How should 1 Corinthians 7:1 shape our understanding of Christian sexual ethics? Setting the Scene at Corinth • 1 Corinthians 7:1: “Now about the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” • Paul is replying to a specific question from the Corinthian church, surrounded by pagan immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18). • The statement “It is good…” is not a universal ban on marriage but an affirmation that celibacy can be wholesome and God-honoring when embraced for the right reasons (cf. Matthew 19:12). Cultural Pressures vs. God’s Design • Corinth’s culture promoted anything-goes sexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). • Scripture consistently presents two righteous options: – Faithful, covenant marriage (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4). – Chaste singleness devoted to the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). • Paul’s phrase counters a culture that assumed sexual activity was unavoidable. God says self-control is both possible and “good.” What “It Is Good…Not to Touch” Actually Teaches • “Not to touch” uses a Greek idiom for sexual intimacy. • Paul affirms: – Sexual restraint outside marriage is morally commendable. – Holiness of body is a priority (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). – Human impulses are to be governed by God’s commands (Galatians 5:22-24). Singleness as a Gift, Not a Defect • Verse 1 upholds singleness as honorable, pushing back against any stigma. • Benefits Paul later lists (1 Corinthians 7:32-35): – Freedom from marital anxieties. – Unhindered devotion to the Lord’s work. – A witness that Christ is sufficient. • Other examples: Jesus (Matthew 19:12), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 16:1-2) show purposeful celibacy in God’s plan. Marriage as God’s Appointed Context for Sexual Intimacy • Immediately after verse 1, Paul balances the teaching (1 Corinthians 7:2-5): marital intimacy is required to counter temptation. • Key principles: – Mutual ownership of bodies (v. 4). – Regular, loving conjugal relations except for brief, agreed-upon fasting and prayer (v. 5). – Marriage is not a concession to sin but a gracious provision (Proverbs 5:15-19; Ephesians 5:31-33). Guardrails for Temptation and Purity • Outside marriage, the command is clear: abstain (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). • Inside marriage, guard against neglect that gives Satan a foothold (1 Corinthians 7:5). • Practical helps: – Flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22). – Renew the mind with Scripture (Psalm 119:9-11). – Cultivate accountability in the body of Christ (Hebrews 10:24-25). A Call to Holiness in Body and Spirit • Whether single or married, the aim is undivided devotion (1 Corinthians 7:35). • Our bodies are temples; sexual choices either glorify or dishonor God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • Verse 1 reminds the church that self-control is not repression but freedom to live within God’s wise boundaries. Bringing It Home • 1 Corinthians 7:1 sets the tone: sexual activity is not essential for fulfillment; Christ is. • The verse elevates celibacy and frames marriage as the exclusive sphere for sexual expression. • Believers today honor God by embracing either path with gratitude, purity, and joyful obedience. |
    |