1 COR 7:40 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) However, in my opinion, she’d be happier if she didn’t marry again, and I think it’s God’s spirit that wants me to say that.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Yet according to my judgment she would be happier if she would remain as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

UST However, I think that any woman whose husband has died will be more blessed if she does not marry again. While that is my opinion, I think that God’s Spirit speaks through me.

BSB In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have [the] Spirit of God.

BLB But she is more blessed if she should remain in the same manner, according to my judgment; and I think myself also to have the Spirit of God.

AICNT But in my opinion, she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

OEB Yet she will be happier if she remains as she is – in my opinion, for I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

WEBBE But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgement, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is – and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!

LSV and she is happier if she may so remain—according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

FBV But in my opinion she would be happier if she didn't re-marry—and I think I too have the Spirit of God when I say this.

TCNT Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. [fn]And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

7:40 And ¦ For WH

T4T However, I think that she will be happier if she does not marry again. And I believe that the Spirit of God is directing me as I say that.

LEB But she is happier if she remains thus, according to my opinion—and I think I have the Spirit of God.

BBE But it will be better for her to keep as she is, in my opinion: and it seems to me that I have the Spirit of God.

Moff However, she is happier if she remains as she is; that is my opinion — and I suppose I have the Spirit of God as well as other people!

Wymth But in my judgement, her state is a more enviable one if she remains as she is; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.
¶ 

ASV But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

DRA But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.

YLT and she is happier if she may so remain — according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Drby But she is happier if she so remain, according to my judgment; but I think that I also have [fn]God's Spirit.

7.40 Elohim

RV But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
(But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgement: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God. )

SLT And she is happier if she so remain, according to my opinion: and I also think to have the Spirit of God.

Wbstr But she is happier if she so remain, after my judgment; and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

KJB-1769 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
(But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgement: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. )

KJB-1611 But shee is happier if shee sobide, after my iudgment: and I thinke also that I haue the Spirit of God.
(But she is happier if she sobide, after my judgement: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.)

Bshps But she is happier if she so abide, after my iudgement: And I thinke veryly that I haue the spirite of God.
(But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgement: And I think verily/truly that I have the spirit of God.)

Gnva But shee is more blessed, if she so abide, in my iudgement: and I thinke that I haue also the Spirite of God.
(But she is more blessed, if she so abide, in my judgement: and I think that I have also the Spirit of God. )

Cvdl But she is happier yf she so abyde after my iudgment. I thinke verely that I also haue the sprete of God.
(But she is happier if she so abide after my judgement. I think verily/truly that I also have the spirit of God.)

TNT But she is happiar yf she so abyde in my iudgmet And I thinke verely that I have the sprete of God.
(But she is happiar if she so abide in my judgement And I think verily/truly that I have the spirit of God. )

Wycl But sche schal be more blessid, if sche dwellith thus, aftir my counsel; and Y wene, that Y haue the Spirit of God.
(But she shall be more blessed, if she dwelleth/dwells thus, after my counsel; and I wene, that I have the Spirit of God.)

Luth Seliger ist sie aber, wo sie also bleibet, nach meiner Meinung. Ich halte aber, ich habe auch den Geist Gottes.
(Blesseder is they/she/them but, where they/she/them also stay/remain, after mine opinion. I hold/stop but, I have also the spirit God’s.)

ClVg Beatior autem erit si sic permanserit secundum meum consilium: puto autem quod et ego Spiritum Dei habeam.[fn]
(Blessedor however will_be when/but_if so permanserit after/second mine advice: puto however that and I Spirit of_God habeam. )

7.40 Beatior, etc. Satis ostendit beatam esse etiam post mortem viri iterum nubentem fidelem, sed beatiorem non nubentem. Puto autem. Non dubitat Apostolus, sed contemptores increpat, ut et Dominus dicens: Si me sciretis, forsitan et Patrem meum sciretis: Vel, Putas inveniet fidem in terra? verbo dubitationis infidelitatem arguit.

7.40 Blessedor, etc. Satis he_showed blessed to_be also after death men again cloudntem faithful, but happyorem not/no cloudntem. Puto however. Not/No doubts Apostolus, but contemptores increpat, as and Master saying: When/But_if me would_knowis, perhaps and Father mine would_knowis: Or, Putas will_find faith in/into/on earth/land? word doubtsionis infidelitatem argues.

UGNT μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστιν, ἐὰν οὕτως μείνῃ, κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην; δοκῶ δὲ κἀγὼ, Πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἔχειν.
(makariōtera de estin, ean houtōs meinaʸ, kata taʸn emaʸn gnōmaʸn; dokō de kagō, Pneuma Theou eⱪein.)

SBL-GNT μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστιν ἐὰν οὕτως μείνῃ, κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην, δοκῶ ⸀δὲ κἀγὼ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἔχειν.
(makariōtera de estin ean houtōs meinaʸ, kata taʸn emaʸn gnōmaʸn, dokō ⸀de kagō pneuma theou eⱪein.)

