1 Corinthians 7:8

Contextual Overview

¹Now in response to the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to use a woman for sex.” ¹ Now cocerning the things wherof ye wrote vnto me, It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." ¹ Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. ¹Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage]. ¹ Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Corinthians 7:26, 1 Corinthians 7:27, 1 Corinthians 7:32, 1 Corinthians 7:34, 1 Corinthians 7:35

Reciprocal: Matthew 19:10 - General 1 Corinthians 7:1 - good 1 Corinthians 7:38 - doeth better 1 Corinthians 7:40 - she 1 Timothy 5:14 - the younger

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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, but their wives were dead; which latter sense seems more agreeable, since they are joined with "widows", who had lost their husbands:

it is good for them if they abide; unmarried, and do not change their condition any more; not that it was sinful to marry again, for he allows of it in the next verse, in case they have not the gift of continence; and therefore "good" here, is not opposed to evil, only signifies that it would be better for them, more expedient and profitable for them; they would be more free from the cares of life, have less trouble, and be more at leisure to serve the Lord; and which he knew by experience, and therefore, proposes himself as an example:

even as I; that is, as he was then; for at that time it seems certain that he had no wife; though whether he had had one, and she was now dead, or whether he had never been married, may be matter of dispute; the former seems most agreeable, since he proposes himself as an example to widowers and widows; and having known what a married and single state both were, was better able to give his judgment of both, and proper advice to such persons which must come with more force and strength, and a better grace, from such an one.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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. The word unmarried (ἀγάμοις agamois) may refer either to those who had never been married, or to widowers. It here means simply those who were at that time unmarried, and his reasoning applies to both classes.

And to widows - The apostle specifies these, though he had not specified “widowers” particularly. The reason of this distinction seems to be, that he considers more particularly the case of those females who had never been married, in the close of the chapter, 1 Corinthians 7:25.

That they abide - That they remain, in the present circumstances, unmarried; see 1 Corinthians 7:26.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 7:8. 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.