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NASB | 1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 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]. |
Subject: God and His creation |
Bible Note: The expression “not to touch a woman” here means avoiding physical contact with a woman for sexual gratification. Since Paul had already condemned fornication, he was now referring to sexual relations within the marriage arrangement. Therefore, Paul was now recommending the single state. (1 Corinthians 6:9, 16, 18; compare Genesis 20:6; Proverbs 6:29.) A little further on, he wrote: “Now I say to the unmarried persons and the widows, it is well for them that they remain even as I am.” (1 Corinthians 7:8) Paul was unmarried, perhaps a widower.—1 Corinthians 9:5. Likely the Christians in Corinth had come into contact with Greek philosophy, of which certain schools lauded extreme asceticism, or self-denial. Might that have been why the Corinthians asked Paul if it would be “well” for Christians to avoid all sexual intercourse? Paul’s answer did not reflect Greek philosophy. (Colossians 2:8) Unlike Catholic theologians, he nowhere recommended a celibate ascetic life in a monastery or convent, as if single persons were particularly holy and could contribute to their own salvation by their life-style and prayers. Paul recommended singleness “in view of the necessity here with us.” (1 Corinthians 7:26) He might have been referring to the difficult times Christians were going through, which could be compounded by marriage. (1 Corinthians 7:28) His counsel to unmarried Christians was: “It is well for them that they remain even as I am.” To widowers, he stated: “Are you loosed from a wife? Stop seeking a wife.” Of a Christian widow, he wrote: “She is happier if she remains as she is, according to my opinion. I certainly think I also have God’s spirit.”—1 Corinthians 7:8, 27, 40. No Compulsion to Remain Single God’s holy spirit was undoubtedly guiding Paul when he gave this counsel. His whole presentation of celibacy and marriage shows balance and restraint. He does not make it a matter of faithfulness or unfaithfulness. It is, rather, a question of free choice, with the balance tipping in favor of singleness for those who are able to remain chaste in that state. Immediately after stating “it is well for a man not to touch a woman,” Paul added: “Yet, because of prevalence of fornication, let each man have his own wife and each woman have her own husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:1, 2) After advising unmarried persons and widows to “remain even as I am,” he was quick to add: “But if they do not have self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be inflamed with passion.” (1 Corinthians 7:8, 9) Again, his counsel to widowers was: “Stop seeking a wife. But even if you did marry, you would commit no sin.” (1 Corinthians 7:27, 28) This balanced counsel reflects freedom of choice. Paul showed that both marriage and singleness are gifts from God. “I wish all men were as I myself am. Nevertheless, each one has his own gift from God, one in this way, another in that way.” (1 Corinthians 7:7) He doubtless had in mind what Jesus said. After establishing that marriage came from God, Jesus showed that willing singleness for the sake of serving Kingdom interests is a particular gift: “Not all men make room for the saying, but only those who have the gift. For there are eunuchs that were born such from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs that were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs that have made themselves eunuchs on account of the kingdom of the heavens. Let him that can make room for it make room for it.”—Matthew 19:4-6, 11, 12. |