Concerning Married Life

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”(A) But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,(B) and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time,(C) so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan(D) will not tempt you(E) because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command.(F)

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Principles of Marriage

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] 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. A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility(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 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. I say the following[f] as a concession, not as a command.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Other mss add to me
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Lit not to touch
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:1 The words in quotation marks are a principle that the Corinthians wrote to Paul about to ask for his view.
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:2 Lit because of immoralities
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Other mss add fasting and to
  6. 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