John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 7:39

"A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord." — 1 Corinthians 7:39 (ASV)

The wife is bound. He had previously spoken without distinction about husbands and wives, but because wives, due to the modesty of their sex, might seem to have less freedom, he considered it necessary to give some additional special instructions concerning them. He now, therefore, teaches that women are no less free than men to marry a second time when they become widows.

We have already mentioned above that those who desired a second marriage were branded with the reproach of intemperance, and that, intending to put some kind of slight upon them, those who had been content with being married only once were accustomed to be presented with the “chaplet of chastity.” Furthermore, this initial opinion had, over time, become prevalent among Christians, for second marriages had no blessing pronounced upon them, and some Councils prohibited the clergy from being present on such occasions. The Apostle here condemns that kind of tyranny and declares that no obstacle should be placed in the way of widows marrying, if they wish.

It is of little importance, and as far as the meaning is concerned, it does not matter, whether we say that the wife is bound legi, (to the law), in the dative, or lege, (by the law), in the ablative. For it is the law that declares the connection between husband and wife to be indissoluble. If, however, you read it in the dative, the term will convey the idea of authority or obligation. Now he reasons from opposites: for if a woman is bound to her husband for life, she is then set free by his death. After she has been set free, let her be married to whom she will.

When the verb to sleep means to die, it refers not to the soul, but to the body, as is evident from its constant use in Scripture. Therefore, a foolish part is played by certain fanatics when, from this small word, they endeavor to prove that human souls, after being separated from their bodies, are destitute of thought and intelligence—or, in other words, of their life.

Only in the Lord. This is thought to be added to admonish them in passing, that they should not yoke themselves with the irreligious, or covet their society. This, I acknowledge, is true, but I am of the opinion that more is meant: that they should do this in a devout manner and in the fear of the Lord, for it is in this way that marriages are formed auspiciously.