Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of sexual immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say as a concession, not as a command. 7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one this way, and another that.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. 1 Corinthians 7: 1-11 LSB
1 Corinthians 7: 1-11
Vs. 1-3 Now concerning the things about which you wrote - Given what we have read about the Corinthians thus far, I can only imagine the questions they asked. When things get difficult, as marriage can often be, or in our culture, if you have seen something else you like now, then the questions about separation and divorce arise. Jesus dealt with a Jewish culture that had some sects who taught that it was okay for you to put away your wife for not properly preparing your meal. In our modern culture the marriage vows are really in contrast to what people actually believe, which begs the question, why do some of you all spend so much money on a single day that doesn't really represent the life long commitment that you talk about? The ceremony is just that, a show, a display, and the for better or for worse is just sounds. Paul states that it is better for a man not to touch a woman, in other words, remain single, but in verse 2 he goes on to show that there is a place for this, and it is called marriage. This is where one avoids "sexual immoralities", by having his own wife, and each woman her own husband, not multiples to either, but their "own". Fulfilling ones duty in this context is coming to the marriage bed.
…23And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.” 24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.… Genesis 2: 23-25
V. 4 Authority - Just as your body is not your own when you become a Christian, as it belongs to Christ and it is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so when you enter into marriage you are no longer 2 separate individuals, but you become one. My life is no longer about myself or for myself, and my body belongs to my wife, and it is not something that I withhold from her or give to another in the sense of coitus, but also I use my body and my mind to her benefit and the families as a provider. We were designed to work and as representatives of Christ we should go out and do so joyfully, thanking him for the ability rather than begrudging our labor.
…3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them. 4 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”… Hebrews 13: 3-5
The wife does not (present tense - continually) have authority (exousiazo) over her own body, but the husband does - Amplified = "For the wife does not have [exclusive] authority and control over her own body, but the husband [has his rights];" If Paul had stopped here, this would be the tagline for the practice misogyny, the hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women or girls. Praise God, Paul under inspiration gives us the "other half of the coin."
And likewise also the husband does not (present tense - continually) have authority (exousiazo) over his own body, but the wife does - This is radical teaching in the patriarchal society that existed in Paul's day! Notice the tenses indicate that both husband and wife are to have authority ovr their spouse's body all of their married life.
This subjection of one spouse to another is essentially what Paul is describing in Ephesians 5:21 writing that Spirit filled believers (Eph 5:18 = only way to fulfill this instruction!) are to "be (present tense - continually) subject to one another in the fear of Christ." There it is - a "mutual admiration society" so to speak! Husbands, not demanding, and wives not withholding (or vice versa)! In short, mutual subjection will yield much fulfillment in marital intimacy. Each one is laying down their "rights" for the benefit of the other person.
MacArthur - Spouses' mutual authority over each other's bodies is continuous (present tense); it lasts throughout marriage. In the normal realms of life, a Christian's body is his own, to take care of and to use as a gift from God. And in the deepest spiritual sense, of course, it belongs entirely to God (Ro 12:1). But in the marital realm, it also belongs to the marriage partner. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – 1 Corinthians)
V. 5 Except by agreement for a time - There are times when we need to be alone, or when husbands went away to war, or to the mission field, and it is still our responsibility to guard our relationships even when apart. There is no, "what happens on the road stays on the road", God is everywhere including your thoughts.
Vs. 6-7 I wish that all men were as I myself am - Even Christ mentions this, but in the context that it is clearly only for some, and it is a gift, an ability that most do not have. Paul, being single, could dedicate himself totally to the ministry, and did not have the same cares or concerns of the married. There is an advantage, and there is much sorrow and the temptation of anxiety when we watch our wives get sick, or have children and lose some to miscarriage, or even worse, to the world and to an eternity apart from God. Paul has the gift of celibacy. He doesn't have that pull or calling toward a marriage relationship. Jesus' own disciples were not thrilled with His views and commands concerning marriage. They obviously preferred the follow your heart method of the culture, or putting her away because she didn't get the oil temperature right when frying your fish.
…7“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart; but it was not this way from the beginning. 9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.”…
…10His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11“Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given. 12For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”…
Matthew 19: 7-12
Vs. 8-9 It is better to marry than to burn with passion - If only the Roman Catholic Church had understood this regarding their priest; if only they had understood that there is no such thing as the papacy, that we are all a royal priesthood in Christ.
…2influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. 3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,… 1 Timothy 4: 2-4
Vs. 10-11 Not I, but the Lord - He echoes the words of Jesus, and remember, this is an answer to their questions. Many probably thought that here is a great justification, I want to follow Christ and my husband does not, so can I leave? I want to go into the mission field but my wife doesn't want to go, nor does she think that I should, so sounds like it's time to find someone more fitting for me, right Paul? We are always looking for ways to justify things, and even spiritualize our justifications. I have told the story of a so called pastor and self proclaimed "prophet" who said that God showed him that he was to leave his wife because she was no longer up for the job sexually, and just how great is this guy's god, he also showed the man who the woman was that he should be with. He brought both of them to this Pentecostal church meeting that night, and though it defied the teachings of Christ and his Apostle Paul, the crowd ate it up without any objection. I confronted him about it and the head minister there for not, but they told me not to speak against the cloth, and that the man was a prophet.
1If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, 2and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.…
…4You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you. 6If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known,… Deuteronomy 13: 1-5
…19I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first. 20But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.…
…22Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. 23Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you.… Revelation 2: 19-24
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