Read & explore together
Principles of Marriage
Paul answers questions about marriage, singleness, sexual relations, separation and households where one spouse does not believe. He gives practical teaching, and he carefully marks when he is stating a command, a concession, or his own judgment.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses begin with Paul replying to matters the Corinthians had raised. In order, he addresses married couples, unmarried people and widows, married believers, and believers with an unbelieving spouse. The passage stays in the form of letter teaching rather than a story.
1 Corinthians 7:1–16Main takeaway
Paul teaches that marriage includes mutual responsibilities, singleness and marriage may each be fitting gifts, and believers are to act with peace in difficult marital situations.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Marriage and mutual carePaul says marriage addresses sexual immorality, so each man is to have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
Explanation
Paul says marriage addresses sexual immorality, so each man is to have his own wife and each woman her own husband. Husband and wife owe affection to each other. He speaks of shared authority over each other’s bodies, and says abstaining should only be by mutual consent for a time of prayer, then they should come together again.
02Concession and different giftsPaul says this point is a concession, not a command. He wishes others were like him, yet he immediately says each person has a gift from God.
Explanation
Paul says this point is a concession, not a command. He wishes others were like him, yet he immediately says each person has a gift from God. So he tells the unmarried and widows it is good to remain as he is, but if they lack self-control, they should marry.
03A command for married believersTo married people, Paul gives a command he identifies as from the Lord: the wife is not to leave her husband, and the husband is not to leave his wife.
Explanation
To married people, Paul gives a command he identifies as from the Lord: the wife is not to leave her husband, and the husband is not to leave his wife. If a wife does depart, Paul names two outcomes only in these verses: remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband.
04When one spouse does not believeIf an unbelieving spouse is content to live with the believer, the believer is not to leave.
Explanation
If an unbelieving spouse is content to live with the believer, the believer is not to leave. Paul says the unbelieving spouse is sanctified in the believing partner, and the children are holy. If the unbeliever leaves, separation may stand, because God has called us in peace. Paul ends with a question: the believing spouse does not know whether they will save the other.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which words show that marriage duties are mutual for husband and wife?
Notice the matching instructions about affection and the shared language about authority over the body.
02How does Paul distinguish between a concession, his own wish, and a command?
Look for the phrases "by way of concession", "I wish", and "I command, not I, but the Lord".
03What does Paul say to do if an unbelieving spouse stays, and what if that spouse leaves?
Follow the contrast between being content to live together and the case where the unbeliever departs.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 7:1–16
1Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.
4The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5Don’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.
6But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.
7Yet 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.
8But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.
9But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn with passion.
10But 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.
12But 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.
13The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.
14For 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.
15Yet 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.
16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?