Add parallel Print Page Options

Directions concerning Marriage

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife what is due her and likewise the wife to her husband.(A) For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer,[a] and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.(B) This I say by way of concession, not of command.(C) I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.(D)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 7.5 Other ancient authorities read fasting and prayer