Denny Burk seeks to argue that Paul the Apostle was a widower.
His seven points of support are:
1. Paul puts himself in the category of being “unmarried” in 1 Corinthians 7:8.
2. The word “unmarried” translates the Greek word agamos.
3. Paul uses the term agamos to refer to those who have been married but now are no longer married.
4. The context of agamos in 1 Corinthians 7:8 is dominated by Paul’s instructions to those who are married or who have been married.
5. The Greek word for “widower” was not in use during the Koine period.
6. The word for “unmarried” appears to be the masculine word for someone who has lost a spouse.
7. As a good Pharisee, it is highly unlikely that Paul would have been single his entire life.
Read the details of the points here.
I don’t believe that Paul’s married or unmarried life makes any difference to our understanding of his teaching. It might carry a certain interest if we consider a history of married life behind some of his statements about marriage and single life.
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