1 Corinthians 7:7

7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

1 Corinthians 7:7 in Other Translations

7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

7 But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.

7 Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me - a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others.

7 I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift from God, one this and another that.

1 Corinthians 7:7 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 7:7

For I would that all men were even as I myself
The apostle speaks not of his state and condition, as married or unmarried, for it is not certain which he was; some think he had a wife, others not: it looks, however, as if he had not at this time, as appears from ( 1 Corinthians 7:8 ) but be it which it will, it can hardly be thought he should wish all men to be in either state, either all married, or all unmarried; but he speaks of the gift of continency, which he had, as the following words show; and this he desires for all men, that they might not be in any danger from Satan's temptations, and that they might be more fit for and intent upon the service of Christ. The Syriac version adds, (atwykdb) in "purity", or "chastity"; which may be preserved in a marriage state, as well as in single life:

but every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner,
and another after that:
all the gifts of nature and grace which men have, they have of God, and not of themselves; and every man has a gift proper to himself; no one man has all gifts, but some one, and some another; and with respect to the case in hand, one man has the gift of continency, another the gift of marriage; all cannot contain themselves, only to whom it is given: and all are not disposed to marriage; some are inclined to a single life, and some to a marriage state; and of those that are married, some can abstain from the use of the marriage bed longer than others, without being in danger of being tempted by Satan for their incontinency; and such a disposition is desirable.

1 Corinthians 7:7 In-Context

5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.

7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.

9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Cross References

• 1. ver 8; 1 Corinthians 9:5
• 2. Matthew 19:11,12; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:4,11