What does "each man should have his own wife" imply about marriage? Setting the Verse in Context “But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:2) Key Implications of “Each Man Should Have His Own Wife” • Singular language—“his own wife,” “her own husband”—highlights exclusive, one-to-one commitment. • Establishes monogamy as the God-ordained norm, not polygamy or open relationships. • Places sexual intimacy inside marriage as a safeguard against immorality. • Stresses mutuality: the command is mirrored for both genders, underscoring equal obligation to faithfulness. • Implies permanence, because the covenant is presented as God’s appointed answer to ongoing sexual temptation. Scriptural Echoes Confirming the Pattern • Genesis 2:24—“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” • Matthew 19:4-6—Jesus reiterates Genesis and adds, “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” • Ephesians 5:31 repeats the one-flesh union, rooting it in creation. • Hebrews 13:4—“Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” Marriage as God’s Guardrail • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4—calls believers to “abstain from sexual immorality” and exercise self-control. • Proverbs 5:18-19 celebrates delight in one’s spouse, channeling desire toward covenant love. • 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 immediately follows our verse, urging spouses to meet each other’s physical needs, showing God’s provision within marriage for healthy sexuality. Mutual Responsibility and Service • Husbands are to love sacrificially (Ephesians 5:25). • Wives partner in mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21-24). • Both are stewards of one shared body (1 Corinthians 7:4), reinforcing equality and responsibility. Practical Takeaways • Sexual activity belongs exclusively in the covenant of one man and one woman. • Faithfulness is not optional; it is baked into the very grammar of the verse. • Marriage offers a divinely sanctioned context for desire, protecting hearts and honoring God. • Couples should cultivate intimacy and mutual service, remembering they are God’s provision for each other. • Honoring this design displays the gospel’s purity and God’s wisdom to a watching world. |
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