Menu

1 Corinthians 7:8

1 Corinthians 7:8 in Multiple Translations

Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them to be even as I am.

To those who are not yet married, or who are widowed, I would say it is better if they remain like me.

Therefore I say vnto the vnmaried, and vnto the widowes, It is good for them if they abide euen as I doe.

And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I [am];

But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I.

But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.

Now I want to say this to you unmarried people and to you whose spouses have died: It would be good for you to remain unmarried as I am.

Now I will talk to you people that are not married. Maybe your wife or husband has died, or maybe you never married anyone. This is what I reckon. Stay single, like me.

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

Enable Study Highlights
God & Jesus
Holy Spirit
Divine Actions
Repeated Words

Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Corinthians 7:8

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

1 Corinthians 7:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
GRK λεγω δε τοις αγαμοις και ταις χηραις καλον αυτοις εστιν εαν μεινωσιν ως καγω
λεγω legō G3004 to say Verb-PAI-1S
δε de G1161 then Conj
τοις ho G3588 the/this/who Art-DPM
αγαμοις agamos G22 unmarried Noun-DPM
και kai G2532 and Conj
ταις ho G3588 the/this/who Art-DPF
χηραις chēra G5503 widow Noun-DPF
καλον kalos G2570 Fair (Havens) Adj-NSN
αυτοις autos G846 it/s/he Pron-DPM
εστιν eimi G1510 to be Verb-PAI-3S
εαν ean G1437 if COND
μεινωσιν menō G3306 to stay Verb-AAS-3P
ως hōs G5613 as/when Adv
καγω kagō G2504 and I Pron-1NS-K
Greek Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

Use arrow keys to navigate between words.

