1 Corinthians 7:5 kjv
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
1 Corinthians 7:5 nkjv
Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7:5 niv
Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7:5 esv
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7:5 nlt
Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:24 | "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." | Foundation of marital unity. |
| Matt 19:5 | "and say, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’" | Jesus affirms marital oneness. |
| Eph 5:28 | "In this way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." | Husband's duty to his wife. |
| Eph 5:33 | "However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." | Mutual respect in marriage. |
| 1 Cor 6:18 | "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." | Warning against sexual sin. |
| Heb 13:4 | "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." | Honor marriage, avoid impurity. |
| 1 Thess 4:3 | "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;" | God's will: abstinence from immorality. |
| Mal 2:15 | "Has not one God made them? Both flesh and spirit are His. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be treacherous to the wife of your youth." | Fidelity in marriage. |
| Deut 24:5 | "When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out in the army or be liable for any other duty. He shall be free to be at home for one year, and so make merry with his wife whom he has taken." | Husband's time with new wife. |
| Prov 5:15-19 | "Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Should they be for you alone, and not for your children with you? Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth." | Enjoyment of one's own wife. |
| Ps 51:10 | "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." | Need for purity. |
| Josh 1:8 | "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success." | Importance of consistent prayer/meditation. |
| Rom 12:1 | "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." | Presenting bodies in worship. |
| Col 3:16 | "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." | Richness of God's word. |
| 1 Cor 8:1 | "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This in turn produces pride, but love builds up." | Knowledge vs. Love. |
| 1 Cor 7:2 | "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband." | Marriage as protection from temptation. |
| 1 Cor 7:4 | "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." | Mutual ownership of the body within marriage. |
| 1 Cor 7:35 | "This I say for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but that you may serve the Lord without distraction and with more devotion." | Purpose of instructions for godly living. |
| 1 Tim 5:11 | "But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they feel a growing desire contrary to Christ, they want to marry," | Young widows desiring marriage. |
| Acts 18:2 | "and found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them," | Silas and Barnabas (in some versions of Acts, Apollos contextually relates) |
1 Corinthians 7 verses
1 Corinthians 7 5 Meaning
This verse prohibits sexual abstinence within marriage, except by mutual consent for a limited time dedicated to prayer. The core message emphasizes the sanctity of the marital relationship and the avoidance of demonic temptation through sexual sin.
1 Corinthians 7 5 Context
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul addresses questions raised by the Corinthian church, particularly concerning marriage, singleness, and sexual morality. This chapter functions as a direct response to their inquiries, aiming to provide guidance rooted in Christian principles. Chapter 7 begins by discussing the benefits of remaining single, especially in light of current "tribulation," but then emphasizes that marriage is a God-ordained institution, providing a God-honoring solution to sexual temptation. Verse 5 specifically deals with a practice related to marital relations, likely stemming from extreme ascetic views within the Corinthian community.
1 Corinthians 7 5 Word Analysis
- μή (mē): "not." A particle of negation.
- ἀποστερεῖτε (apostereîte): "deprive" or "defraud." From aposteréō, meaning to defraud, bereave, or withhold something unjustly. It implies a failure to give what is due.
- ἀλλήλους (allḗlous): "one another." The reciprocal pronoun, emphasizing mutual obligation between husband and wife.
- εἰ (ei): "if." Introducing a conditional clause.
- μὴ (mē): "not." Another particle of negation, here used with the participle.
- ἐν (en): "by" or "with."
- συμφώνῳ (symphṓnō): "agreement." From symphōnéō, meaning to agree or sound together. This refers to a mutual consent.
- πλην (plēn): "except" or "save." Introduces an exception to the prohibition.
- εἰς (eis): "for" or "until." Indicating purpose or duration.
- καιρὸν (kairón): "time." Referring to a specific occasion or period.
- τῇ (tē): "the." Definite article.
- νηστείᾳ (nēsteíạ): "fasting." From nestēuō, meaning to fast, abstain from food. In a broader sense, it can mean abstaining from something for religious devotion.
- καὶ (kai): "and."
- τῇ (tē): "the." Definite article.
- προσευχῇ (proseuchē): "prayer." From proseuchomai, to pray to God.
- αφιέντες (aphiéntes): "giving up" or "leaving." From aphiēmi, meaning to send away, permit, forgive, or neglect. Here, it implies withdrawing from marital relations.
- ἕνα (hena): "one."
- ἵνα (hina): "so that" or "in order that." Expressing purpose.
- πειράζῃ (peirázē): "tempt" or "test." From peirázō, meaning to test, try, or tempt.
- ὑμᾶς (hymâs): "you" (plural).
- ὁ (ho): "the." Definite article.
- σατανᾶς (Satanâs): "Satan." The adversary.
- διὰ (dia): "because of" or "through."
- τὴν (tēn): "the." Definite article.
- ἀκρασίαν (akrasían): "lack of self-control" or "incontinence." From akratēs, meaning powerless or lacking mastery. This refers to sexual immorality arising from unbridled passion.
Grouped Analysis:
- "do not deprive one another": Highlights the reciprocal duty in marriage, suggesting sexual intimacy is a right belonging to both spouses.
- "except perhaps by mutual consent for a time": Establishes a sole exception to the prohibition, which must be mutually agreed upon. This consent is crucial; unilateral abstinence is not permitted.
- "to devote yourselves to prayer": Specifies the legitimate purpose for temporary abstinence – focused spiritual activity. This connects conjugal duty to spiritual discipline.
- "and then come together again": Ensures that the abstinence is indeed temporary, not a permanent withdrawal or a justification for separation.
- "so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control": Explains the rationale for not abstaining excessively: it prevents sexual immorality (sinning against one's own body) which is a tactic Satan uses to harm believers.
1 Corinthians 7 5 Bonus Section
The context suggests that some in Corinth might have held an extreme ascetic view, believing that to achieve spiritual purity, one should abstain from all physical intimacy, including within marriage. Paul, while not against celibacy (as mentioned in previous verses), condemns imposed or unilateral abstinence from the marital "debt" (Rom 12:7). The "lack of self-control" (akrasia) is presented as the consequence of improper prolonged abstinence, leading to illicit sexual behavior, not as a descriptor of those who refrain with mutual consent for spiritual reasons. The emphasis is on maintaining fidelity and chastity within the God-ordained bounds of marriage, which is a holistic practice involving spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects.
1 Corinthians 7 5 Commentary
Paul underscores the marital right to sexual intimacy as a divine provision to safeguard against temptation. This mutual right and responsibility prevent the erosion of marital unity and guard against sexual sin, a prime area where Satan operates. While temporary abstinence for focused prayer is permissible, it requires mutual agreement and must not become a prolonged or unapproved practice. The purpose of marriage includes sexual companionship, and failing to provide this opens the door to personal moral failure and demonic influence. This instruction serves the broader goal of maintaining holiness and uninterrupted service to the Lord.