1 Corinthians 7:1-9, "Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.1 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion."
It is good for a man — Who is master of himself.
Not to touch a women — That is, not to marry. So great and many are the advantages of a single life.
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Yet, when it is needful, in order to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife. His own - For Christianity allows no polygamy.
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
Let not married persons fancy that there is any perfection in living with each other, as if they were unmarried.
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.
Unless it be by consent for a time — That on those special and solemn occasions ye may entirely give yourselves up to the exercises of devotion.
Lest — If ye should long remain separate.
Satan tempt you — To unclean thoughts, if not actions too.
But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
But I say this — Concerning your separating for a time and coming together again. Perhaps he refers also to 1 Corinthians 7:2.
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.
For I would that all men were herein even as I — I would that all believers who are now unmarried would remain "eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake" St. Paul, having tasted the sweetness of this liberty, wished others to enjoy it, as well as himself.
But every one hath his proper gift from God — According to our Lord's declaration, "All men cannot receive this saying, save they," the happy few, to whom it is given," Matthew 19:11.
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
It is good for them if they remain even as I — That St. Paul was then single is certain and from Acts 7:58, compared with the following parts of the history, it seems probable that he always was so. It does not appear that this declaration, any more than 1 Corinthians 7:1, hath any reference at all to a state of persecution.
Dear God, I pray that my sexual conduct would glorify You!
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