Greek Word Reference — 1 Corinthians 7:8

λεγω legō G3004 "to say" Verb-PAI-1S
This word means to say or speak, and it is used by Jesus and others in the New Testament to share teachings and tell stories. It appears in Matthew 9:34 and John 1:29.
Definition: λέγω, [in LXX very freq., chiefly for אמר; λέγει for נְאֻם, Gen.22:16, al. ;] __1. in Hom., to pick out, gather, reckon, recount. __2. In Hdt. and Att., to say, speak, affirm, declare: absol., Act.13:15, 24:10; before orat. dir., Mat.9:34, Mrk.3:11, Jhn.1:29, al.; before ὅτι recit., Mrk.3:21, Luk.1:24, Jhn.6:14, al.; accusative and inf., Luk.11:18, Jhn.12:29, al.; after another verb of speaking, προσφωνεῖν κ. λέγειν, Mat.11:17, al.; ἀπεκρίθη (ἐλάλησεν) λέγων (καὶ λέγει; Dalman, Words, 24 ff.), Mat.25:9, Mrk.3:33, 7:28, Luk.24:6, 7, al.; of unspoken thought, λ. ἐν ἑαυτῷ, Mat.3:9, Luk.3:8, al.; of writing, 2Co.8:8, Php.4:11, al.; λέγει ἡ γραφή, Rom.4:3, Jas.2:23, al.; with accusative of thing(s), Luk.8:8, 9:33, Jhn.5:34, al.; σὺ λέγεις (a non-committal phrase; Swete, Mk., 359, 369f.), Mat.27:11, Mrk.15:2, Luk.23:3, Jhn.18:37; with dative of person(s), before orat. dir., Mat.8:20, Mrk.2:17, al. mult.; id. before ὅτι, Mat.3:9, al.; with prep., πρός, μετά, περί, etc., Mrk.4:41, Jhn.11:56, Heb.9:5, al.; to mean (cl.), Mrk.14:71, Jhn.6:71, 1Co.10:29, al.; to call, name, Mrk.10:18; pass., Mat.9:9, Mrk.15:7, al (cf. ἀντι-, δια- (-μαι), προ-, συλ-λέγω). SYN.: λαλέω, which refers to the utterance, as λέγω to the meaning of what is said, its correspondence with thought (Tr., Syn., Ixxvi; Thayer, see word λαλέω). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 1988 NT verses. KJV: ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter See also: 1 Corinthians 1:10; Acts 6:2; Acts 19:3.
δε de G1161 "then" Conj
This is a conjunction that means and, but, or then, used to connect ideas like in Matthew 1:2 and 2 Corinthians 6:15.
Definition: δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; __1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; καὶ ἐὰν δέ, yea even if, Jhn.8:16. __2. Adversative, but, on the other hand, prop., answering to a foregoing μέν (which see), and distinguishing a word or clause from one preceding (in NT most frequently without μέν; Bl., §77, 12): ἐὰν δέ, Mat.6:14, 23, al.; ἐγὼ (σὺ, etc.) δέ, Mat.5:22, 6:6, Mrk.8:29, al.; ὁ δέ, αὐτὸς δέ, Mrk.1:45, Luk.4:40, al.; after a negation, Mat.6:19, 20, Rom.3:4, 1Th.5:21, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2552 NT verses. KJV: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Peter 1:7.
τοις ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-DPM
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.
αγαμοις agamos G22 "unmarried" Noun-DPM
Unmarried refers to someone who is not married, as seen in 1 Corinthians 7:8 and 11. It can apply to both men and women, describing their marital status.
Definition: ἄ-γαμος, -ον [in LXX: 4Ma.16:9 * ;] unmarried: 1Co.7:8, 32; fem. (= cl. ἄνανδρος), ib. 11, 34.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 4 NT verses. KJV: unmarried See also: 1 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 7:32; 1 Corinthians 7:34.
και kai G2532 "and" Conj
And or also, a connecting word used to join ideas or words, like in Matthew 2:18 and Hebrews 1:1.
Definition: καί, conj., and __I. Copulative. __1. Connecting single words; __(a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. __(b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; __(with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. __2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. __(a) where, after the simplicity of the popular language, sentences are paratactically joined (WM, §60, 3; M, Pr., 12; Deiss., LAE, 128ff.): Mat.1:21, 7:25, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.10:3, al.; __(b) joining affirmative to negative sentences: Luk.3:14, Jhn.4:11, IIIJhn.10; __(with) consecutive, and so: Mat.5:1, 23:32, Heb.3:19, al.; after imperatives, Mat.4:19, Luk.7:7, al.; __(d) = καίτοι, and yet: Mat.3:14, 6:26, Mrk.12:12, Luk.18:7 (Field, Notes, 72), 1Co.5:2, al.; __(e) beginning an apodosis (= Heb. וְ; so sometimes δέ in cl.), then: Luk.2:21, 7:12, Act.1:10; beginning