1 Corinthians 7:39-40

Should Widows Remarry?

McGarvey thinks the fourth question was, "Should widows remarry?" Marriage is a contract for life, with but one exception (Romans 7:1-3; Matthew 19:9). If either party died, the other was free to remarry. However, the Christian widow was restricted by Paul to marrying "only in the Lord."

There are two schools of thought regarding the expression "en kurioo," which is translated, "in the Lord." McGarvey translates, "to a Christian." This reasoning says only a Christian is in the Lord (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:2628; Revelation 14:13; Ephesians 6:10; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 2:57). Guy N. Woods in Questions and Answers Open Forum Freed-Hardeman College, quotes from Arndt and Gingrich in their Greek/English Lexicon 'Of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. They "define the phrase enkurioo, 'in the Lord', 'esp. in Paul or John usage, to designate a close personal relation...be or abide in Christ...gameetheenaii en kurioo marry in the Lord marry a Christian, 1 Corinthians 7:39 '." Lipscomb writes, "This prohibits the widow marrying one not a Christian."

The other view is that "in the Lord" means in accord with the Lord's will. In Ephesians 6:1, en kurioo is used in a discussion of children obeying their parents. Certainly Paul's point there is that children should obey their parents as long as what they ask is in accord with the Lord's will.

Again, under the circumstances present at the time of Paul's writing, the Christian widow would face less problems unmarried. Lipscomb and Shepherd say the idea behind, "I think," "implies full persuasion that in the advice he had given he was speaking under the direction of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 7:39-40).