RP-GNT Μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστιν ἐὰν οὕτως μείνῃ, κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην· δοκῶ δὲ κἀγὼ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἔχειν.
(Makariōtera de estin ean houtōs meinaʸ, kata taʸn emaʸn gnōmaʸn; dokō de kagō pneuma theou eⱪein.)

TC-GNT Μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστιν ἐὰν οὕτω μείνῃ, κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην· δοκῶ [fn]δὲ κἀγὼ πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἔχειν.
(Makariōtera de estin ean houtō meinaʸ, kata taʸn emaʸn gnōmaʸn; dokō de kagō pneuma Theou eⱪein. )

7:40 δε ¦ γαρ WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

In an earlier letter to Paul, the Corinthians had mentioned some problems and asked him some questions. There are no longer any copies of this letter, so we can only guess what they wrote by reading Paul’s answers. Apparently some of the questions the Corinthians had asked were about marriage and sex. In this section Paul discussed these topics. He wrote about sexual intercourse, divorce, marrying again after a person’s husband or wife dies, and never marrying.

From the way Paul talked, it appears that the Corinthians were thinking that if believers want to be holy, they should abstain from sexual relations. The Corinthians were wondering if married people should sleep together, if Christians who were married to non-Christians should divorce them, and if Christians should get married. Paul gave them some wise teaching on each of these topics. In 7:1–16 he addressed Christians who were married. In 7:17–24 he wrote about his general rule for Christians: Remain as you are. In 7:25–38 he taught Christians who were not married. In 7:39–40 he addressed women whose husbands had died.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul gave/wrote instructions about Christian marriage

Paul’s teaching on marriage

Paragraph 7:39–40

Some women in the Corinthian church were widows. Apparently the Corinthians had asked Paul whether they should remarry. Some of the believers seem to have thought that these widows could be more holy and please God more if they stayed unmarried. Paul said that when a woman’s husband dies, that breaks the marriage tie, and in God’s eyes it is all right for her to marry someone else. But it is also all right if she remains unmarried, and in Paul’s opinion, she may be happier that way.

7:40a

In my judgment, however,

But in my opinion,
However, here is what I think is good for her to do:

In my judgment, however: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as however introduces a contrast with what Paul said in the previous verse about how a widow is free to marry after her husband dies. Here he says that he thinks that a widow will be happier if she does not marry again. Some versions do not translate this conjunction. Express the contrast in a natural way in your language.

The phrase In my judgment has the same meaning as the phrase “I give a judgment” in 7:25c. See the note on 7:25c. Another way to translate this is:

This is my opinion (NCV)

7:40b

she is happier if she remains as she is.

she will be happier if she stays unmarried.
her life will be better if she does not marry again.

she is happier if she remains as she is: The Greek word that the BSB translates as happier can also be translated as “more blessed.” A widow’s life may in some ways be easier or less stressful if she decides not to remarry. She may also have more time and energy to serve the Lord. Paul may have been thinking of “the present crisis” he mentioned in 7:26a, and of the troubles he mentioned in 7:38e. Here is another way to translate this:

it would be better for her to stay single (NLT)

7:40c

And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

And I think that I too have God’s Spirit to help/guide me.
And I say this with the help of God’s Spirit, who is with/in me as well as with/in you.

I think that I too have the Spirit of God: Apparently there were some people in the Corinthian church who said that the Holy Spirit was speaking through them. Paul here claimed that he, as well as they, had God’s Spirit to help him. God’s Spirit helped him to know how to answer the Corinthians’ questions and what to tell them about the problems they were having.

General Comment on 7:40a-c

In some languages it may be natural to reorder these verse parts in order to make clear the implication that Paul’s opinion or judgment came from the Spirit of God. For example:

^40bShe will be happier, however, if she stays as she is. ^40aThat is my opinion, ^40cand I think that I too have God’s Spirit. (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μακαριωτέρα Δέ ἐστίν ἐάν οὕτως μείνῃ κατά τήν ἐμήν γνώμην δοκῶ δέ κἀγώ Πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἔχειν)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind judgment, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “judge.” Alternate translation: [I judge that]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὕτως μείνῃ

thus ˱she˲_˓may˒_remain

Here Paul is referring back to the wife from the previous verse ([7:39](../07/39.md)) whose husband had died. By remain as she is, Paul means “remain unmarried after her husband died.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate remain as she is by clarifying that the wife from the previous verse is in view. Alternate translation: [she remains unmarried] or [she does not marry again]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κἀγὼ, Πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἔχειν

This could mean that: (1) Paul thinks his judgment is backed up by the Spirit of God. Alternate translation: [I have the Spirit of God supporting my judgment] (2) Paul wishes to say that he has the Spirit of God as much as the Corinthians do. Alternate translation: [I also, not just you, have the Spirit of God]