a question (WM, §53, 3a): Mrk.10:26, Luk.10:29, Jhn.9:36. __3. Epexegetic, and, and indeed, namely (WM, §53, 3c): Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:16, Act.23:6, Rom.1:5, 1Co.3:5, al. __4. In transition: Mat.4:23, Mrk.5:1, 21, Jhn.1:19, al.; so, Hebraistically, καὶ ἐγένετο (וַי:הִי; also ἐγένετο δέ), Mrk.1:9 (cf. Luk.5:1; V. Burton, §§357-60; M, Pr., 14, 16). __5. καὶ . . . καί, both . . . and (for τε . . . καί, see: τε); __(a) connecting single words: Mat.10:28, Mrk.4:41, Rom.11:33, al.; __(b) clauses and sentences: Mrk.9:13, Jhn.7:28, 1Co.1:22, al. __II. Adjunctive, also, even, still: Mat.5:39, 40; Mrk.2:28, al. mult.; esp. with pron., adv., etc., Mat.20:4, Jhn.7:47, al; ὡς κ., Act.11:17; καθὼς κ., Rom.15:7; οὑτω κ., Rom.6:11; διὸ κ., Luk.1:35; ὁ κ. (Deiss., BS, 313ff.), Act.13:9; pleonastically, μετὰ κ.. (Bl., §77, 7; Deiss., BS, 265f,), Php.4:3; τί κ., 1 Co 15:29; ἀλλὰ κ., Luk.14:22, Jhn.5:18, al.; καίγε (M, Pr., 230; Burton, §437), Act.17:27; καίπερ, Heb.5:8; κ. ἐάν, see: ἐάν. ἐάν, contr. fr. εἰ ἄν, conditional particle, representing something as "under certain circumstances actual or liable to happen," but not so definitely expected as in the case of εἰ with ind. (Bl., §65, 4; cf. Jhn.13:17, 1Co.7:36), if haply, if; __1. with subjc. (cl.); __(a) pres.: Mat.6:22, Luk.10:6, Jhn.7:17, Rom.2:25, 26 al.; { __(b) aor. (= Lat. fut. pf.): Mat.4:9 16:26 (cf. ptcp. in Luk.9:25; M, Pr., 230), Mrk.3:24, Luk.14:34, Jhn.5:43, Rom.7:2, al.; = cl. εἰ, with opt., Jhn.9:22 11:57, Act.9:2; as Heb. אִם = ὅταν, Jhn.12:32 14:3, I Jhn.2:28 3:2, Heb.3:7" (LXX) . __2. C. indic, (as in late writers, fr. Arist. on; see WH, App., 171; VD, MGr. 2, App., §77; Deiss., BS, 201f., LAE, 155, 254; M, Pr., 168, 187; Bl., §65, 4); __(a) fut.: Mat.18:19 T, Luk.19:40, Act.7:7; __(b) pres.: 1Th.3:8 (see Milligan, in l.). __3. With other particles: ἐ. καί (Bl., §65, 6), Gal.6:1; ἐ. μή (M, Pr., 185, 187; Bl., l.with), with subjc. pres., Mat.10:13, 1Co.8:8, Jas.2:17, 1Jn.3:21; aor., Mat.6:15, Mrk.3:27, Jhn.3:3, Rom.10:15, Gal.1:8 2:16 (see Lft., Ellic., in ll.); ἐ. τε . . . ἐ. τε, [in LXX for אִם . . . אִם, Est.19:13, al.,] Rom.14:8. __4. = cl. ἄν (which see) after relat. pronouns and adverbs (Tdf., Pr., 96; WH, App., 173; M, Pr., 42f.; Bl., §26, 4; Mayser, 152f.; Deiss., BS, 202ff.): ὃς ἐ., Mat.5:19, Mrk.6:22, 23 Luk.17:32, 1Co.6:18, al.; ὅπου ἐ., Mat.8:19; ὁσάκις ἐ., Rev.11:6; οὗ ἐ., 1Co.16:6; καθὸ ἐ., 2Co.8:12; ὅστις ἐ., Gal.5:10. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 5212 NT verses. KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Corinthians 16:1.
ταις ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-DPF
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.
χηραις chēra G5503 "widow" Noun-DPF
A widow is a woman who has lost her husband, like in Luke 2:37 where a widow named Anna is described as worshiping God day and night. It can also be used to describe a city that has been abandoned.
Definition: χήρα, -ας, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for אַלְמָנָה ;] a widow: Mat.23:13 (Rec., R, mg.), Mrk.12:40-43, Luk.2:37 4:25 7:12 18:3, 5 20:47 21:2-3, Act.6:1 9:39, 41, 1Co.7:8, 1Ti.5:3-5 5:11 5:16, Jas.1:27; γυνὴ χ., Luk.4:26; of one of an ordo viduarum (see CGT, in l), 1Ti.5:9; metaphorically, of a city forsaken, Rev.18:7.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 25 NT verses. KJV: widow See also: 1 Corinthians 7:8; Luke 4:25; James 1:27.
καλον kalos G2570 "Fair (Havens)" Adj-NSN
Something or someone that is kalos is fair, beautiful, or good, like the stones in Luke 21:5 or the fish in Matthew 13:48.
