What does Paul mean by “it is good for a man not to touch a woman”?

In this passage, “not to touch a woman” is a way of talking about sexual relations. Paul is saying that there is a real good in remaining single and sexually abstinent, especially in hard times for the church. He is not calling marriage or sex within marriage bad. Instead, he is correcting people who thought everyone must stop having marital relations to be holy. He says singleness can be good for those who have that gift, but for many people marriage is God’s proper place for sexual desire.

Why does Paul say let every man have his own wife and every woman her own husband?

Paul says this because he is dealing with real temptations and sins in a culture filled with sexual immorality. He teaches that sexual intimacy belongs inside the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. Marriage is God’s way to avoid fornication. Rather than chasing sinful desires, a man should be faithful to his own wife, and a woman to her own husband. This protects both spouses, honors God, and keeps sexual desire in its right place instead of letting it run wild.

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

When Paul says the husband and wife do not have power over their own bodies, he is talking about mutual rights and responsibilities in marriage. Each spouse has a claim on the other in sexual matters. This does not support selfish control or abuse. Instead, it calls both husband and wife to loving, willing giving of themselves. They should not withhold intimacy to punish or manipulate. Their bodies are shared as part of the one-flesh union, and this sharing should be marked by care, respect, and faithfulness.

Why does Paul allow couples to abstain from sex for a time?

Paul allows couples to abstain from sex for a short time if both agree, so they can give special attention to prayer and, in some cases, fasting. This is not meant to be a long-term pattern. He warns that if they stay apart too long, they may open the door to temptation, since Satan uses lack of self-control. So he says, agree together, set a limited time, seek God, then come back together. The goal is to grow spiritually without neglecting the real needs of the marriage.

What does Paul mean when he says it is better to marry than to burn?

“Better to marry than to burn” is about strong sexual desire. Paul is not putting down marriage. He is saying that if a person struggles to stay sexually pure while single, marriage is a good and honest path. It is better to marry and use the gift of sex within that covenant than to be consumed by lust and fall into sin. He still honors singleness for those who can live that way, but he is realistic about human weakness and points to marriage as God’s remedy for sexual temptation.

What command does Paul give to married couples about separation and divorce?

Paul repeats the Lord’s teaching that a wife should not leave her husband, and a husband should not put away his wife. If a separation does happen, the wife should remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. The same applies to the husband. Marriage is meant to be a lasting bond, not broken for light reasons. His aim is to keep couples together and push them toward peace and reconciliation, not quick divorce, while still recognizing that in a broken world separations sometimes occur.

How should a believer act if married to an unbelieving spouse?

If a believer is married to an unbeliever who is willing to stay, Paul says the believer should not send them away. The marriage is still real and honored by God. The believing spouse has a holy influence in the home, and their presence sets the whole household apart in a special way. Their children are called holy, meaning they are within the reach of God’s covenant blessings. The believer should stay, live faithfully, and hope that their godly life may be used by God to bring the other to faith.

What does it mean that the unbelieving spouse is sanctified by the believer?

This does not mean the unbelieving spouse is automatically saved. Rather, it means that the marriage is set apart as a place where God is at work because one partner belongs to Christ. The home is not unclean or outside God’s concern. The believing spouse brings a holy influence, and the children of that union are regarded as holy, not outside God’s care. This should steady the believer’s heart, showing that their marriage and family life matter in God’s plan, even when only one believes.

What should a believer do if an unbelieving spouse decides to leave?

If the unbelieving spouse chooses to leave and will not stay, Paul says the believer is “not under bondage” in such cases. That means the believer is not forced to chase or hold the marriage together at all costs. God has called his people to peace, not constant conflict and strife. Faithful readers understand this as allowing the deserted believer to be free from that marriage bond. Still, the believer’s first desire should be peace and, if possible, reconciliation before accepting the separation.

How does this passage balance singleness and marriage for Christians today?

This passage shows that both singleness and marriage are gifts from God. Singleness can free a person to focus more fully on the Lord, especially in hard times, but it is not required for everyone. Marriage is honored as the proper place for sexual desire and as a covenant of mutual care. Christians today can use this teaching to examine their own calling, avoid despising either gift, and seek to live faithfully in whatever state God has placed them, whether married, widowed, or unmarried.

1Cor.7.1

1 Corinthians 7:1

KJV

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

Principles of Marriage

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.