1 Cor 7:1-5 is responding to something that the Corinthians had asked Paul, yet Paul only wrote what he thought important to be read aloud in all the churches. It is an important text for us to read aloud in worship today too. It is the first of seven sections where Paul applies the theological foundation to the problem. Their question was: Is it good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman? or even, Is it good for a husband not to have sexual relations with his wife? And the answer was: for the lawfully married (according to the law of God), absolutely not — only in extraordinary circumstances should the couple abstain. Speaking positively — the husband has rights over his wife’s body and the wife has rights over her husband’s body (radical equality). Speaking negatively — this is necessary “because of the temptation to sexual immorality” (v.2) and “that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (v.5). Indeed, the application is to say that if you are lawfully married then your body belongs to the Lord and it belongs to your spouse. It does not belong to the Lord to the exclusion of your spouse’s rights.
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