Definition: καλός, -ή, -όν, [in LXX chiefly for טוֹבָה ,טוֹב, also for יָפֶה, etc. ;] __1. primarily, of outward form ("related to . . . ἀγαθός as the appearance to the essence," Cremer, 339), fair, beautiful: λίθοι (BV, goodly), Luk.21:5. __2. In reference to use, of that which is well adapted to its ends, good, excellent: of fish, τ. καλά (opposite to σαπρά), Mat.13:48; σπέρμα, Mat.13:24, 27, 37, 38; καρπός, Mat.3:10 7:17-19 12:33, Luk.3:9 [WH] 6:43; δένδρον (opposite to σαρπόν), Mat.12:33, Luk.6:43; γῆ, Mat.13:8, 23 Mrk.4:8, 20 Luk.8:15; τ. ἅλας, Mrk.9:50, Luk.14:34; ὁ νόμος, Rom.7:16, 1Ti.1:8; διδασκαλία, 1Ti.4:6; καρδία κ. καὶ ἀγαθή, Luk.8:15; παραθήκη, 2Ti.1:14; μέτρον, Luk.6:38; βαθμός, 1Ti.3:13; θεμέλιος, 1Ti.6:19; τὸ κ., 1Th.5:21; μαργαρίται, Mat.13:45; οἶνος, Jhn.2:10; ποιμήν, Jhn.10:11, 14; διάκονος, 1Ti.4:6; οἰκονόμος, 1Pe.4:10; στρατιώτης, 2Ti.2:3; στρατεία, 1Ti.1:18; ἀγών, 1Ti.6:12, 2Ti.4:7; ὁμολογία, 1Ti.6:12, 13; ἔργον, Mat.26:10, Mrk.14:6, Jhn.10:33, 1Ti.3:1; pl., Jhn.10:32; καλόν, with inf. and dative, Mat.18:8, 9 1Co.7:1, 26 9:15; id. with accusative and inf., Mat.17:4, Mrk.9:5, 43, 45, 47, Luk.9:33, Heb.13:9; before εἰ, Mat.26:24, Mrk.9:42 14:21; ἐάν, 1Co.7:8. __3. Ethically, good, in the sense of right, fair, noble, honourable: Gal.4:18, Heb.5:14; ἔργα, Mat.5:16, 1Ti.5:10, 25 6:18, Tit.2:7, 14 3:8, 14 (Field, Notes, 223f.), Heb.10:24, 1Pe.2:12; ἀναστροφή, Jas.3:13, 1Pe.2:12; συνείδησις, Heb.13:18; before ἐνώπιον, Rom.12:17, 2Co.8:21, 1Ti.2:3; το] κ. ποιεῖν (κατεργάζεσθαι), Rom.7:18, 21 2Co.13:7, Gal.6:9, Jas.4:17; καλόν ἐστιν, with inf., Mat.15:26 (T, ἔξεστιν), Mrk.7:27, Rom.14:21, Gal.4:18; μαρτυρία, 1Ti.3:7; ὄνομα, Jas.2:7; καύχημα, 1Co.5:6 (neg.); θεοῦ ῥῆμα, Heb.6:5. κ. does not occur in Re.† SYN.: see: ἀγαθός. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 90 NT verses. KJV: X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy See also: 1 Corinthians 5:6; Luke 6:43; 1 Peter 2:12.
αυτοις autos G846 "it/s/he" Pron-DPM
This pronoun refers to a person or thing, like 'he', 'she', or 'it'. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a person or thing, like in John 2:25 where it says 'he himself knew'.
Definition: αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). __1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); __(1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; MM, see word); __(2) emphatic, he, she, it (M, Pr., 86; Bl., §48, 1, 2, 7), Mat.1:21, 12:50, Luk.6:35, al.; pointing to some one as master (cl.), Mat.8:24, Mrk.4:38, al.; αὐ., καὶ αὐ. = οὗτος, ὁ δε (BL, §48, 1), Mat.14:2, Mrk.14:15, 44, Luk.1:22, 2:28, al. __2. In oblique cases (cl.), for the simple pron. of 3rd of person(s), he, she, it, Mat.7:9, 10:12, 26:44, al.; with ptcp. in genitive absol., Mat.9:18, Mrk.13:1, al. (for irreg. constructions, V. Bl., §74, 5); pleonastically after the relative (cf. Heb. אֲשֶׁר לוֹ; WM, 184ff.; Bl., §50, 4; MM, see word), Mrk.7:25, Rev.3:8, 7:2, al.; in constr. ad sensum, without proper subject expressly indicated, Mat.4:23, Act.8:5, 2Co.2:13, al.; genitive αὐτοῦ = ἐκείνου, Rom.11:11, 1Th.2:19, Tit.3:5, Heb.2:4. __3. ὁ, ἡ, τὸ αὐ., the same: Heb.1:12, 13:8; τὸ αὐ., ποιεῖν, Mat.5:46, 47, al.; φρονεῖν, Rom.12:16, 15:5, Php.2:2, al.; τὰ αὐ., Act.15:27, Rom.2:1, al.; κατὰ τὸ (τὰ) αὐ. (MM, see word), Act.14:1, Luk.6:23, al.; ἐπὶ τὸ αὐ., together (MM, see word), Mat.22:34, Act.1:15, al.; ἓν κ. τὸ αὐ., 1Co.11:5, 12:11; with dative (cl.), 1Co.11:5; with a noun, λόγος, Mrk.14:39; μέτρος, Php.1:30; πνεῦμα, 1Co.12:4. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 3773 NT verses. KJV: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which See also: 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 John 3:10; 1 Peter 1:3.
εστιν eimi G1510 "to be" Verb-PAI-3S
To be or exist, a basic verb used to describe something or someone, like God saying 'I am' in John 8:58.
Definition: εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. __I. As substantive verb. __1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. __2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. __3. to be present, be in a place, have come: Mat.2:13, 15, Mrk.1:45, 5:21, 15:40, Luk.1:80, 5:29, Jhn.7:30, al.; before εἰς, Mrk.2:1; before ἐκ, (ἐξ), Mat.1:20, 21:25, Mrk.11:30, Jhn.3:31, al. __4. Impers., ἔστι, ἦν, etc.; __(a) there is (Fr. il y a), was, etc.: Mat.16:28, Luk.16:19, Jhn.3:1, 5:2, Rom.3:10, al.; with dative (of the possessor; Bl., §37, 3), Mat.16:22, Luk.1:7, Jhn.18.10, Rom.9:2, al.; ἔστιν ὅς, ὅστις (chiefly in pl), Mat.16:28, 19:2, Mrk.9:1, al.; __(b) with inf., = ἔξεστιν (which see), it is possible: Heb.9:5, 1Co.11:20, RV (but see ICC, in l.). __II. As copula uniting subject and predicate. __1. Expressing simply identity or equivalence: Mat.5:13, 14:15, Luk.1:18, 19, Jhn.1:1, 