1 Corinthianschapter 7

A.Marriage, Mutual Rights, and the Gift of Singlenessvv. 1-9

1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations. 2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. 5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8 Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

B.Do Not Leave — Even the Unbelieving Spousevv. 10-16

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

C.Stay Where God Called You: Circumcised, Slave, or Freevv. 17-24

17 Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts. 20 Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

D.Virgins, a Short Time, and Undistracted Devotionvv. 25-40

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. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29 What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30 those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing; 31 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 32 I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord. 33 But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord. 36 However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married. 37 But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better. 39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

← Back: 1 Corinthians 6 Continue: 1 Corinthians 8 →

Chapter summary

Paul's extended counsel on marriage and singleness.

Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴

Paul's extended counsel on marriage and singleness. It is good for a man not to touch a woman, yet to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife. Render due benevolence. Let not the believing spouse depart from the unbelieving. Abide in the calling in which you were called. Paul recommends singleness for those without obligation, given the present distress, but warns against binding consciences. Calvin sees the chapter as pastoral wisdom applied to diverse circumstances under the gospel's freedom.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Epistle · Paul — 1 Corinthians overview

A. 1–9 Marriage, Mutual Rights, and the Gift of Singleness
B. 10–16 Do Not Leave — Even the Unbelieving Spouse
C. 17–24 Stay Where God Called You: Circumcised, Slave, or Free
D. 25–40 Virgins, a Short Time, and Undistracted Devotion

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

1 Corinthians 719 verses
- 1 Corinthians 7:1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
- 1 Corinthians 7:2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
- 1 Corinthians 7:6I say this as a concession, not as a command.
- 1 Corinthians 7:8Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
- 1 Corinthians 7:9But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
- 1 Corinthians 7:10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
- Read 1 Corinthians 7: 13 more there →
1 Timothy 54 verses
- 1 Timothy 5:5The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
- 1 Timothy 5:8If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
- 1 Timothy 5:11But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
- 1 Timothy 5:14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
- Read 1 Timothy 5 →
Colossians 34 verses
- Colossians 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
- Colossians 3:19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
- Colossians 3:22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
- Colossians 3:23Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
- Read Colossians 3 →
Matthew 193 verses
- Matthew 19:9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.”
- Matthew 19:10His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”
- Matthew 19:11“Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given.
- Read Matthew 19 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

1 Peter 32 verses
- 1 Peter 3:1Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
- 1 Peter 3:7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
- Read 1 Peter 3 →
1 John 22 verses
- 1 John 2:3By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
- 1 John 2:17The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
- Read 1 John 2 →
Ephesians 52 verses
- Ephesians 5:28In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
- Ephesians 5:33Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
- Read Ephesians 5 →
Romans 122 verses
- Romans 12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
- Romans 12:6We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
- Read Romans 12 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.