SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:8
Digo, pues, a los por casar y a los viudos, que bueno les es si se quedaren como yo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 7:8
Verse 8. The unmarried and widows] It is supposed that the apostle speaks here of men who had been married, in the word agamoi, but were now widowers; as he does of women who had been married, in the word chrai, but were now widows. And when he says wv kagw, even as I, he means that he himself was a widower; for several of the ancients rank Paul among the married apostles.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows , etc.] Not by way of command, but advice: by the unmarried he means, either such men who never were in a married state, or else such who had been married, but their wives were dead; which latter sense seems more agreeable, since they are joined with widows, who had lost their husbands: it is good for them if they abide ; unmarried, and do not change their condition any more; not that it was sinful to marry again, for he allows of it in the next verse, in case they have not the gift of continence; and therefore good here, is not opposed to evil, only signifies that it would be better for them, more expedient and profitable for them; they would be more free from the cares of life, have less trouble, and be more at leisure to serve the Lord; and which he knew by experience, and therefore, proposes himself as an example: even as I ; that is, as he was then; for at that time it seems certain that he had no wife; though whether he had had one, and she was now dead, or whether he had never been married, may be matter of dispute; the former seems most agreeable, since he proposes himself as an example to widowers and widows; and having known what a married and single state both were, was better able to give his judgment of both, and proper advice to such persons which must come with more force and strength, and a better grace, from such an one.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The apostle tells the Corinthians that it was good, in that juncture of time, for Christians to keep themselves single. Yet he says tha marriage, and the comforts of that state, are settled by Divine wisdom Though none may break the law of God, yet that perfect rule leaves me at liberty to serve him in the way most suited to their powers an circumstances, of which others often are very unfit judges. All mus determine for themselves, seeking counsel from God how they ought to act.
Greek Textus Receptus
λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S δε 1161 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM αγαμοις 22 N-DPM και 2532 CONJ ταις 3588 T-DPF χηραις 5503 N-DPF καλον 2570 A-NSN αυτοις 846 P-DPM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S εαν 1437 COND μεινωσιν 3306 5661 V-AAS-3P ως 5613 ADV καγω 2504 P-1NS-C
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:8 {To the unmarried and to the widows} (tois agamois kai tais cerais). It is possible that by "the unmarried" (masculine plural) the apostle means only men since widows are added and since virgins receive special treatment later (verse #25) and in verse #32 ho agamos is the unmarried man. It is hardly likely that Paul means only widowers and widows and means to call himself a widower by hws kagw (even as I). After discussing marital relations in verses #2-7 he returns to the original question in verse #1 and repeats his own personal preference as in verse #7. He does not say that it is _better_ to be unmarried, but only that it is _good_ (kalon as in verse #1) for them to remain unmarried. agamos is an old word and in N.T. occurs only in this passage. In verses #11, 34 it is used of women where the old Greeks would have used anandros, without a husband.
