1 Corinthians 7:1-6

Expanded Bible

About Marriage

7 Now ·I will discuss [^Lconcerning] the things you wrote me about [^Cin a letter from the Corinthians; see 8:1; 12:1; 16:1]. It is good for a man not to ·have sexual relations with [^Ltouch; ^Ca euphemism for sex] a woman [^Cprobably another slogan (6:12; 8:1, 4; 10:23) asserting that a celibate lifestyle was spiritually superior]. ² But because ·sexual sin is a danger [of sexual temptations; ^Lof sexual sins], each man should ·have [or have sexual relations with] his own wife, and each woman should ·have [or have sexual relations with] her own husband. ³ The husband should give his wife all that he owes her as his wife [^Cmeet her sexual needs]. And the wife should give her husband all that she owes him as her husband [^Cmeet his sexual needs]. ⁴ The wife does not have ·full rights [^Lauthority] over her own body; her husband shares them. And the husband does not have ·full rights [authority] over his own body; his wife shares them [^Crevolutionary teaching in the first century, when wives were generally viewed as the possession of their husbands]. ⁵ Do not ·refuse to give your bodies to [refuse sex to; ^Ldeprive] each other, unless you both agree to stay away from sexual relations for a time so you can ·give your time [devote yourselves] to prayer. Then ·come together again [resume your sexual relationship] so Satan cannot tempt you because of a lack of self-control. ⁶ I say this ·to give you permission to stay away from sexual relations for a time [^Las a concession/allowance]. It is not a command to do so.