1 Corinthians 7: On Marriage and Singleness
Paul gives wise counsel on marriage, sexual faithfulness, divorce, and singleness, urging undivided devotion to the Lord in whatever calling we are in.
1 Corinthians 7 (WEB)
1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
4 The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife.
5 Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.
7 Yet I wish that all men were like me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.
9 But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn.
10 But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband
11 (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.
12 But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.
13 The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15 Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.
16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.
18 Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called.
21 Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.
22 For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.
23 You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men.
24 Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.
25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
26 I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Don’t seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don’t seek a wife.
28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.
29 But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;
30 and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess;
31 and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.
32 But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
33 but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.
35 This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry.
37 But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well.
38 So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her in marriage does better.
39 A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.
1 Corinthians 7 (KJV)
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?
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 7 (ASV)
1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4 The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.
6 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.
7 Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
10 But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband
11 (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.
12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.
13 And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15 Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace.
16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17 Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.
18 Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.
21 Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather.
22 For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ’s bondservant.
23 Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.
24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.
26 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.
27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28 But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;
30 and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32 But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,
34 and is divided. So also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.
37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well.
38 So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.
39 A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
Summary
Responding to the Corinthians' questions, Paul addresses marriage and singleness with pastoral balance. Because of sexual temptation, husbands and wives should fulfill their marital duties to one another, each having authority over the other's body, and not depriving each other except by agreement for a season of prayer. Paul wishes all were single as he is, yet recognizes that each person has his own gift from God; the unmarried and widows do well to remain single, but if they lack self-control it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married he gives the Lord's command: a wife should not separate from her husband, and a husband should not divorce his wife. In mixed marriages, the believer should not leave an unbelieving spouse who is willing to stay, for the unbeliever and the children are set apart through the believing partner; yet if the unbeliever departs, the believer is not bound, for God has called us to peace. Paul's general principle is that each person should remain in the life situation in which God called them—circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free—living for God there. Because the present age is passing and time is short, he counsels contentment and freedom from anxious cares, so believers can serve the Lord without distraction. Marrying is no sin, but the unmarried can give undivided attention to the things of the Lord, and a widow is free to remarry only in the Lord, though Paul thinks she is happier if she remains as she is.
Main Characters
- Paul — The apostle who gives Spirit-guided counsel on marriage and singleness, balancing the Lord's commands with his own wise judgment.
- Married believers — Husbands and wives called to mutual faithfulness, sexual honor, and lifelong commitment to one another.
- The unmarried and widows — Those who may remain single for undistracted devotion to the Lord, or marry without sin if they lack self-control.
- Believers in mixed marriages — Those married to unbelievers, urged to remain in peace for the sake of the spouse and children, yet not bound if the unbeliever leaves.
Key Verse
1 Corinthians 7:17 (WEB)
Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk.
Lessons Learned
- Marriage involves mutual self-giving, with each spouse honoring the other's needs.
- Both marriage and singleness are gifts; each person should live faithfully in their calling.
- Believers should pursue peace and faithfulness even in difficult marriages.
- Because time is short, our deepest aim is undistracted devotion to the Lord.
- Marriage is mutual self-giving. Husband and wife each owe the other; neither has authority over their own body alone (1 Corinthians 7:3-4, WEB). Love serves rather than demands.
- Each has his own gift. “Each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind” (1 Corinthians 7:7, WEB). Singleness and marriage are both gifts of grace.
- Live where God has called you. “Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called” (1 Corinthians 7:20, WEB). Faithfulness blooms in our present circumstances, not only in changed ones.
- Aim at undistracted devotion. Paul wants believers to “attend to the Lord without distraction” (1 Corinthians 7:35, WEB). Every relationship is meant to serve, not crowd out, devotion to Christ.
- How does Paul's teaching on mutual marital duty reflect the value he places on both husband and wife?
- Why does Paul speak of both marriage and singleness as gifts rather than ranking one above the other?
- What hope and guidance does Paul give to a believer married to an unbeliever?
- What does Paul mean that the time is short, and how should that affect our priorities?
- Whether single or married, how can you pursue undistracted devotion to the Lord in your present season of life?
- Paul gives husband and wife equal authority and equal responsibility for one another's bodies (7:3-4), a striking dignity in his world. Marriage is portrayed as mutual self-giving in love, not the dominance of one over the other.
- Both states are gifts suited to different callings (7:7). Singleness frees a person for undistracted service, while marriage is a good and honorable calling; the point is to live faithfully and contentedly wherever God has placed us.
- The believer should remain with a willing unbeliever, for the spouse and children are set apart through them, and may be won (7:13-16). Yet if the unbeliever insists on leaving, the believer is not enslaved, for God calls us to peace.
- The present form of this world is passing away (7:31), so earthly relationships and possessions, while good, are not ultimate. This frees believers from anxious clinging and reorders life around what lasts—the Lord and his kingdom.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members, whatever their situation, to consider one way their schedule, relationships, or worries either help or hinder devotion to Christ. As leader, affirm both singleness and marriage as honorable callings before God.