I Corinthians 7:8 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 7:8 Commentary: Singleness as 'Good' for Believers
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul's advice to the unmarried and widows: what 'good' means, the context of distress, and what this teaches about gifts and calling.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul advises unmarried persons and widows that remaining single is advantageous in the present circumstances, but not commanded.
- Key words: ἀγάμοις (unmarried, possibly including widowers), καλόν (good, excellent, fitting), μείνωσιν (remain, aorist subjunctive implying a decision to stay).
- Main debate: Whether this advice is a universal preference for singleness or a contextual recommendation for a time of distress.
- Theological theme: Vocation and the freedom to serve God without distraction; the variety of gifts among believers.
- Best use: Pastoral counseling that affirms both marriage and singleness as callings, emphasizing gift and self-examination.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.
KJV King James Version 1769
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I am ;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain even as I.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Digo pues á los solteros y á las viudas, que bueno les es si se quedaren como yo.
Mas digo aos solteiros, e às viúvas que lhes é bom se permanecessem como eu estou.
A ceux qui ne sont pas mariés et aux veuves, je dis qu’ il leur est bon de rester comme moi.
Ich sage zwar den Ledigen und Witwen: Es ist ihnen gut, wenn sie auch bleiben wie ich.
Doch ik zeg den ongetrouwden, en den weduwen: Het is hun goed, indien zij blijven, gelijk als ik.
Ai celibi e alle vedove, però, dico che è bene per loro che se ne stiano come sto anch’io.
A mówię nieżonatym i wdowom: Dobrze im jest, jeźliby tak zostali, jako i ja.
Безбрачным же и вдовам говорю: хорошо им оставаться, как я.
我對著沒有嫁娶 的和 寡婦 說，若 他們 常 像 我 就好。
But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them to be even as I am.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 7:8
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree on the meaning of this verse. Paul is not commanding singleness but recommending it as advantageous. The Greek word kalon denotes what is excellent, fitting, or expedient, not morally superior to marriage. Barnes and Calvin both stress the context of “the present distress” (1 Cor 7:26), a time of persecution and hardship. Gill notes that “good” here means “more expedient and profitable,” not that marriage is sinful. Wesley adds that the verse has no necessary reference to a state of persecution, but Paul offers his own singleness as an example of contentment. The key constraint appears in verse 7: each person has a gift from God, and verse 9 makes clear that those without self-control should marry. The consensus: remaining unmarried is good when it is a genuine gift, not when it becomes a path to temptation.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Situational Advice: Paul’s reference to 'the present distress' (v. 26) and his permission to marry (v. 9) suggest the advice was shaped by persecution and urgency.
- Universal Preference for Singleness: Paul's wish that 'all men were like me' (v. 7) and his praise of undivided devotion (vv. 32–35) indicate a lasting ideal.
- Neutral Option: Paul presents singleness as merely advantageous, not commanded; both states are valid gifts from God.
What is clear: The verse does not command singleness, and it affirms marriage as a legitimate choice for those who need it.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Paul's marital status | Paul was unmarried when he wrote these words. | Whether he had never married (Wesley) or was a widower (Clarke, Gill). The text does not settle this. |
| Meaning of 'unmarried' (ἄγαμοι) | It refers to those not currently married, including both never-married persons and widowers. | Some commentators emphasize widowers (Clarke); others keep the category general (Barnes, Calvin). |
| Is singleness morally superior? | Both states are gifts from God (v. 7) and neither is sinful. | Some traditions have seen singleness as a higher calling (early church fathers); Reformation and modern interpreters see it as equal in value. |
| Applicability beyond the first century | The principle of undivided devotion to the Lord applies at all times. | Whether the 'present distress' (v. 26) makes Paul’s advice temporary or whether it remains a general preference. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul is responding to a letter from the Corinthians (1 Cor 7:1). Some in the church had adopted the view that sexual contact was defiling, leading them to question whether marriage itself was sinful. The city of Corinth was notorious for sexual immorality, and this ascetic reaction was understandable, but Paul steers a middle course.
In the opening of chapter 7, he affirms that marriage is a legitimate remedy for temptation (vv. 2, 5). Then in verse 7 he expresses a wish that all were like him, single, but immediately adds that each has a gift from God. This sets up verse 8 as an application of that principle: for those without a spouse, it is good to remain as Paul is.
“The unmarried” (agamois) could include either the never-married or widowers. Clarke and Gill think Paul was a widower, pointing to ancient traditions that ranked Paul among the married apostles. Wesley argues he was always single, based on Acts 7:58 and the early history. The text leaves the question open, but Paul uses himself as an example of someone content in singleness.
Widows receive separate mention because they were a vulnerable group in the early church. Typically, young widows were urged to remarry to avoid dependence on the church (1 Tim 5:14). Here Paul offers an alternative: if they can remain single, they are free to serve the Lord without the cares of a household (compare vv. 32, 35). The “present distress” (v. 26) likely refers to external pressures, persecution, economic hardship, or the urgency of the gospel mission. This shapes Paul’s counsel: in such times, singleness offers practical advantages for undivided devotion.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and lexical resources note no significant textual variants for 1 Corinthians 7:8. The Greek text is stable across the major manuscript families. The slight differences in English renderings (e.g., “continue” vs. “remain”) reflect translation choices, not underlying textual issues.
