1 Corinthians 7:1-7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Principles of Marriage
7 Now in response to the matters you wrote[a] about: “It is good for a man not to have relations with[b] a woman.”[c] 2 But because sexual immorality is so common,[d](A) each man should have his own wife,(B) and each woman should have her own husband. 3 A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility(C) to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. 4 A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does. 5 Do not deprive(D) one another sexually—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to[e] prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say the following[f] as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift(E) from God, one person in this way and another in that way.
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- 1 Corinthians 7:1 Other mss add to me
- 1 Corinthians 7:1 Lit not to touch
- 1 Corinthians 7:1 The words in quotation marks are a principle that the Corinthians wrote to Paul about to ask for his view.
- 1 Corinthians 7:2 Lit because of immoralities
- 1 Corinthians 7:5 Other mss add fasting and to
- 1 Corinthians 7:6 Lit say this; some interpret the word as referring to v. 2, vv. 2-5, v. 5 (wholly or in part), or v. 6
1 Corinthians 7:1-7
Amplified Bible
Teaching on Marriage
7 Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage]. 2 But because of [the temptation to participate in] sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife [with good will and kindness], and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have [exclusive] authority over her own body, but the husband shares with her; and likewise the husband does not have [exclusive] authority over his body, but the wife shares with him. 5 Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I am saying this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all the people were as I am; but each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that.
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1 Corinthians 7:10-16
Holman Christian Standard Bible
About Married People
10 I command the married(A)—not I, but the Lord—a wife is not to leave[a] her husband. 11 But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband—and a husband is not to leave his wife.(B) 12 But I (not the Lord)[b] say to the rest: If any brother(C) has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. 13 Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God(D) by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband.[c] Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you[d] to live in peace. 16 For you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?
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- 1 Corinthians 7:10 Or separate from, or divorce
- 1 Corinthians 7:12 Jesus did not address the situation of a marriage in the Gentile world where only one person is a believer.
- 1 Corinthians 7:14 Lit the brother
- 1 Corinthians 7:15 Other mss read us
1 Corinthians 7:10-16
Amplified Bible
10 But to the [a]married [believers] I give instructions—not I, but the Lord—that the wife is not to separate from her husband, 11 (but even if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be [b]reconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not leave his wife.
12 To the [c]rest I declare—I, not the Lord [since Jesus did not discuss this]—that if any [believing] brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ], and she consents to live with him, he must not leave her. 13 And if any [believing] woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is [d]sanctified [that is, he receives the blessings granted] through his [Christian] wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be [ceremonially] [e]unclean, but as it is they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him leave. In such cases the [remaining] brother or sister is not [spiritually or morally] bound. But God has called us to [f]peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband [by leading him to Christ]? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife [by leading her to Christ]?
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- 1 Corinthians 7:10 Couples who are both believers.
- 1 Corinthians 7:11 In reference to married Christians, Paul teaches that reconciliation is always preferable to separation or divorce and should be actively sought.
- 1 Corinthians 7:12 Christians married to non-believers. It is evident that some of the married couples in Corinth had wed before either of them had become Christians, and subsequently the believing spouses probably wondered whether their marriage was legitimate in the eyes of God.
- 1 Corinthians 7:14 The unbeliever is not saved by marriage to a Christian. Each person, whether spouse or child, must make a personal decision to accept and follow Christ to receive salvation and God’s promises.
- 1 Corinthians 7:14 The word used here seems to be borrowed from the language of OT ritual. There were many things that could render a person ceremonially unclean. All these things would disqualify a person from participating in worship, and required cleansing rituals to correct.
- 1 Corinthians 7:15 Probably peace between the spouses, hopefully leading to restoration and salvation (v 16).
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