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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Co_7:8-9
8But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
1Co_7:8 "the unmarried and to widows" The first term is masculine and could refer to (1) all unmarried people or (2) to widowers. The second term is feminine and relates to (1) those whose spouses had died or (2) widows.
▣ "it is good for them" See note at 1Co_7:1 on "good."
▣ "if" This is a third class conditional sentence, which refers to potential action.
▣ "they remain even as I" Paul has just mentioned a spiritual gift in 1Co_7:7, but this verse mentions a situation in life, not a gift. Possibly "gift" is used in this context in the sense of attitude or perspective.
1Co_7:9 "if" This is a first class conditional which is assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes. Many will want to marry not because they are evil, but because they do not have the gift of celibacy.
▣ "they do not have self-control" This sounds so negative to modern ears. Is Paul saying marriage is a sign of a believer's lack of self-control? Is it a less spiritual state? In light of the teaching of all Scripture this cannot be true. Paul is directing his comments to the current local, temporal situation. This is not a universal comment on marriage and singleness. Marriage is not the lesser of two evils; promiscuous sex, however, is always out of bounds.
▣ "let them marry" This is an aorist active imperative. Paul supported marriage (cf. 1Ti_5:14).
NASB "for it is better to marry than to burn with passion"
NKJV, TEV "For it is better to marry than to burn with passion"
NRSV "For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion"
NJB "Since it is better to marry than to be burned up"
Notice the contrast between "to marry" (aorist active infinitive) and "to burn" (present passive infinitive). The marriage brings the continuing passion under control. This is also not a disparaging comment on marriage, but a practical observation. Marriage is the normal way to fulfill a strong and recurrent, God-given desire. This same term "burn" is used by Paul of himself in 2Co_11:29, therefore, it is not automatically a negative term.