1 Corinthians 7:39
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Paul doesn't just say "remarry if you want"; he adds a crucial qualification: "only in the Lord." This isn't about finding a partner who goes to church, but someone whose life is deeply integrated with Christ, reflecting a shared devotion and guiding principle for the new marriage.
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing the Corinthian church's questions about marriage and singleness. Having just discussed whether married couples should separate, he now clarifies the permanence of marriage and the freedom that comes with widowhood, emphasizing that any new marriage should align with faith in Christ. This flows into his broader advice on navigating life's circumstances with undivided devotion to the Lord.
Paul speaks about marriage with a seriousness that can feel intense. What makes this commitment so profound, and what does it mean to be 'bound'?
Paul uses strong language to describe the marital union. He states, 'A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives.' This isn't just a social contract; it reflects a divine design for marriage. The bond is intended to be lifelong, a powerful symbol of Christ's relationship with His church. Even when facing difficult circumstances, this commitment is to be honored until death dissolves it.
While death ends a marriage, the freedom that follows isn't a free-for-all. Paul adds a crucial qualification for remarriage. What is it?
When a spouse dies, the surviving partner is indeed 'free.' However, Paul doesn't leave this freedom open-ended. He adds a vital condition: 'only in the Lord.' This means that remarriage should be within the community of faith, with someone who shares a commitment to Christ. It’s not just about finding someone new, but about finding someone who walks with God, ensuring the new union honors Him.
Understand the original words
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dedetai · Greek Verb
To be legally or morally tied to an obligation, person, or covenantal commitment. It implies a binding relationship.
eleuthera · Greek Adjective
A state of release from previous legal, moral, or ritual obligations. In Christian theology, it refers to liberation from the law of sin and death or, in this context, from the marriage covenant upon a spouse's death.
en kyriō · Greek Prepositional Phrase
A standard or boundary indicating that Christian conduct, including marriage, must be consistent with the authority, character, and will of Jesus Christ.
Paul's instruction on remarriage is set against the backdrop of both Roman and Jewish customs, but he elevates it with a distinctly Christian principle: that unions should be 'in the Lord,' reflecting a deep spiritual union with Christ and fellow believers.
c. AD 41-54
Roman Rule in Corinth
The Apostle Paul first visited Corinth around AD 49-50, establishing a church amidst a vibrant, cosmopolitan, and often morally ambiguous city under Roman governance.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
Paul spent about 18 months here, teaching and establishing the church. He later wrote this letter from Ephesus.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
Paul addresses divisions, immorality, and various questions the Corinthian church had raised about Christian living, including marriage and relationships.
Early 1st century AD
Roman Marriage Laws
Roman society generally recognized a wife's legal freedom upon her husband's death, allowing remarriage, though social customs could influence this.
Early 1st century AD
Jewish Divorce Practices
Jewish law permitted divorce under certain conditions, and remarriage after widowhood was common and encouraged.
This passage echoes the same principle of marital bond, stating that a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he is alive, reinforcing the permanence of marriage until death.
Matthew 19:4-6Jesus directly addresses the permanence of marriage, citing creation and stating that 'what God has joined together, let not man separate,' underscoring the divine authority behind the marriage union and its dissolution only by death.
1 Timothy 5:14This verse advises younger widows to marry, bear children, and manage their households, which implicitly supports the freedom mentioned in 1 Corinthians 7:39 for widows to remarry under certain conditions.
Ephesians 5:22-33While discussing the mutual responsibilities within marriage, this passage uses the profound imagery of Christ and the Church to illustrate the deep, Christ-centered union that marriage is intended to reflect, aligning with the 'only in the Lord' qualification for remarriage.
Paul doesn't just say "remarry if you want"; he adds a crucial qualification: "only in the Lord." This isn't about finding a partner who goes to church, but someone whose life is deeply integrated with Christ, reflecting a shared devotion and guiding principle for the new marriage.
Paul is addressing the Corinthian church's questions about marriage and singleness. Having just discussed whether married couples should separate, he now clarifies the permanence of marriage and the freedom that comes with widowhood, emphasizing that any new marriage should align with faith in Christ. This flows into his broader advice on navigating life's circumstances with undivided devotion to the Lord.
Paul is addressing the Corinthian church's questions about marriage and singleness. Having just discussed whether married couples should separate, he now clarifies the permanence of marriage and the freedom that comes with widowhood, emphasizing that any new marriage should align with faith in Christ. This flows into his broader advice on navigating life's circumstances with undivided devotion to the Lord.
"A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord." — Paul doesn't just say "remarry if you want"; he adds a crucial qualification: "only in the Lord." This isn't about finding a partner who goes to church, but someone whose life is deeply integrated…
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Last reviewed October 2026
