1 Corinthians 7:40 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
• New International Version (NIV)In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:40

38So the man who marries his young woman is doing a good thing. But the man who does not marry is doing a better thing. 39If a woman has married, she may not leave her husband while he still lives. But if he dies, then she is free to marry again. She may marry any man that she wants to. But he must be someone who belongs to the Lord. I do think that she would be happier if she remains without a husband. That is what I think, and God's Spirit also helps me with this.

1 Corinthians 7:40 word by word

μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστιν ἐὰν οὕτως μείνῃ, κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην· δοκῶ δὲ κἀγὼ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἔχειν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• she isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• happierμακάριοςmakarios · blessedG3107
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• sheμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• afterκατάkata · according toG2596
• myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• judgmentγνώμηgnōmē · resolutionG1106
• Iκἀγώkagō kamoi kame · and IG2504
• thinkδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• that I haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:40

• 1 Corinthians 7:1You wrote to ask me about certain things. You say, ‘It is a good thing when a man does not marry.’
• 1 Corinthians 7:25You asked me a question about people who have not yet married. The Lord has not told me any special rule about this. But I will tell you what I myself think about it. The Lord has been very kind to me. You know that you can believe what I say.
• 1 Corinthians 9:1I am a free man. I am an apostle. I have seen Jesus, our Lord. You yourselves are the result of the work that I do to serve the Lord. You know that is all true.
• 1 Corinthians 14:36Remember that God's message did not start from you in Corinth! You are not the only people who have heard it, either.
• 2 Corinthians 10:8You may think that I am too proud of my authority. But it is the Lord who has given that authority to us apostles. We have that authority so that we can help you become stronger as believers. We do not have it so that we can destroy you! So I am not ashamed to be proud of this.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I am speaking like a proud fool, but you have made me do it. You yourselves should be saying good things about me. I may not be important. But I am as good as those very special apostles.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:8So do not refuse to accept what I am saying. If you do, it is not just a person that you refuse to obey. You are refusing to obey God. And God is the one who has given his Holy Spirit to you.
• 2 Peter 3:15Remember that our Lord wants to save people from their sins. That is why he is now waiting patiently for people to turn to him before he will return. Paul has also written to you about these things. He is our friend that we love like a brother. God helped him to understand these things.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:40

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 40But 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? She who had tried both the state of celibacy and the state of marriage could certainly best tell which was most for…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 40If she so abide - If she remain a widow even if she could be married to a Christian. After my judgment - In my opinion; 1 Corinthians 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 ( ͂ dōkō) to Mark 10:32; Luke 8:18; 1 Corinthians 4:9; 1…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-40Verses 36-40 The apostle is thought to give advice here about the disposal of children in marriage. In this view, the general meaning is plain. Children should seek and follow the directions of their parents as to marriage. And parents should consult their children's wishes; and not reckon they have power to do with them, and dictate just as they please, without reason. The whole is closed with advice to widows. Second marriages are not unlawful, so that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-40Paul often says that true Christians, as servants of Christ, belong completely to Christ for his service. Because of this, he suggests Christians stay single. However, he admits that getting married is not a sin.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4040. 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. Think does not imply doubt, but often a matter of well-grounded assurance (Joh 5:39).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:40

• Celibacy
• Marriage
• Stoicism
• Wife

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Abuse
• Attend
• Consent
• Contain
• Distraction
• Loose
• Mercy
• Revelation of Christ

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings