I Corinthians 7:39 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 7:39 Commentary: Only in the Lord
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
A study of Paul's permission for a widow to remarry 'only in the Lord', the meaning, context, and pastoral implications of this key phrase.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A widow is free to remarry, but only a fellow believer.
- Key words: δέδεται (perfect passive, "has been bound"), κοιμηθῇ (subjunctive, "sleep"), ἐλευθέρα ("free"), ἐν κυρίῳ ("in the Lord").
- Main debate: Does "in the Lord" require the new spouse to be a Christian, or is it a broader condition of faith consistency?
- Theological theme: The sanctity of marriage, the freedom and responsibility of Christian choice.
- Best use: Pastoral counsel for widows and those considering marriage across faith lines.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
WEB World English Bible 2000
A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord.
KJV King James Version 1769
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
A wife hath been bound by law as long time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be married to whom she will--only in the Lord;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
A wife is bound for whatever time her husband lives; but if the husband be fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in [the] Lord.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband die, she is at liberty. Let her marry to whom she will: only in the Lord.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
La mujer casada está atada á la ley, mientras|strong="G1909, G3745, G5550" vive su marido; mas si su marido muriere, libre es: cásese con quien quisiere, con tal que sea en el Señor.
A mulher casada está ligada pela Lei todo o tempo em que seu marido vive; mas se seu marido morrer, fica livre para se casar com quem quiser, contanto que seja no Senhor.
Une femme est liée aussi longtemps que son mari est vivant; mais si le mari meurt, elle est libre de se marier à qui elle veut; seulement, que ce soit dans le Seigneur.
Ein Weib ist gebunden durch das Gesetz, solange ihr Mann lebt; so aber ihr Mann entschläft, ist sie frei, zu heiraten, wen sie will, nur, daß es im HERRN geschehe.
Een vrouw is door de wet verbonden, zo langen tijd haar man leeft; maar indien haar man ontslapen is, zo is zij vrij, om te trouwen, dien zij wil, alleenlijk in den Heere.
La moglie è vincolata per tutto il tempo che vive suo marito; ma, se il marito muore, ella è libera di maritarsi a chi vuole, purché sia nel Signore.
Żona związana jest zakonem, póki żyje mąż jej; a jeźliby umarł mąż jej, wolna jest, aby szła, za kogo chce, tylko w Panu.
Жена связана законом, доколе жив муж ее; если же муж ее умрет, свободна выйти, за кого хочет, только в Господе.
丈夫 活著 的時候，妻子 是被約束的； 丈夫 若 死了，妻子就可以 自由，隨意 再嫁，只 是要嫁這在主 裡面 的人。
It is right for a wife to be with her husband as long as he is living; but when her husband is dead, she is free to be married to another; but only to a Christian.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 7:39
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 on the main point: Paul affirms the lifelong bond of marriage, then permits a widow to remarry after her husband’s death, with one condition: she must remarry “only in the Lord.” The perfect tense of δέδεται (dedetai, “has been bound”) underscores that the marital bond is a settled, ongoing reality until death ends it. Paul then uses the tender verb κοιμηθῇ (koimēthē, “shall have fallen asleep”) for death, Vincent notes the more personal tone here compared to Romans 7:2. On the phrase “only in the Lord,” Barnes, Clarke, Wesley, Matthew Henry, and the Cambridge Bible all understand it as a restriction to marry only a Christian. Gill offers a gentle nuance: the widow must not abandon her faith, and the marriage should be made in the fear of the Lord, though he does not absolutely require the new spouse be a believer. Still, the shared core across traditions is clear: Paul permits second marriage but restricts it to those who share the widow’s faith.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Restrictive view: Christian only: Most commentators (Barnes, Clarke, Wesley, Matthew Henry, Cambridge Bible) read 'in the Lord' as requiring the widow to marry a believer, citing 2 Corinthians 6:14 and Deuteronomy 7:3–4.
- Broad view: within the Lord's will: Gill allows that the spouse need not necessarily be a Christian; the condition is that the widow remain in the faith and the marriage be entered with prayer and fear of the Lord.
What is clear: Second marriage for a widow is permitted; the marriage bond is ended by death, and any remarriage must honor the Lord in some way.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Permission for second marriage | All traditions agree Paul explicitly permits widows to remarry after their husband's death. | Whether celibacy is a higher calling: verse 40 says the widow is 'happier' if she stays unmarried, but this is Paul's judgment, not a command. Catholic tradition sees celibacy as a gift and ideal; Protestant and Orthodox traditions generally allow remarriage as equally valid. |
| Meaning of 'only in the Lord' | The phrase restricts the widow's remarriage in some way related to the Lord. | Most commentators (Barnes, Clarke, Wesley, Cambridge Bible) say it means the new spouse must be a Christian. Gill argues it does not absolutely require the spouse to be a believer, but that the widow must remain in the faith and the marriage be entered in the fear of the Lord. |
| The binding of marriage | Marriage is a lifelong bond, dissolved only by death. | Some traditions (Evangelical, Reformed) also allow divorce and remarriage in cases of adultery or desertion, using other passages (Matthew 19:9, 1 Corinthians 7:15). Roman Catholic teaching holds that a sacramental, consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power. This verse does not settle that debate, as it only addresses death. |
| Paul's authority in this passage | Paul gives his own judgment, not a direct command from the Lord. | Some see this as less binding (as in 'this is just Paul's opinion'), while others argue that his apostolic authority makes his judgment inspired and therefore authoritative for the church. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The church in Corinth had sent Paul a list of questions about marriage, celibacy, and widowhood. In chapter 7 he addresses each situation. Verse 39 comes at the end of his teaching on widows, following a long discussion on virgins and the unmarried. Second marriages were sometimes looked down upon in that culture. Calvin notes that widows who remarried were “branded with the reproach of intemperance,” and some early councils refused to bless second marriages. Paul pushes back against that stigma. He declares that a widow is free to marry again, as long as she marries “in the Lord.”
The phrase echoes Old Testament commands against marrying pagans: Deuteronomy 7:3, 4 warns that such unions would turn Israel’s hearts away from God. Paul applies the same principle in the new covenant: a believer should not be yoked unequally with an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14). In Corinth, a port city with many religions, the risk of a widow marrying an unbeliever was real. Such a marriage could pull her from Christian fellowship, cloud her witness, and create conflict in the home. Paul’s concern is practical and pastoral: he wants her to remain free for the Lord’s service, not entangled with someone who does not share her convictions.
The parallel passage in Romans 7:2, 3 uses the more neutral word ἀποθάνῃ (“dies”) for the husband’s death. Here Paul uses κοιμηθῇ (“sleep”), a term the early church often used for the death of believers, as Cambridge Bible points out. The choice suggests warmth and comfort for the Corinthian widow facing loss.
Textual Notes
Several ancient manuscripts (including Papyrus 46 and Codex Vaticanus) omit the phrase "by the law" (νόμῳ) in the first clause. The critical text (NA28/UBS5) includes it in brackets, indicating scribal uncertainty. In the second clause, some manuscripts read "died" (ἀπέθανεν) instead of "sleep" (κοιμηθῇ), though the majority support the more tender reading. Neither variant changes the meaning of the verse. The consulted sources note no other significant variants.
Reception History
Throughout church history, this verse has shaped Christian teaching on marriage and widowhood. Early church writers like Tertullian cited "only in the Lord" to prohibit mixed marriages between believers and pagans. Some local synods in the early centuries discouraged blessing second marriages, as Calvin noted, but Paul's clear permission here kept the church from outright forbidding them. During the Reformation, Luther and Calvin used the verse to defend the lawfulness of second marriage against those who saw it as a lesser state. Calvin specifically argued that Paul was condemning the "tyranny" of those who stigmatized widows for remarrying. In modern times, this verse continues to guide pastoral advice: it affirms the legitimacy of remarriage after loss while calling believers to choose a spouse who shares their faith.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Marriage is lifelong. The perfect tense "has been bound" shows the marriage bond is fixed, not temporary. Only death dissolves it.
- Death sets the widow free. Paul uses the tender word "sleep" for death, softening the grief. She is no longer bound and may marry again without sin.
- Freedom has a boundary: "only in the Lord." This is not a general permission. The new husband must be a believer. The widow’s faith and witness come first.
Five-point outline
- The permanence of marriage: the bond lasts as long as both live (cf. Romans 7:2).
- Death is not the final word: Paul calls it sleep, a Christian hope that the departed are with the Lord.
- The widow’s liberty: she is free to marry whomever she wants, no limit on the number of marriages, no legal restriction from God’s law.
- The one limit: the partner must belong to the Lord. Barnes lists several pastoral reasons: shared sympathy, protection of piety, usefulness to the church.
- Paul’s larger counsel: in the next verse he says she is happier if she stays unmarried, but that is his judgment, not a command. The choice is hers.
Illustration hooks
- A widow in your congregation who is lonely but unsure if remarriage after loss is allowed by Scripture.
- A Christian woman dating a non-Christian man, justifying it with "love will find a way." This verse challenges her to think about the long-term cost.
- A small group discussing dating guidelines: what does "only in the Lord" look like in a culture where few dating options are believers?
