1 Corinthians 7:28

But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church while responding to their specific inquiries about marital status. He speaks during a period of present distress to believers evaluating whether to enter or remain in marriage.

The words — γαμὴσῃς (gamēsēs) literally means "you shall marry," marking the conditional action. οὐχ ἥμαρτες (ouch hēmartes) translates to "you have not sinned," establishing the moral neutrality of the act.

The thread — The passage connects to 1 Corinthians 7:26, which cites the present crisis as a reason to remain as one is, and 1 Corinthians 7:32, which contrasts the unmarried person's freedom from worldly concern. It aligns with Hebrews 13:4, which commands that marriage be honored by all.

Why it lands — The text states that marriage is permissible and not sinful, then warns of inevitable earthly troubles. It asks the reader to choose based on practical endurance and spiritual focus rather than treating marriage as a spiritually superior or inferior state.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

Cross-references

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
1 Corinthians 7:26 Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
1 Corinthians 7:32 I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
2 Corinthians 1:23 I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.