4:19, Rev.3:9, al. mult. __2. Explicative, as in parable, figure, type, etc.: Mat.13:19, 1Co.9:2, 10:4, 11:25, Gal.4:24, Rev.17:15, al.; ταῦτ᾽ ἔστιν, Mat.27:46, Mrk.7:2, Rom.7:18 al.; ὅ ἐστιν, Mrk.3:17, Col.1:24, Heb.7:2, al.; akin to this is the sacramental usage: Mat.26:26-28, Mrk.14:22, 24, Luk.22:19, 1Co.11:24 (see ICC on Mk, I Co, ll. with; DB, iii, 148 f.). __3. C. genitive: qual., etc., Mrk.5:42, Luk.3:23, 1Co.14:33, Heb.12:11, al.; part., 1Ti.1:20, 2Ti.1:15; poss., Mat.5:3, 10, Mrk.12:7, Luk.4:7; of service or partisanship, Rom.8:9, 1Co.1:12, 2Co.10:7, 2Ti.2:19. __4. C. dative (BL, §37, 3): Act.1:8, 9:15, Rom.4:12, 1Co.1:18, 2:14, Rev.21:7, al. __5. C. ptcp., as a periphrasis for the simple verb (Bl., §62, 1, 2; M, Pr., 225 ff.); __(a) with ptcp. pf. (cl.): Mat.10:30, Luk.9:32, Jhn.3:24, Act.21:35, 1Co.15:19, al; __(b) with ptcp. pr. (esp. in impf., as in Heb. and Aram.; Dalman, Words, 35 f.), Mat.7:29, Mrk.1:22, Luk.4:31, 14:1, Act.1:10, al. mult., id. for imper. (M, Pr., 180f., 182f.), with ellipsis of εἰμί, Rom.12:9, 10, Heb.13:5, al.; __(with) with ptcp. aor. (cl), Luk.23:9. __6. Seq. εἰς (cf. Heb. הָיָה לְ), a vernac. usage (M, Pr., 71): Mat.19:5, Mrk.10:8, Heb.8:10, al. __7. C. adv.: Mat.19:20, Mrk.4:26, Luk.18:11, al. __8. Ellipses; __(a) of the copula (Bl., §30, 3): Mat.8:29, 24:32, Jhn.21:22, 23, Heb.6:4, al.; __(b) of the predicate: ἐγώ εἰμί, Mat.14:27, Mrk.6:50, al.; absol. (cf. Deu.32:39; אֲנִי הוּא), Mrk.13:6, Jhn.4:26, al. (cf. ἄπ-, ἔν-, πάρ-, συμ-πάρ-, σύν-ειμι). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2123 NT verses. KJV: am, have been, X it is I, was See also: 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Peter 1:6.
εαν ean G1437 "if" COND
This word means 'if' and is used to show uncertainty or possibility, as in Matthew 6:22 and Romans 2:25, to express conditions or circumstances.
Definition: ἐάν, contr. fr. εἰ ἄν, conditional particle, representing something as "under certain circumstances actual or liable to happen," but not so definitely expected as in the case of εἰ with ind. (Bl., §65, 4; cf. Jhn.13:17, 1Co.7:36), if haply, if; __1. with subjc. (cl.); __(a) pres.: Mat.6:22, Luk.10:6, Jhn.7:17, Rom.2:25, 26 al.; { __(b) aor. (= Lat. fut. pf.): Mat.4:9 16:26 (cf. ptcp. in Luk.9:25; M, Pr., 230), Mrk.3:24, Luk.14:34, Jhn.5:43, Rom.7:2, al.; = cl. εἰ, with opt., Jhn.9:22 11:57, Act.9:2; as Heb. אִם = ὅταν, Jhn.12:32 14:3, I Jhn.2:28 3:2, Heb.3:7" (LXX) . __2. C. indic, (as in late writers, fr. Arist. on; see WH, App., 171; VD, MGr. 2, App., §77; Deiss., BS, 201f., LAE, 155, 254; M, Pr., 168, 187; Bl., §65, 4); __(a) fut.: Mat.18:19 T, Luk.19:40, Act.7:7; __(b) pres.: 1Th.3:8 (see Milligan, in l.). __3. With other particles: ἐ. καί (Bl., §65, 6), Gal.6:1; ἐ. μή (M, Pr., 185, 187; Bl., l.with), with subjc. pres., Mat.10:13, 1Co.8:8, Jas.2:17, 1Jn.3:21; aor., Mat.6:15, Mrk.3:27, Jhn.3:3, Rom.10:15, Gal.1:8 2:16 (see Lft., Ellic., in ll.); ἐ. τε . . . ἐ. τε, [in LXX for אִם . . . אִם, Est.19:13, al.,] Rom.14:8. __4. = cl. ἄν (which see) after relat. pronouns and adverbs (Tdf., Pr., 96; WH, App., 173; M, Pr., 42f.; Bl., §26, 4; Mayser, 152f.; Deiss., BS, 202ff.): ὃς ἐ., Mat.5:19, Mrk.6:22, 23 Luk.17:32, 1Co.6:18, al.; ὅπου ἐ., Mat.8:19; ὁσάκις ἐ., Rev.11:6; οὗ ἐ., 1Co.16:6; καθὸ ἐ., 2Co.8:12; ὅστις ἐ., Gal.5:10. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 317 NT verses. KJV: before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever) See also: 1 Corinthians 4:15; Hebrews 13:23; 1 Peter 3:13.
μεινωσιν menō G3306 "to stay" Verb-AAS-3P
This word means 'to stay' and is used to describe remaining in a place or state. It appears in Matthew and John to describe Jesus and the Holy Spirit staying with someone. It's often translated as 'abide' or 'remain'.
