BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR MARRIAGE PARTNER
Sakkie Parsons
Someone writes to me:
“1 Corinthians 7:1–7 speaks about marriage. Can you please tell me what it all means?”
Before I begin explaining how I understand this passage, I want to share something about Corinth at that time:
In Corinth there was a temple to Venus.
The religion in Corinth also involved the worship of Venus—the goddess of love—and part of that worship included about 1,000 temple prostitutes. This not only promoted sexual immorality, but because it was part of their religion, sexual immorality was widespread and dominant in Corinth.
Immorality was the order of the day.
In this regard, here is a wonderful thought:
It shows you and me that no matter how immoral and evil the environment in which you live may be, with the help of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, we can still proclaim the Gospel and be successful.
Back to the topic.
I will explain this passage verse by verse as I understand it.
Verse 1
1 Corinthians 7:1
“Now for the matters you wrote about: ‘It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’”
In older translations it reads:
“It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”
Considering the desires and thoughts that can arise in a person’s heart—meant only for marriage—I am comfortable with this understanding:
If you are not yet married to your beloved, then—plainly speaking—do not become physically intimate.
Verse 2
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
Paul is saying that sex is meant to take place only within marriage. Rather than living in sexual immorality or going to the temple of Venus, it is good to enter into marriage and then be sexually active only with one another—and I emphasize, only with each other.
Hebrews 13:4
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
Even in such an immoral society, Paul gives only one solution regarding sex:
Sex between a husband and wife within marriage.
Any other sexual relationship is unchristian.
Verses 3 and 4
1 Corinthians 7:3–4
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, 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.”
These verses complement each other.
If one spouse feels inclined to withhold intimacy, they should remember:
Matthew 19:4–6
“Haven’t you read… that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.”
That is why Paul writes what he does—because husband and wife are one.
This is how everything in a good Christian marriage should function. Sex is just a strong example because of its deep intimacy.
Verse 5
1 Corinthians 7:5
“Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
This verse reinforces what Paul has already said and emphasizes unity in marriage.
Verse 6
1 Corinthians 7:6
“I say this as a concession, not as a command.”
What is Paul referring to?
In my view, he refers to the previous verse about temporary abstinence for prayer.
He is not contradicting himself or the Christian view of marriage. Rather, he is saying:
If, for example, your spouse wants to devote time to fasting and prayer, you should be considerate enough not to insist on intimacy that might distract them spiritually.
In such a case, it is not withholding—it is mutual understanding and respect.
We also see Paul’s honesty here. He clearly distinguishes between what is a direct command from the Lord and what is his own guidance.
For example:
1 Corinthians 7:25
“Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.”
Verse 7
1 Corinthians 7:7
“I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”
Paul is not saying that Christians should not marry.
If he were, it would contradict God’s design for marriage:
Genesis 2:18
“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:24
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
Paul’s wish is that people would have self-control and purity, especially in a place like Corinth where moral standards were so low.
Conclusion
The overarching message of 1 Corinthians 7:1–7 is:
You love your spouse.
Treat your spouse with the greatest respect.
Remember:
Hebrews 13:4
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
Sakkie