1 Corinthians 7:40, She Is Happier If She so Abide

1 Corinthians 7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

William MacDonald observed, “Paul’s frank judgment is that a widow is happier if she remains unmarried. This does not contradict 1 Timothy 5:14 where Paul expresses his judgment that younger widows should marry. Here he is stating his general idea—in 1 Timothy a specific exception. Then he adds, “I think I also have the Spirit of God.”

He further explained, “Some misunderstand these words to mean that Paul was not sure of himself in stating these things! Again we protest vigorously against any such interpretation. There can be no question as to the inspiration of what Paul wrote in this portion. He is using irony here. His apostleship and his teaching had been under attack by some at Corinth. They professed to have the mind of the Lord in what they were saying. Paul is saying in effect, “Whatever else others may say of me, I think that I also have the Spirit of God. They profess to have Him but surely they do not think that they have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit.” We know that Paul did indeed have the Spirit in all that he wrote to us, and that the path of happiness for us is to follow his instructions.”

May God’s people be willing to yield to God’s Word for their spiritual strengthening. Amen.