Definition: μένω, [in LXX for קוּם ,עמד, etc. ;] to stay, abide, remain. __1. Intrans.; __(i) of place: before ἐν, Luk.8:27, al.; παρά, with dative of person(s), Jhn.1:40, al; σύν, Luk.1:56; καθ᾽ ἑαυτόν, Act.28:16; with adv., ἐκεῖ, Mat.10:11; ὧδε, Mat.26:38; metaphorically, 1Jn.2:18; of the Holy Spirit, Jhn.1:32, 33 14:17; of Christ, Jhn.6:56 15:4, al.; ὁ θεός, 1Jn.4:15, conversely, of Christians, Jhn.6:56 15:4, 1Jn.4:15, al.; ὁ λόγος τ. θεοῦ, 1Jn.2:14; ἡ ἀλήθεια, II Jo 2, al. __(ii) Of time; __(a) of persons: Php.1:25; before εἰς τ. αἰῶνα, Jhn.12:34, Heb.7:24, 1Jn.2:17; ὀλίγον, Rev.17:10; ἕως ἔρχομαι, Jhn.21:22, 23; __(b) of things, lasting or enduring: cities, Mat.11:23, Heb.13:14; λόγος θεοῦ, 1Pe.1:23; ἁμαρτία, Jhn.9:41. __(iii) Of condition: with pred., μόνος, Jhn.12:24; ἄγαμος, 1Co.7:11; πιστός, 2Ti.2:13; ἱερεύς, Heb.7:3; with adv., οὕτως, 1Co.7:40; ὡς κἀγώ, ib. 8; before ἐν, ib. 20, 24. __2. Trans. (Bl., §34, 1; Field, Notes, 132): with accusative of person(s), Act.20:5, 23 (cf. ἀνα-, δια-, ἐν-, ἐπι-, κατα-, παρα-, συν-παρα-, περι-, προσ-, ὑπο-μένω). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 105 NT verses. KJV: abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own See also: 1 Corinthians 3:14; Hebrews 7:24; 1 Peter 1:23.
ως hōs G5613 "as/when" Adv
This word means as or when, showing a comparison or timing. It's used in many verses, like Mark 4:26 and 1 Corinthians 3:15, to show how things are done. It helps explain how or when something happens.
Definition: ὡς, adverbial form of the relative pron. ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. __I. As relat. adv. of manner, as, like as, just as, even as; __1. with a demonstrative, like οὕτως, expressed or understood: οὕτως . . . ὡς, Mrk.4:26, 1Co.3:15, Eph.5:28, Jas.2:12, al.; ὡς . . . οὕτως, Act.8:32, 1Co.7:17, al.; elliptically (sc. οὕτως, οὕτω), with nom., Mat.6:29, al.; with accusative, Mat.19:19, Mrk.12:31, al.; with prep., Mat.26:55, Mrk.14:48, Luk.22:52, Jhn.7:10, al.; with verb., Jhn.15:6, 2Co.3:1, Eph.2:3, 1Th.5:6, al.; with ptcp. (the ptcp. however not having the special force wh. it has in cl.; see Bl., §73, 5; 74, 6), Mat.7:29, Mrk.1:22, Heb.13:17, al.; freq implying opinion or belief, Rom.9:32; so esp, with genitive absol., 1Co.4:18, 2Co.5:20, 1Pe.4:12, 2Pe.1:3. __2. Before numerals, about, nearly: Mrk.5:13, Jhn.1:40, Act.5:7, al. __3. Before adjectives and adverbs, how: Rom.10:15 11:33, 1Th.2:10; with superl., ὡς τάχιστα, as quickly as possible, Act.17:15. __II. As conjunction; __1. temporal, __(a) as, when, since: Mrk.9:21 14:72, Luk.1:23, Jhn.2:9, al.; __(b) while, when, as long as: Luk.12:58, Jhn.12:36, Gal.6:10 (Field, Notes, 191); ὡς ἄν (M, Pr., 167, and see: ἄν), Rom.15:24, 1Co.11:34, Php.2:23. __2. Final, in order that; with inf., in order to (M, Pr., 204n), Luk.9:52, Act.20:24, Heb.7:9. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 436 NT verses. KJV: about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed See also: 1 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Timothy 1:3; 1 Peter 1:14.
καγω kagō G2504 "and I" Pron-1NS-K
And I, or me, is a phrase used to include oneself in a statement. It is used by Jesus and other biblical figures to express their thoughts and feelings.
Definition: κἀγώ see: ἐγώ. ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. __(a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). __(b) The enclitic forms (see supr.) are used with nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, where there is no emphasis: ἐν τ. πατρί μου, Jhn.14:20; μου τ. λόγους, Mat.7:24; ὀπίσω μου, Mat.3:11; ἰσχυρότερός μου, ib.; λέγει μοι, Rev.5:5; also with the prep. πρός, as Mrk.9:19, al. The full forms (ἐμοῦ, etc.) are used with the other prepositions, as δι᾽ ἐμοῦ, ἐν ἐμοί, εἰς ἐμέ, etc., also for emphasis, as Luk.10:16, Jhn.7:23, Mrk.14:7, al. __(with) The genitive μου and ἡμῶν are often used for the poss. pronouns ἐμός, ἡμέτερος: τ. λαόν μου, Mat.2:6; μου τῂ ἀπιστιᾳ, Mrk.9:24. __(d) τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί ( = Heb. מַה־לִי וָלָךְ, Jdg.11:12, al.), i.e. what have we in common: Mat.8:29, Mrk.1:24, 5:7, Luk.8:28, Jhn.2:4; τί γάρ μοι, 1Co.5:2. __(e) The interchange of ἐγώ and ἡμεῖς, common in π., appears in Pauline Epp. (see M, Pr., 86f., M, Th., 131f.). __(f) κἀγώ (= καὶ ἐγώ), and I, even I, I also: Mat.2:8, Luk.2:48, Jhn.6:56, Rom.3:7, 1Co.7:40, al.; κἀγώ . . . καί, both . . . and, Jhn.7:28. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 67 NT verses. KJV: (and, even, even so, so) I (also, in like wise), both me, me also See also: 1 Corinthians 2:1; John 10:27; Hebrews 8:9.

