The Happier Widowed Woman 1 Corinthians 7:40

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “the wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives”, and he added, “but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will” but this must be “only in the Lord”. In chapter seven and verse forty of First Corinthians, Paul shared concerning a widow in the church being, “happier if she so abide” where we read:

But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

The verse begins, “But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment:” Paul began with the word, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “she is happier” or “the widow is supremely blessed, fortunate and well off” “if she so abide” which means “in the case that the widow remains, sojourns, tarries and doesn't depart”, “after” or “according to and along” “my judgment” which refers to “Paul's faculty of knowledge, mind, reason, judgment and opinion”. Paul's “judgment” was that the widow would be “supremely blessed” if she “remained” unmarried.

The verse continues, “and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.” Paul added the words, “and I think” or “Paul supposed, accounted, reputed and judged” “also” or “likewise and in like manner” “that I have” which means “that Paul held, possessed and owned” “the Spirit” or “the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul believed himself to be sharing from “the Spirit of God's” perspective concerning this issue.

When we think through these words from Paul, we realize how he believed a “widow” would be “happier” if she remained “unmarried”. We remember how Paul's focus was upon “the gospel of Jesus Christ”, and he believed a person who was “single” had an advantage over those who were married. Women who are “widowed” were allowed to remarry, but if they remained single, they would have less distraction and a greater capacity to serve the Lord. Let each person who is “single” seek the Lord and learn his way for their lives.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Paul address, “things offered unto idols”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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