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it really wrong for a Christian to marry a non-Christian if they are a good person?
- Does "only in the Lord" mean I have to marry someone from my exact church or denomination?
- I’m a widow. Does this verse mean I can remarry with a clear conscience, or should I consider remaining single as Paul recommends?
Leading a Discussion
This passage sits in a chapter where Paul answers practical questions from a young church. He balances freedom and faithfulness. Widows in Corinth faced pressure to stay single, but Paul insists they have liberty to remarry. At the same time, he puts a boundary on that liberty: the new spouse must be "in the Lord." The discussion below helps a group dig into the reasons behind that boundary and how it applies today.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What does Paul say about the marriage bond in the first half of the verse? How long does it last?
- Observation: Why does Paul use the word "sleep" for death instead of the more common word for dying? Check the cross-references (Acts 7:60, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 15). What does this reveal about Paul’s care for his readers?
- Interpretation: What does "only in the Lord" mean? List the different ways commentators explain this phrase. Which interpretation fits best with Paul’s teaching elsewhere (2 Corinthians 6:14, Romans 7:2, 3)?
- Interpretation: Some have argued that "in the Lord" means the widow must remain within the will of the Lord, not necessarily that her new husband must be a believer. Others say it requires a believing spouse. Which view is more faithful to the text and why?
- Application: How does this verse guide someone who is a widow or widower today? What pastoral care should the church offer?
- Application: If you are single, how does this verse shape your priorities in choosing a spouse? Does it change how you think about dating a non-Christian?
- Application: Paul says later (verse 40) that a widow is "happier" if she stays single. How do we hold freedom to remarry and the counsel to remain single in healthy tension?
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)
| Genesis 6:2 | God’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives. |
| Deuteronomy 7:3 | You shall not make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son. |
| Deuteronomy 7:4 | For that would turn away your sons from following me, that they may serve other gods. So Yahweh’s anger would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. |
| Malachi 2:11 | Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of Yahweh which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. |
| Romans 7:2 | For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband. |
| Romans 7:3 | So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man. |
| I Corinthians 7:10 | But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband |
| I Corinthians 7:15 | Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace. |
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
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke reads "only in the Lord" as a specific restriction: a widow may remarry, but only a genuine Christian who shares her own religious convictions. He ties this to domestic harmony, arguing that matching beliefs is essential for peace in the home.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes insists that Paul's instruction for a widow to marry "only in the Lord" is not optional advice but a binding New Testament command. He argues that marrying a non-Christian would harm her piety, hinder her usefulness, and violate the call to be separate from the world.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that widows are as free as widowers to remarry, and that no church or council has the right to restrict that liberty. The Apostle directly condemns any practice that stigmatizes second marriages as intemperate. Death dissolves the marriage bond, so no further obligation remains.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights that Paul uses the word "sleep" for death, a term that robs death of half its terrors by suggesting a state of partially suspended consciousness and waiting in union with the Lord. He also notes that "only in the Lord" warns against mixed marriages, not against remarriage itself.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note stresses that a widow is free to remarry anyone she wishes, but only "in the Lord"—meaning she must marry a fellow believer. The law releases her from the marriage bond at her husband's death, yet that liberty is not unconditional; it must be exercised within the faith.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that a widow is free to remarry because death has dissolved the marriage bond, and she is not under parental authority like a virgin. He interprets "only in the Lord" not as a strict requirement for a believing spouse, but as a command to remain faithful to Christ and seek His guidance in choosing a husband not forbidden by God's laws.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the oldest manuscripts omit the phrase "by the law," so the original text simply says "bound." The commentator then explains that "only in the Lord" means a widow is free to remarry, but only to a fellow Christian, not to an unbeliever.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that Paul's counsel on celibacy is not a divine command but his own Spirit-guided judgment, made urgent by the present distress and the imminent return of Christ. He sees the apostle's point as practical, not moral: marriage adds worldly cares in a crisis, so remaining single offers freedom for undivided devotion to the Lord.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry insists that second marriages are not unlawful, since Paul explicitly gives widows liberty to remarry. The only restriction is that any marriage must be made in the Lord, with genuine fear of God and dependence on His guidance. However, Henry notes Paul's inspired judgment that remaining unmarried often brings greater peace and fewer worldly distractions.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the Greek verb translated "be dead" literally means "have fallen asleep." He highlights that Paul chooses this gentler, more tender expression because the context here is personal. In Romans 7:2, where Paul discusses the abstract principle, he uses the harsher, more common word for die.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads "only in the Lord" as a strict and permanent directive: Christians may only marry other Christians. He calls this a standing rule of the highest importance, not a suggestion.