Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
- KJV Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
- NKJV Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
- NASB Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
- NLT Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Replying to their questions, Paul affirms that celibacy ('not to touch a woman') can be good. It matters because it opens his balanced teaching on marriage and singleness as honorable callings.
Overview
Paul now addresses matters the Corinthians wrote about, likely quoting their slogan that it is 'good' for a man to abstain from sexual relations. While affirming a real good in celibacy, he immediately qualifies it in the following verses to guard against an unhealthy asceticism. The chapter unfolds a wise, balanced view of both marriage and singleness under God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Cor 7:8Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
- Matt 19:10–11His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”
- 1 Cor 7:26–27Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
- 1 Cor 7:37–38But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
- Gen 20:6Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
- Prov 6:29So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
- Ruth 2:9Let your eyes be on the field they are harvesting, and follow along after these girls. Indeed, I have ordered the young men not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 7:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.