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Wednesday, October 16th, 2024
the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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Amplified Bible

1 Corinthians 7:1

Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage].

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Celibacy;   Chastity;   Continence;   Corinth;   Marriage;   Stoicism;   Thompson Chain Reference - Chastity;   Chastity-Impurity;   Purity;   Social Duties;   The Topic Concordance - Defrauding;   Marriage;   Sexual Activities;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Corinthians;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Corinthians, letters to the;   Guidance;   Interpretation;   Mission;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Marriage;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Polygamy;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Holiness;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adultery;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Achaicus;   Food Offered to Idols;   Inspiration of Scripture;   Letter Form and Function;   Paul;   1 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Corinthians, Second Epistle to;   Marriage;   Quotations;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abstinence;   Essenes;   Gospels (2);   Marriage;   New Testament;   Worldliness;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Corinthians, Epistles to the;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Corinthians;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Epistle;   Essenes, the;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. You asked if it is better for a man not to have any sexual relations at all.
Revised Standard Version
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
As concerninge the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me: it is good for a ma not to touche a woman.
Hebrew Names Version
Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
International Standard Version
Now concerning the things you wrote about: It's good for a man not to touch a woman.[fn]1 Corinthians 7:8,26;">[xr]
New American Standard Bible
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
New Century Version
Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.
Update Bible Version
Now concerning the things whereof you wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman.
English Standard Version
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."
World English Bible
Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me. It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote to me, It is good for a man, not to touch a woman.
Weymouth's New Testament
I now deal with the subjects mentioned in your letter. It is well for a man to abstain altogether from marriage.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But of thilke thingis that ye han write to me, it is good to a man to touche not a womman.
English Revised Version
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Berean Standard Bible
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
Contemporary English Version
Now I will answer the questions that you asked in your letter. You asked, "Is it best for people not to marry?"
American Standard Version
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Bible in Basic English
Now, as to the things in your letter to me: It is good for a man to have nothing to do with a woman.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now to deal with the questions you wrote about: "Is it good for a man to keep away from women?"
Darby Translation
But concerning the things of which ye have written [to me]: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman;
Etheridge Translation
BUT concerning those (questions) of which you wrote to me, It is well for a man unto a woman not to come nigh;
Murdock Translation
And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me, it is praiseworthy for a man not to approach a woman.
King James Version (1611)
Now cocerning the things wherof ye wrote vnto me, It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
New Living Translation
Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.
New Life Bible
You asked me some questions in your letter. This is my answer. It is good if a man does not get married.
New Revised Standard
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is well for a man not to touch a woman."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe concerning the thinges whereof ye wrote vnto mee, It were good for a man not to touche a woman.
George Lamsa Translation
NOW concerning the things which you wrote to me: It is proper for a husband not to have intimacy with his wife at times.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, concerning the things whereof ye wrote, it were, good, for a man, not to touch, a woman;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nowe as concernyng the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me, it is good for a man not to touche a woman.
Good News Translation
Now, to deal with the matters you wrote about. A man does well not to marry.
Christian Standard Bible®
Now in response to the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to use a woman for sex.”
King James Version
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Lexham English Bible
Now concerning the things about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to touch a woman."
Literal Translation
But concerning what you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman;
Young's Literal Translation
And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good [it is] for a man not to touch a woman,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As concernynge the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me, I answere: It is good for a man not to touche a woman.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Now as to the question you writ to me about; "whether it is best for a man not to marry?"
THE MESSAGE
Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations?
New English Translation
Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."
New King James Version
Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Now, let's talk about some questions you had in your letter. You asked if cowboys should stay away from sex. Listen, there ain't nothing wrong with sex if it is in the right context. And God is the one who decides the context, not you.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Contextual Overview

1Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage].2But because of [the temptation to participate in] sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3The husband must fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife [with good will and kindness], and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have [exclusive] authority over her own body, but the husband shares with her; and likewise the husband does not have [exclusive] authority over his body, but the wife shares with him. 5Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control. 6But I am saying this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all the people were as I am; but each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that. 8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, [that as a practical matter] it is good if they remain [single and entirely devoted to the Lord] as I am. 9But if they do not have [sufficient] self-control, they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

good: 1 Corinthians 7:8, 1 Corinthians 7:26, 1 Corinthians 7:27, 1 Corinthians 7:37, 1 Corinthians 7:38, Matthew 19:10, Matthew 19:11

touch: Genesis 20:6, Ruth 2:9, Proverbs 6:29

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:3 - touch Exodus 21:10 - her food 1 Corinthians 7:40 - she

Cross-References

Genesis 6:9
These are the records of the generations (family history) of Noah. Noah was a righteous man [one who was just and had right standing with God], blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked (lived) [in habitual fellowship] with God.
Genesis 7:1
Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you with all your household, for you [alone] I have seen as righteous (doing what is right) before Me in this generation.
Genesis 7:4
"For in seven days I am going to cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and I will destroy (blot out, wipe away) every living thing that I have made from the surface of the earth."
Genesis 7:5
So Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.
Genesis 7:6
Noah was six hundred years old when the flood (deluge) of water came on the earth [covering all of the land].
Genesis 7:7
Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him entered the ark to escape the flood waters.
Genesis 7:8
Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and fowls and everything that crawls on the ground,
Genesis 7:9
they came [motivated by God] into the ark with Noah two by two, the male and the female, just as God had commanded Noah.
Genesis 7:10
And after the seven days [God released the rain and] the floodwaters came on the earth.
Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month, on that same day all the fountains of the great deep [subterranean waters] burst open, and the windows and floodgates of the heavens were opened.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me,.... Though the false apostles had greatly influenced the members of this church, yet there were many among them that had a very great respect for the apostle, and kept up a correspondence with him, though at a distance from him, by writing; in which way they informed him of their doubts and difficulties, that arose in their minds about certain things, and desired his judgment in them, to which they paid a very great deference. The things they wrote to him about, here referred to, may be collected from the contents of this chapter, and some others following; as whether a Christian man ought not to abstain from the use of women; whether a believer ought to live with an unbelieving yoke fellow; whether such as had been circumcised should not make use of some methods to draw on the foreskin of their flesh; whether apprentices, who were called by the grace of God, ought to serve out their time with their masters; and concerning celibacy or virginity, the eating of things offered to idols, and the maintenance of ministers: and he begins with the first; to which he answers,

it is good for a man not to touch a woman; which is to be understood, not of merely touching a woman, which can neither be criminal, nor in all cases inexpedient, or be attended with any ill, or dangerous consequences; nor of the matrimonial contract, which is lawful and honourable; but of the act of carnal copulation with a woman: in this sense the Jews use the phrase,

"there are three (they say r) that fled from transgression, and the blessed God joined his name with them; and they are these, Joseph, and Joel, and Phalti. Joseph, as appears from what is said, Psalms 81:5 "a testimony in Joseph is his name"; what is the meaning of the phrase "in Joseph?" this testifies concerning him,

שלא נגע באשת פוטיפר, "that he did not touch Potiphar's wife" (i.e. he did not lie with her); Jael, as is clear from what is said, Judges 4:18 "and Jael went forth to meet Sisera, and she covered him with a mantle"; what is the meaning of the phrase, בשמיכה? (which is rendered, "with a mantle";) our Rabbins here (in Babylon) say with a linen cloth; but our Rabbins there (in the land of Israel) say with bed clothes; says Resh Lekish, if we run over the whole Scripture, we shall not find any household goods so called; wherefore what is it? it is all one as שמי כה, "my name is thus": and the meaning is, my name witnesses concerning her, שלא נגע בה אותו רשע, "that that wicked one (Sisera) did not touch her" s; (i.e. had not carnal knowledge of her;) Phalti, as is evident from hence, one Scripture says, "and Saul gave Michal his daughter to Phalti", 1 Samuel 25:44 and another Scripture says Phaltiel; sometimes he is called Phalti, and sometimes he is called Phaltiel; who takes Phalti? and who gives Phaltiel? but I testify concerning him; שלא נגע באשת דוד, "that he did not touch David's wife"; (i.e. did not lie with her;)''

see Genesis 20:6. And in this sense also is the word "touch" used, both by Greek and Latin authors. The apostle's meaning is not that it is unlawful to marry, or that it is sinful to lie with a woman in lawful wedlock; but that it is much better, and more expedient on several accounts, to abstain from the use of women, when persons have the gift of continency.

r Vajikra Rabba, sect. 23. fol. 164. 4. & 165. 1. Vid Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 91. 4. s Vid. Kimchi in Jud. iv. 18.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now, concerning ... - In reply to your inquiries. The first, it seems, was in regard to the propriety of marriage; that is, whether it was lawful and expedient.

It is good - It is well. It is fit, convenient, or, it is suited to the present circumstances, or, the thing itself is well and expedient in certain circumstances. The apostle did not mean that marriage was unlawful, for he says Hebrews 13:4 that “marriage is honorable in all.” But he here admits, with one of the parties in Corinth, that it was well, and proper in some circumstances, not to enter into the marriage relation; see 1 Corinthians 7:7-8, 1Co 7:26, 1 Corinthians 7:28, 1 Corinthians 7:31-32.

Not to touch a woman - Not to be connected with her by marriage. Xenophon (Cyro. b. 1) uses the same word (ἅπτω haptō, “to touch”) to denote marriage; compare Genesis 20:4, Genesis 20:6; Genesis 26:11; Proverbs 6:29.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER VII.

A solution of several difficult cases concerning marriage and

married persons, 1-6.

God has given every man his proper gift, 7.

Directions to the unmarried and widows, 8, 9.

Directions to the married, 10, 11.

Directions to men married to heathen women, and to women

married to heathen men, 12-16.

Every man should abide in his vocation, 17-24.

Directions concerning virgins, and single persons in general,

25-28.

How all should behave themselves in the things of this life, in

reference to eternity, 29-31.

The trials of the married state, 39-35.

Directions concerning the state of virginity or celibacy, 36-38.

How the wife is bound to her husband during his life, and her

liberty to marry another after his death, 39, 40.

NOTES ON CHAP. VII.

Verse 1 Corinthians 7:1. The things whereof ye wrote unto me — It is sufficiently evident that the principal part of this epistle was written in answer to some questions which had been sent to the apostle in a letter from the Corinthian Church; and the first question seems to be this: "Is it proper for a man to marry in the present circumstances of the Church?"

The question concerning the expediency or inexpediency of marriage was often agitated among the ancient philosophers; and many, though inclined to decide against it, because of the troubles and cares connected with it, tolerated it in their opinions; because, though an evil, it was judged to be a necessary evil. The words of Menander are full to this effect: Γαμειν, εαν τις την αληθειαν σκοπῃ, κακον μεν εστιν, αλλ' αναγκαιον κακον· "If a man consider marriage in a proper point of view, it is an evil; but then it is a necessary evil." Metellus Numidicus spoke of it nearly in the same way. Si sine uxore possemus, Quirites, esse, omnes ea molestia careremus; sed quoniam ita natura tradidit, ut nec CUM ILLIS salis commode, nec SINE ILLIS ullo modo vivi possit, saluti perpetus potius quam brevi voluptati consulendum. "If, O ye Romans, we could live unmarried, we should be saved from a great deal of trouble; but, seeing that nature has so ordered it that we cannot live very comfortably with wives, and without them cannot live at all, marriage should be adopted, not for the sake of the short-lived pleasure, but rather for perpetual safety." But this was not the common opinion; the Jews absolutely required that every man should marry, and reputed those as murderers who did not. - 1 Corinthians 7:6. By the laws of Lycurgus unmarried persons were prohibited from seeing the public games. By the laws of the Spartans bachelors were punished. And Plato declares all such unworthy of any honour. And to this the commentator says, Amen.

Not to touch a woman — Γυναικος μη ἁπτεσθαι· The learned reader need not be informed in what sense απτομαι is used among the Greeks, and langere among the Latins. For examples Wetstein may be consulted.


 
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