Principles of Marriage

Now in response to the matters you wrote[a] about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”[b] But because sexual immorality is so common,[c](A) each man should have sexual relations with his own wife,(B) and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband. A husband should fulfill his marital duty(C) to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. 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. Do not deprive(D) one another—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to[d] prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command.

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Footnotes

  1. 7:1 Other mss add to me
  2. 7:1 Or “It is good for a man not to use a woman for sex”; lit “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”
  3. 7:2 Lit because of immoralities
  4. 7:5 Other mss add fasting and to

Concerning Christian Marriage

Now concerning the things about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to touch[a] a woman.” But because of sexual immorality, let each man have[b] his own wife and let each woman have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his obligation to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. And likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does. Do not defraud one another, except perhaps by agreement, for a time, in order that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then you should be together[c] again, lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self control. But I say this as a concession, not as a command.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:1 I.e., in a sexual sense
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:2 I.e., in the sense of “have sexual relations with”
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Literally “at the same”