I Corinthians 7:28 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 7:28 Commentary: Marriage Not Sin, Yet Trouble in the Flesh
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul assures marriage is lawful, not sin, but warns of trouble in the flesh. This study explores his pastoral wisdom in counseling singleness during distress.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Marriage is lawful and not a sin, but it brings added hardship in times of distress; Paul gently counsels singleness to spare believers.
- Key Words: γαμέω (to marry), ἁμαρτάνω (to sin), θλῖψις (tribulation/pressure), σάρξ (flesh, outward condition), φείδομαι (to spare).
- Main Debate: Whether “I spare you” means Paul omits details of hardship (Clarke, Gill) or actively aims to keep them from the hardship (Calvin, Vincent).
- Divine Heart: Christian freedom and pastoral wisdom within eschatological urgency, the present age is passing away.
- Best Use: Shepherding those discerning marriage in challenging circumstances; affirming the goodness of marriage while acknowledging practical costs.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.
KJV King James Version 1769
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
But and if thou mayest marry, thou didst not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But if thou shouldest also marry, thou hast not sinned; and if the virgin marry, they have not sinned: but such shall have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas también si tomares mujer, no pecaste; y si la doncella se casare, no pecó: pero aflicción de carne tendrán los tales: mas yo os dejo.
Mas se também te casares, não pecas; e se a virgem se casar, não peca. Porém os tais terão aflições na carne, que eu gostaria de livrá-los.
Si tu t’ es marié, tu n’ as point péché; et si la vierge s’ est mariée, elle n’ a point péché; mais ces personnes auront des tribulations dans la chair, et je voudrais vous les épargner.
So du aber freist, sündigst du nicht; und so eine Jungfrau freit, sündigt sie nicht. Doch werden solche leibliche Trübsal haben; ich verschonte euch aber gern.
Maar indien gij ook trouwt, gij zondigt niet; en indien een maagd trouwt, zij zondigt niet. Doch dezulken zullen verdrukking hebben in het vlees; en ik spare ulieden.
Se però prendi moglie, non pecchi; e se una vergine si marita, non pecca; ma tali persone avranno tribolazione nella carne, e io vorrei risparmiarvela.
A jeźlibyś się ożenił, nie zgrzeszyłeś; jeźliby też panna szła za mąż, nie zgrzeszyła; wszakże utrapienie w ciele takowi mieć będą; lecz ja was szanuję.
Впрочем, если и женишься, не согрешишь; и если девица выйдет замуж, не согрешит. Но таковые будут иметь скорби по плоти; а мне вас жаль.
你若 娶妻，並不 是犯罪； 處女 若 出嫁，也不 是犯罪。然而 這 等人肉身 必受 苦難， 我 卻願意你們 免這苦難。
If you get married it is not a sin; and if an unmarried woman gets married it is not a sin. But those who do so will have trouble in the flesh. But I will not be hard on you.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 7:28
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Paul’s primary aim in verse 28 is to remove any scruple that marriage might itself be sinful. Calvin sees the word “even” as emphatic, extending liberty to marry without necessity. Clarke, Barnes, and Gill all stress that there is no divine command forbidding marriage; the advice to remain single is prudential, driven by “the distress that is on us” (1 Cor 7:26). The “trouble in the flesh” (θλῖψις, thlipsis, literally “pressure”) is uniformly understood as outward tribulation, persecution, poverty, the burden of family in times of crisis, not as spiritual sin or a devaluation of marriage (Barnes, Gill). On “I spare you,” two main readings emerge. Some see Paul refraining from detailing the hardships so as not to discourage the married (Clarke, Gill). Others, including Calvin and Vincent, read him as actively wanting to spare them the trouble itself by counseling singleness. Both affirm Paul’s pastoral tenderness: he is gentle, not heavy-handed.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Sparing from details: Paul withholds graphic descriptions of hardships to avoid discouraging those who must marry (Clarke, Gill).
- Sparing from trouble: Paul’s singleness advice is itself the means of sparing them from the hardships that marriage would bring (Calvin, Vincent).
What is clear: Marriage is not a sin; Paul’s counsel is motivated by present hardship, not by a devaluation of marriage.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Sinfulness of Marriage | Marriage is not a sin; Paul explicitly clears any moral doubt. | Whether Paul’s advice to remain single is binding for all time or only applies under the specific crisis of “present distress” (v.26). Most Protestant commentators treat it as situational; some ascetic traditions have read it as a universal ideal. |
| Meaning of 'Trouble in the Flesh' | Outward affliction, not inward sin. The word θλῖψις means pressure or tribulation. | Barnes and Gill specify persecution and poverty; the Cambridge Bible adds the sorrow of a parent watching a child suffer. Some modern readers broaden it to include ordinary marital difficulties. |
| Meaning of 'I Spare You' | Paul’s motive is gentle and pastoral, he wants to protect believers from added suffering or discouragement. | Clarke and Gill say he spares them the details of coming woes; Calvin and Vincent say he spares them the actual trouble by advising singleness. |
| Nature of the Present Distress | Some kind of crisis shaped Paul’s advice, likely persecution or severe social pressure. | Whether it was a local Corinthian crisis, the early stages of Nero’s persecution, or an eschatological expectation of the Lord’s soon return (Poole notes the time is “narrowed down”). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes to a Corinthian church facing what he calls “the present distress” (τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν ἀνάγκην, 7:26). Most scholars identify this with acute persecution or social upheaval that made life especially difficult for believers. The Roman world was volatile: Nero’s persecution would soon erupt, and Christians in Corinth were already experiencing ostracism from family and trade guilds. In this climate, marriage added vulnerability. As Barnes notes, in times of persecution, being a husband or father increases the number of ties that may be severed, and the sorrows of the family are multiplied. The word θλῖψις (thlipsis) literally means “pressure” or “a pressing together”, an apt image for the external squeeze a married Christian felt when persecution came.
Paul is also countering ascetic teachers who forbade marriage altogether (1 Tim 4:3, which Clarke connects to this passage). So he carefully walks a line: marriage is honorable and no sin, yet in the present crisis a single life offers practical advantages. He underlines that he speaks “as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy” (7:25), not a command, but Spirit-guided judgment. The “flesh” (σάρξ) here refers not to sinful nature but to outward physical existence, as in “life in this world” (Barnes, Gill). Jewish and Greco-Roman culture prized marriage, but Paul’s eschatological urgency (“the time is short,” v.29) reorients priorities. His desire to “spare you” flows from a pastoral heart that does not want to add unnecessary weight to already burdened believers.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for 1 Corinthians 7:28. The Greek text is consistent across major editions.
Reception History
Early Christian writers used this verse to defend the lawfulness of marriage against Gnostics and ascetics who forbade it (Clarke links it to the warning of 1 Timothy 4:3). Augustine reflected on the “trouble in the flesh” as the piercing sorrow a mother feels for a wayward child, as the Cambridge Bible records. The Reformers, Calvin especially, emphasized Paul’s intention to safeguard Christian liberty, not to impose a new law. In subsequent centuries, this passage has been cited both to uphold the goodness of marriage and to honor the value of singleness for kingdom work. Modern pastoral readings focus on Paul’s sensitivity: he gives counsel without coercion, a model for leaders guiding people through difficult decisions.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- Marriage Is Not a Sin. Paul directly counters any suggestion that entering marriage transgresses God’s law. Marriage is honorable (Heb 13:4), and believers are free to marry or not without guilt.
- Marriage Can Bring Added Burden. In times of “present distress,” marital responsibilities multiply the weight a person carries. The trouble is not spiritual but outward, in “the flesh,” the practical realities of life under persecution.
- Paul’s Pastoral Goal Is to Spare You. He does not forbid marriage; he offers wise counsel to avoid unnecessary hardship. His tone is tender: he wants to protect, not to bind consciences.
Five-Point Outline
- Context: The “present distress” (v.26) frames the whole discussion, this is crisis time, not normal peacetime.
- Affirmation: Both the man and the virgin may marry without sin. Paul removes fear of transgression (Calvin).
- Warning: “Such shall have trouble in the flesh”, θλῖψις, pressure. Marriages in hard times face unique strains: persecution, poverty, family separation (Barnes).
- Heart: “I spare you.” Paul holds back from describing the full pain. He wants to encourage, not discourage, those for whom marriage is the right path (Vincent).
- Principle: Christian freedom is guided by concern for effective service (v.32-35). Singleness can free a person to serve the Lord without distraction, but marriage is equally honored.
Illustration Hooks
- A young couple living in a region experiencing violent persecution for their faith. They love each other but recognize that marriage would put a target on their family. Paul’s words give them freedom to wait without guilt.
- A single adult feeling pressure from church or family to marry, but sensing a call to full-time missionary work where mobility and risk make singleness practical. Paul’s counsel validates that choice.
- A married believer struggling with the weight of providing for a family during an economic collapse. They see Paul’s “trouble in the flesh” as a realistic picture, not a sign of sin.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- “Is it a sin to marry if I am not absolutely certain it’s God’s will?”, Paul’s answer is clear: no sin, even if you are not perfectly sure; his advice is prudential, not a command.
- “Does Paul view marriage as second-class spirituality?”, No. He calls marriage honorable; his concerns are practical, not moral. Both states are gifts for different seasons.
- “What does ‘trouble in the flesh’ mean for married Christians today?”, It depends on circumstances. In times of peace, marriage’s troubles are ordinary; in crises, they become acute. Paul’s warning is contextual, not universal.
Leading a Discussion
Paul writes to a church in crisis, affirming that marriage is not a sin while naming its real costs. This passage invites us to weigh our decisions wisely, especially in light of the pressures we face. How do we honor God in choosing marriage or singleness without guilt or judgment?
Discussion Questions
- Read 1 Corinthians 7:25-28 aloud. What words or phrases stand out to you?
- Why do you think Paul repeats that marriage is not a sin? What false teaching may have been circulating (see 1 Timothy 4:1-3)?
- What does “trouble in the flesh” mean in this context? How does it differ from spiritual problems?
- How does Paul’s phrase “I want to spare you” shape the tone of his advice? What does it reveal about his pastoral heart?
- In what modern situations might Paul give similar counsel, to remain single for a season to avoid unnecessary hardship?
- How can this passage help us support both married and single people in our church without elevating one above the other?
- What does this teaching say about Christian freedom and following God’s will when Scripture gives no direct command?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Corinthians 7:26 | Therefore I think that because of the distress that is on us, it’s good for a man to remain as he is. |
| I Corinthians 7:32 | But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; |
| I Corinthians 7:36 | But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry. |
| II Corinthians 1:23 | But I call God for a witness to my soul, that to spare you, I didn’t come to Corinth. |
| Hebrews 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that Paul is countering those in Corinth who forbade marriage, insisting it is not a sin. The real concern is prudence: a family becomes an encumbrance during persecution, making escape and provision difficult. Paul spares them by not pressing this caution, knowing they might find it too heavy a cross.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that Paul offers advice, not a command, on marriage. Since no divine law forbids it, marriage remains lawful and honorable. Yet in times of persecution, poverty, or heavy family obligations, staying single avoids added worldly troubles and allows more undivided service to God.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin focuses on removing a potential scruple: that choosing to marry when not compelled might be tempting God. He argues Paul uses the word "even" to stress marriage is fully permitted without any necessity. Calvin also notes Paul equates the liberty of virgins and widows, correcting the ancient stigma that second marriages were somehow less honorable.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary highlights two possible meanings of "I spare you": either the Apostle withholds the full list of coming sorrows out of tenderness, or he spares them from the sorrows themselves. It illustrates "trouble in the flesh" with examples like a mother watching her child fall into sin or parents witnessing their child’s martyrdom.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva annotators observe that Paul carefully distinguishes between sin and hardship: marrying is not a sin, but it brings unavoidable worldly troubles. They note his pastoral restraint in the phrase "I spare you," meaning he holds back from fully describing those difficulties out of concern for their peace.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Paul does not forbid marriage or treat it as sinful, but warns that those who marry will face unavoidable trouble, including persecution and the ordinary hardships of married life. Paul spares believers by not detailing these troubles, wanting neither to discourage necessary marriages nor to burden them unduly.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB points out that Paul's phrase "trouble in the flesh" refers to outward distress in marriage, not sin. He favors the interpretation that Paul’s reason for advising against marriage is to spare believers such worldly hardship, not to condemn marriage itself.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Paul carefully distinguishes his personal judgment from a direct command from the Lord, yet presents it with apostolic authority. The core principle is avoiding worldly entanglements and distractions because the time is short and the present distress makes marriage a source of additional trouble. Paul's advice aims for the believer's undivided devotion to the Lord.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent clarifies that "I spare you" does not mean the speaker is avoiding further discussion. Instead, it means he gives these commands specifically to protect believers from the hardships that come with marriage and worldly concerns. The sparing is preventive, not rhetorical.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley interprets "trouble in the flesh" as outward troubles rather than inner spiritual distress. He explains that Paul's phrase "I spare you" means he speaks as briefly and gently as possible to avoid adding to their burden.