1 Corinthians 7:1-9

 ¹ Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ² Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, 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 due her, 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 the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. ⁵ Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. ⁷ For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. ⁸ But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; ⁹ but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Commentary

Vs. 1-2 ¹ Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ² Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

The Apostle Paul now responds to come questions that were posed to him. The first of which was should a man abstain from marriage? Thus Paul begins by saying that yes it is good for a man not to touch a woman, however because of sexually immorality Paul says, "let each man have his own and wife and each woman her own husband." vs. 2  Thus a man not touching a woman is only applicable if a man is a eunuch, or has the self-discipline and desire to do so (see Matt. 19:1-12, vs. 11-12). Otherwise because of sexual immorality a man (or a woman) is much better off to marry then to live in sin. Therefore if one desires marriage, or they burn in lust for the other gender (vs. 9), it is far better that they marry than they live in sexual lust or sin. 

Vs. 3 "Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband."

Having addressed those who are single, the Apostle Paul now turns his attention to those who are married. Now marriage has many facets to it, and one of the most important ones is it's intimacy, and showing loving affection towards each other will only strengthen ones marriage. Thus it is the husbands duty as the head of household to lead in this as well, and show his wife the affection that is due her. For intimacy in any marriage always begins with first showing ones spouse the affections that are due them. Whether this is the husband to the wife, or it is the wife towards the husband, since withholding these only creates coldness and distance in ones relationship, and thus undermines intimacy. Now like marriage, the word translated affection here has different facets to it, and one of them is to meet the other half-way, to be conciliatory, to have benevolence towards the other, thus be concerned with how your spouse feels, all which sets the stage for what follows. 

Vs. 4 "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does."

Here the Apostle Paul wants all brethren to know that withholding sexual relations from ones spouse is not something that is in accord with God's will for us. That the wife should for just any reason deny her husband, or the husband would deny his wife. Since in marriage the two become one flesh. And thus meeting each others needs for sexual intimacy in meaningful and satisfying ways is apart of having a healthy marriage, for this is each ones spousal duty. Which then leads us into verses 5-6. 

Vs. 5-6 ⁵ Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 

Therefore one is not to deprive their spouse except with their consent, and then only for time, that each one may give themselves to fasting and prayer, and thus only when each one is seeking to deepen their personal relationship with God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. This then is an appropriate time to abstain from marital relations, when there is mutual consent. However abstaining from martial relations with ones spouse is not to be a permanent state, for the Apostle Paul says "come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." Now Paul says this as a concession, not as a commandment (vs. 6). Thus Paul saying come together again is not a commandment, but is a concession towards their lack of self-control.  

Vs. 7 "For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that." 

Again the Apostle Paul wishes that all men were as he is, and that is celibate. Yet Paul also realizes that not all men are gifted by God to live so. Thus to remain single is not an exercise of pure self-will, it is a gift from God (see Matt. 19:11-12). Those then who are not so gifted and who burn in lust towards the other gender should marry, because, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." Heb 13:4

Vs. 8-9 ⁸ But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; ⁹ but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Again the Apostle Paul reaffirms his pastoral advice (not commandment) that he has already given and that is, it is good not just for men, but also for the unmarried and the widows to remain as he is, and that is single, unattached (consider 1 Tim 5:5-6). However he qualifies this by saying, "but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion" vs. 9 Thus living a celibate life, is only applicable and profitable for one, if one has the self control to do so. Otherwise they should marry rather than burn with passion. Which again would likely only end with such an person living in sin. Or at the very least would only be an ongoing distraction to their serving the Lord heartily, and or growing in their faith. Thus if you burn in passion, then by all means marry, but marry another believer, who will not compromise your faith or convictions and who will be a willing partner with you in your life's work. 

Scripture Quotation

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.