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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Concerning Marriage

Now about what you asked: “Is it advisable for a man not to touch a woman inappropriately?”[a] Yes, and yet[b] because sexual immorality is so rampant,[c] every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband.

A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should do the same for her husband. A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but his wife does. Do not withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so just for a set time, in order to devote yourselves to prayer.[d] Then you should come together again so that Satan does not tempt you through 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 The Gk. lacks inappropriately
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:2 The Gk. lacks Yes, and yet
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:2 Lit. because of instances of sexual immorality
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Other mss. read to fasting and prayer