1 Corinthians 7:39

“The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth, etc.] That is, she is bound to her husband, by the law of marriage, during his life; nor can the bond of marriage between them be dissolved but by the death of one of them, except in the cases of adultery, and wilful desertion, (see <450702> Romans 7:2,3). But if her husband be dead; or “asleep”, for so the word may be rendered; though it designs death: death is often expressed by sleeping in Scripture; for the dead will not always remain in such a state, but be raised from thence at the last day, just as persons are awaked out of sleep. The Alexandrian copy reads apoyanh, “dead”; and so seems the Ethiopic version to have read. She…”

“bound by the law--The oldest manuscripts omit "by the law." only in the Lord--Let her marry only a Christian (Co2 6:14).”

“The wife is bound ... - ; see the notes at Romans 7:2. Only in the Lord - That is, only to one who is a Christian; with a proper sense of her obligations to Christ, and so as to promote his glory. The apostle supposed that could not be done if she were allowed to marry a pagan, or one of a different religion. The same sentiment he advances in 2 Corinthians 6:14, and it was his intention, undoubtedly, to affirm that it was proper for a widow to marry no one who was not a Christian. The reasons at that time would be obvious: (1) They could have no sympathy and fellow-feeling on the most important of all subjects, if the one was a Christian and the other a pagan; see 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, etc.…”

“Only in the Lord - That is, only if Christians marry Christians: a standing direction, and one of the utmost importance. 1 Corinthians 7:40”

“7:39 A widow may marry another man, but only if he loves the Lord. Paul strongly discouraged the marriage of Christians to unbelievers (cp. 2 Cor 6:14-16).”

“wife: Co1 7:10, Co1 7:15; Rom 7:2, Rom 7:3 only: Gen 6:2; Deu 7:3, Deu 7:4; Mal 2:11; Co2 6:14-16 1 Corinthians 7:40”