Study Notes — 1 Corinthians 7:8

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 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.
2 1 Corinthians 7:34–35 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
3 1 Corinthians 7:26–27 Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is. Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.
4 1 Corinthians 7:7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
5 1 Corinthians 7:1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.

1 Corinthians 7:8 Summary

[The Apostle Paul is saying that it's okay to be single, and it can even be a good thing, because it allows us to focus on God and serve Him without distractions, as seen in 1 Corinthians 7:35. He's not saying that marriage is bad, but rather that each person has their own unique situation and gifts from God. For some people, being single may be the best choice, and that's okay. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:7, each person has their own gift from God, and we should use that gift to serve Him, whether we're married or single.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Apostle Paul mean by saying it is good for the unmarried and widows to remain unmarried?

Paul is suggesting that remaining unmarried can be beneficial for those who are able to control their desires, allowing them to focus on their relationship with God, as seen in 1 Corinthians 7:35, and as he himself has chosen, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 7:8.

Is Paul saying that marriage is wrong or inferior?

No, Paul is not saying that marriage is wrong, but rather that each person has their own gift from God, and for some, remaining unmarried may be the best choice, as stated in 1 Corinthians 7:7, and as Jesus teaches in Matthew 19:12.

How does this verse apply to widows?

For widows, Paul's advice to remain unmarried may be especially relevant, as they may have already experienced the blessings of marriage and now have the opportunity to devote themselves fully to God, as seen in 1 Timothy 5:5-6.

Is this verse commanding all unmarried people to remain single?

No, as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 7:6, this is a concession, not a command, and he acknowledges that each person has their own gift from God, and some may be called to marriage, as seen in 1 Corinthians 7:9.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are the benefits of remaining unmarried, and how can I apply this to my own life?
  2. How can I know if God is calling me to remain unmarried or to get married?
  3. What are some ways that I can use my singleness to serve God and focus on my relationship with Him?
  4. How can I balance the desire for marriage with the benefits of remaining unmarried, and what role should God's will play in my decision?

Gill's Exposition on 1 Corinthians 7:8

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows,.... Not by way of command, but advice: by the "unmarried" he means, either such men who never were in a married state, or else such who had been married,

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:8

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. To the unmarried - in general, of both sexes (1 Corinthians 7:10-11). And widows - in particular. Even as I - unmarried (1 Corinthians 9:5).

Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:8

By the unmarried and widows, it is apparent that Paul means virgins that were never married, and such as, having been once married, had lost their husbands: though the first word, in the Greek, had been significative enough of persons in both these states; yet the apostle’ s using of two words, makes it past dispute; when he saith, it is good for such to be as he was, his meaning is, that it was better with respect to the present circumstances of Christians, or it was convenient, in which notion good is often taken, not for what is absolutely good; and indeed the nature of all good lieth in the conveniency or suitableness of the thing so called to us; and though in the Divine precepts there is always such a suitableness, so as they must be always good, yet in other things, which God hath left to our liberty, (such as is this of marriage), a thing may be good or evil, as the circumstances of several persons, yea, of the same person, may vary. St. Paul considereth only the circumstances of the world common to all Christians, and upon them, determines this goodness, supposing the circumstances of the particular person not to rule otherwise. His not saying, it is good for them not to marry, but to be as he was, hath bred a question of no great import to be determined: Whether Paul was ever married or not? In the determination of which the ancients could not agree; but it is not worth spending our time about, considering that all agree he was at this time unmarried, which is all he doth here mean: if St. Paul was never married, we are sure Peter was, for we read of his wife’ s mother sick of a fever, .

Trapp's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:8

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. Ver. 8. I say therefore to the unmarried] Yet doth not the apostle simply prefer virginity on viduity before marriage as better. The Saturnalian heretics said that marriage was of the devil. And the blemish will never be wiped off some of the ancient fathers, who, to establish their own idol of I know not what virginity, which they themselves had not, have written most wickedly and basely of marriage. If the same God had not been the author of virginity and marriage, he had never countenanced virginity by marriage, as he did in the blessed Virgin.

Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:8

(8) I say therefore.—Better, Now what I say is, . . . Widows are here joined with those who have not been married, otherwise discussion might have arisen as to whether the Apostle had intended his advice for them also. It has been curiously conjectured (by Luther amongst others), from the passage where St. Paul recommends widows to “abide even as I.” that the Apostle was himself a widower. This, however, requires the word “unmarried” to be restricted to widowers, which is quite inadmissible; and even if such were admissible, the deduction from it that St. Paul was a widower could scarcely be considered logical. The almost universal tradition of the early Church was that St. Paul was never married, and unless we can imagine his having been married, and his wife dead before the stoning of St. Stephen which is scarcely possible (Acts 7:58), the truth of that tradition is evident. (See Philippians 4:3.) “Even as I;” that is, unmarried.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:8

Verse 8. The unmarried and widows] It is supposed that the apostle speaks here of men who had been married, in the word αγαμοι, but were now widowers; as he does of women who had been married, in the word χηραι, but were now widows. And when he says ωςκαγω, even as I, he means that he himself was a widower; for several of the ancients rank Paul among the married apostles.

Barnes' Notes on 1 Corinthians 7:8

It is good for them - It may be advisable, in the present circumstances of persecution and distress, not to be encumbered with the cares and anxieties of a family; see 1 Corinthians 7:26, 1 Corinthians 7:32-34.

Whedon's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:8

8. Unmarried—Bachelor or maiden. Widows—The feminine widows are named as the more obvious, and the widowers are simply implied.

Sermons on 1 Corinthians 7:8

SermonDescription
Zac Poonen Through the Bible - 1 Corinthians - Part 2 by Zac Poonen In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of freedom in the church and respecting each other's decisions. The example of Paul's willingness to let others choose whether
Tim Conway Is It Sinful for a Married Couple to Not Have Children? by Tim Conway This sermon delves into the moral implications and biblical perspectives on the decision to have children within marriage. It explores the command to 'be fruitful and multiply' and
Ian Paisley Clerical Celibacy by Ian Paisley Ian Paisley delivers a sermon critiquing the doctrine of Celibacy within the Roman Catholic Church, highlighting the lack of scriptural support for it and the detrimental effects i
Zac Poonen (1 Corinthians) ch.7:25-8:13 by Zac Poonen In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that the time we live in is short and that the world is not our permanent home. He urges believers to prioritize serving the Lord over their
Denny Kenaston (Godly Courtship) 06 Marriage, Courtship and Marriage by Denny Kenaston In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of recognizing the potential for service in young people. He uses the example of Mormon missionaries to illustrate this point.
Winkie Pratney Dreams in Flames - Part 1 by Winkie Pratney In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of focusing on Jesus and loving others rather than being self-centered. He encourages listeners to reach out and help others,
Gerhard Du Toit (The Sermon on the Mount and Prayer - Session 1) - Part 10 by Gerhard Du Toit In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the humanity of Jesus as portrayed by Luke, who was a doctor. The speaker highlights the compassion, sensitivity, and reality of Jesus' chara

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate