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Monday, October 21st, 2024
the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

1 Corinthians 7:1

Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations?

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

1 Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations? 2Certainly—but only within a certain context. It's good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder. The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality—the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Marriage is not a place to "stand up for your rights." Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out. Abstaining from sex is permissible for a period of time if you both agree to it, and if it's for the purposes of prayer and fasting—but only for such times. Then come back together again. Satan has an ingenious way of tempting us when we least expect it. I'm not, understand, commanding these periods of abstinence—only providing my best counsel if you should choose them. 7 Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me—a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others. 8I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. But if they can't manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.

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
This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 7:1
Next God said to Noah, "Now board the ship, you and all your family—out of everyone in this generation, you're the righteous one.
Genesis 7:5
Noah did everything God commanded him.
Genesis 7:6
Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters covered the Earth. Noah and his wife and sons and their wives boarded the ship to escape the flood. Clean and unclean animals, birds, and all the crawling creatures came in pairs to Noah and to the ship, male and female, just as God had commanded Noah. In seven days the floodwaters came.
Genesis 7:11
It was the six-hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month that it happened: all the underground springs erupted and all the windows of Heaven were thrown open. Rain poured for forty days and forty nights.
Genesis 7:13
That's the day Noah and his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, accompanied by his wife and his sons' wives, boarded the ship. And with them every kind of wild and domestic animal, right down to all the kinds of creatures that crawl and all kinds of birds and anything that flies. They came to Noah and to the ship in pairs—everything and anything that had the breath of life in it, male and female of every creature came just as God had commanded Noah. Then God shut the door behind him.
Genesis 7:24
The floodwaters took over for 150 days.
Proverbs 10:9
Honesty lives confident and carefree, but Shifty is sure to be exposed.
Proverbs 14:26
The Fear-of- God builds up confidence, and makes a world safe for your children.
Proverbs 18:10
God 's name is a place of protection— good people can run there and be safe.

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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