In my judgment: in this case Good News Bible follows more closely than Revised Standard Version the order of the Greek. This brings out better the contrast or distinction between “my opinion” and “God’s Spirit.”

The phrase remains as she is may be translated as “remains unmarried” or “doesn’t get married.”

Verse 40b is similar in language and thought to verse 25b and completes this section. I in the Greek is stressed, probably meaning “I too” as in Good News Bible (also New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Barrett). This statement by Paul may allude to the claims of people in Corinth who “think” that they have special wisdom (3.18; 8.2) or special gifts from the Holy Spirit (14.37). Moffatt has “I suppose I have the Spirit of God as well as other people.” However, Translator’s New Testament‘s “moreover I think I have God’s Spirit” is certainly a possible translation (so Fee). The difficulty arises because Paul is trying to do two things at the same time: (1) to indicate a slight contrast with the preceding words (“it is [only] my opinion, but…”), and (2) to introduce a new thought. However, Good News Bible‘s translation is most likely the more correct one, but it could be restated in some languages as “I think that God’s Spirit is guiding me.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .