I Corinthians 7:1-16
Principles for Marriage

Today, 05/04/2023, let us, together in the grace of God, rejoice and reflect on the Word of God in I Corinthians 7:1-16.

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

[King James Version]

Suggested Questions:

1. Why is it good for men not to touch women sexually?

2. If men do not touch women sexually, how can they fulfill God’s commandment for humans to procreate and fill the earth?

3. What does it mean for a husband and wife to fulfill their sexual duties to each other?

4. What does it mean that husband and wife do not have autonomy over their own bodies?

5. Verses 12 and 13 help us understand that verses 10 and 11 are advice for married couples who are also God’s children. But are there any cases where, even if a married couple are God’s children, they can still divorce?

6. What does it mean that the unbelieving husband or wife is sanctified, as taught in verse 14?

7. What does Paul’s assertion before giving advice in verses 12 to 16, “But to the rest speak I, not the Lord,” mean?

Suggested Applications:

1. If you are single and cannot find a person in God to marry, what will you do to avoid committing fornication?

2. If, for some reason, your husband or wife is no longer able to meet your sexual needs, what will you do to avoid committing adultery?