1 Corinthians 7:39,40 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The wife is bound by the law See on Romans 7:2. Or the apostle may mean the law of the gospel, called the law of faith, and the law of liberty; or he may intend the law of marriage given to Adam and Eve in paradise: is bound to her husband so long as he liveth This is the general rule, from which is excepted the case of fornication, (Matthew 5:32,) and desertion, 1 Corinthians 7:15. The apostle repeats what he had enjoined in the preceding part of the chapter, (1 Corinthians 7:10-13,) namely, that married Christian women were not to leave their husbands on account of the troubles which in that time of persecution attended the married state. But if her husband be dead Or if he be justly divorced from her, or maliciously deserts her; she is at liberty to be married, but only in the Lord That is, let Christians only marry Christians; or let the truly pious only marry the truly pious: a standing direction, and one of the utmost importance. But she is happier Approaches nearer to the happiness of heaven, which consists in freely enjoying God, and uninterruptedly serving him; if she so abide Remain a widow; after my judgment See on 1 Corinthians 7:6; 1 Corinthians 7:25: he speaks only modestly, not doubtingly. And I think that I also As well as any of you, and no less than the other apostles; have the Spirit of God Teaching me in all things that concern the religion of Jesus; or, that I am infallibly guided by God's Spirit, and endued with knowledge and wisdom to determine matters of controversy in the church. The word δοκω, rendered I think, in this, as in many other passages, does not express doubting, but certainty, 1 Corinthians 4:9; Mark 10:42; Luke 8:18; 1 Corinthians 11:16; 1 Corinthians 14:32. From these, and many other examples which might be adduced, it is evident that the word in this verse does not imply that the apostle was in any doubt whether he was inspired in giving this judgment. It is only a soft way of expressing his certain knowledge of his own inspiration, and may have been used ironically in reference to, and reproof of, the false teachers and others who called his inspiration in question. Whoever therefore would conclude from hence that St. Paul was not certain he had the Spirit of Christ, neither understands the true import of the words, nor considers how expressly he lays claim to the Spirit, both in this epistle, 1Co 2:16; 1 Corinthians 14:37; and in the other, 1 Corinthians 13:3.