Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
- BSB Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
- 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 7:8I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
- Matt 19:10–11His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
- 1 Cor 7:26–27I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
- 1 Cor 7:37–38Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
- Gen 20:6And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
- Prov 6:29So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
- Ruth 2:9Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
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.