1 Corinthians 7:2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.

◄ 1 Corinthians 7:2 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.

English Standard Version
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

New American Standard Bible
But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

King James Bible
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

International Standard Version
Because sexual immorality is so rampant, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband.

American Standard Version
But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Darby Bible Translation
but on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each woman have her own husband.

Young's Literal Translation
and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

7:1-9 The apostle tells the Corinthians that it was good, in that juncture of time, for Christians to keep themselves single. Yet he says that marriage, and the comforts of that state, are settled by Divine wisdom. Though none may break the law of God, yet that perfect rule leaves men at liberty to serve him in the way most suited to their powers and circumstances, of which others often are very unfit judges. All must determine for themselves, seeking counsel from God how they ought to act.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2. Here the general rule is given

to avoid fornication—More literally, "on account of fornications," to which as being very prevalent at Corinth, and not even counted sins among the heathen, unmarried persons might be tempted. The plural, "fornications," marks irregular lusts, as contrasted with the unity of the marriage relation [Bengel].

let every man have—a positive command to all who have not the gift of continency, in fact to the great majority of the world (1Co 7:5). The dignity of marriage is set forth by Paul (Eph 5:25-32), in the fact that it signifies the mystical union between Christ and the Church.