Reception History
This verse has shaped the church’s teaching on celibacy and marriage from the beginning. Early interpreters such as Jerome and Augustine read Paul as giving a clear preference to virginity, though they allowed marriage as a concession. Augustine saw the verse as supporting the metaphor of Christ as the bridegroom and the church as the bride. The Reformation brought a shift: Calvin and Luther insisted that singleness is a gift, not a higher state, and that marriage is equally holy. Many modern Protestants read the verse as situational, emphasizing Paul’s concession in verse 9. Catholic teaching has maintained that consecrated celibacy is a special calling that allows undivided service, while affirming marriage as a sacrament. Across traditions, the verse has been used to honor both vocations without pitting them against each other.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Meaning of “Good.” Paul does not say marriage is bad. Kalos means advantageous or fitting, the same word used in verse 1. Singleness is good when it frees a person for service, but it is not the only good.
- The Gift of Contentment. Paul points to himself: “even as I.” His singleness is not a boast but an example of contentment in one’s calling. Each believer must discover the gift God has given (v. 7).
- The Freedom to Serve. Verse 32, 35 explains why singleness can be beneficial: fewer distractions, more energy for the Lord’s work. This is not a burden but an opportunity.
Five-Point Outline
- Context: Paul answers a question about marriage from the Corinthians, correcting an overreaction against sexual sin.
- Definition: “Unmarried” includes widowers and the never-married; “widows” are specially named for their vulnerable position.
- Evaluation: Remaining single is “good” in the sense of expedient, not morally superior.
- Condition: This advice assumes self-control. Verse 9 is the safety valve: if they burn with passion, let them marry.
- Example: Paul offers himself as a model of contentment, but he never commands others to copy him.
Illustration Hooks
- A single professional who chooses to remain unmarried to devote extra time to ministry, but wrestles with loneliness.
- A widow who, after decades of marriage, discovers a new season of independence and service in the church.
- A young adult feeling social pressure to marry, unsure whether they have the gift of contentment or are just afraid of commitment.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Is it a sin to want to get married? (No, Paul explicitly permits it in v. 9.)
- How do I know if I have the gift of singleness? (The answer often emerges through testing: can you live chastely and contentedly without marriage?)
- Does Paul’s advice still apply when we are not facing persecution? (The principle of undivided devotion remains, but the urgency may differ.)
Leading a Discussion
Paul writes to believers in a church that is confused about marriage. His goal is not to rank lifestyles but to help each person find their calling. As you read this verse together, keep in mind that the same apostle who writes “it is good to remain unmarried” also quotes the Lord’s command that married couples should not divorce (v. 10, 11). Paul values both states. Your group’s goal is to understand what “good” means in this specific context and how it applies today.
Discussion Questions
- What does the Greek word kalon (good) tell you about the kind of good Paul has in mind? How is it different from saying marriage is bad?
- Why do you think Paul speaks to widows separately from the other unmarried people? What might their situation have been in the early church?
- Read 1 Corinthians 7:7 and 7:9. How do these verses qualify what Paul says here? Do they contradict him, or do they complete his thought?
- Paul says “if they abide even as I.” What does Paul’s own example add? Is he imposing his preference, or offering a model of contentment?
- In what ways can singleness be a gift for serving God (see vv. 32, 35)? How can marriage also be a gift?
- What pressures do single or widowed people face in your church community? Are they encouraged to pursue marriage as the only good option?
- How might the “present distress” (v. 26) affect the way you apply this verse? Would your advice change if the church were facing persecution?
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 7:1 | Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. |
| I Corinthians 7:7 | Yet I wish that all men were like me. However, each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind. |
| 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 7:27 | Are you bound to a wife? Don’t seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don’t seek a wife. |
| 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 7:34 | There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. |
| I Corinthians 7:35 | This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction. |
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
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke interprets the "unmarried" in this passage as men who have been widowed, just as the "widows" are women who have lost their husbands. He takes Paul's phrase "even as I" to mean the apostle himself was a widower, citing early Christian writers who included Paul among the married apostles.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes reads Paul's advice here as a practical concession for a time of persecution, not a permanent rule. He notes that "unmarried" covers both never-married people and widowers, and that Paul separates widows because he will address never-married women later in the chapter. The point is situational, not universal.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that an unmarried life has genuine advantages, but it is not a universal calling. Only those who receive the special gift of continence from God should choose it, and even then a permanent vow is unwise because a person's ability to remain chaste may change over time.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Therefore I say vnto the vnmaried, and vnto the widowes, It is good for them if they abide euen as I doe.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads Paul's advice to the unmarried and widows as a personal recommendation, not a divine command. He argues that Paul likely means widowers specifically, since they are grouped with widows. The apostle's own singleness, which Gill believes was the result of being widowed, makes his counsel about the advantages of remaining single more credible and seasoned.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB distinguishes Paul's address to the unmarried as a broad category including both sexes from his specific mention of widows. He also notes that Paul's phrase "even as I" refers to the apostle's own unmarried state, citing 1 Corinthians 9:5 as confirmation.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry stresses that Paul calls it good to remain unmarried, but not because marriage itself is sinful. He warns against the ancient error of turning this counsel into a condemnation of marriage, noting Paul speaks by permission, not commandment, and offers the gift of celibacy only to those who can receive it.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley insists Paul's recommendation of singleness has nothing to do with avoiding persecution. He reads Paul's statement as a personal preference rooted in the apostle's own lifelong celibacy, which historical evidence from Acts suggests was his permanent state.