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Priscilla: I Corinthians 7:1-16
Principles for Marriage

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]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, today I offer You my reflection on the Word of God in I Corinthians 7:1-16, about the general principles of marriage.

I understand verses 1 and 2 to mean that: The Apostle Paul answered the people of God in the Church of Corinth that it is good for single men to refrain from sexual relations with women because such relationships are immoral. However, to avoid the sin of immorality, both men and women should marry.

I understand verses 3 to 6 to mean that You established marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Through sexual relations, the husband and wife become one flesh. The husband and wife have a duty to satisfy each other’s sexual needs, to procreate and continue their lineage, and to enjoy the physical pleasure that You have given to married life. Therefore, neither the husband nor the wife should refuse each other sexually. According to the advice of the Apostle Paul, but not a command from You, the husband and wife may agree to abstain from sexual relations for a time of fasting and prayer. But then they should come together again to avoid being tempted by Satan to commit sexual immorality.

I understand verses 7 to 9 to mean that the Apostle Paul desires that believers remain unmarried, as he himself was, to serve You wholeheartedly. He acknowledges that each believer has different callings and gifts, so he advises those who have never been married or are widowed, if possible, to remain single like him. However, if someone cannot control their sexual desires, they should marry.

I understand verses 10 to 13 to mean that the Apostle Paul advises believers not to divorce, as it is a commandment from God. A wife should not separate from her husband, and a husband should not separate from his wife. If they are separated, they should remain single or reconcile with each other. For those who have unbelieving spouses, but the spouses are willing to live with them without imposing their faith, they should stay with them and not divorce.

I understand verse 14 to mean that an unbelieving husband or wife is sanctified by God, meaning they are set apart so that they may live with their believing spouse. The children of such marriages are also sanctified by God. As a result, people in families who do not believe in God have the opportunity to understand the Gospel in order to receive God’s salvation.

I understand verses 15 and 16 to mean that if a husband or wife does not believe in God and wants to divorce, then the people of God should remain peaceful and allow the divorce, and both are no longer bound in marriage by the laws of God. I understand that God wants and has a plan of redemption for each person, so He allows the husband or wife who does not believe in God to live with the people of God so that through their lives in God, the unbelieving spouse can come to know and have the opportunity to receive God’s salvation.

I pray that You will help Your people in the Church to always maintain the purity of love and marriage in You. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
05/04/2023