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Read the Bible

Wycliffe Bible

1 Corinthians 7:1

But of thilke thingis that ye han write to me, it is good to a man to touche not a womman.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Celibacy;   Chastity;   Continence;   Corinth;   Marriage;   Stoicism;   Thompson Chain Reference - Chastity;   Chastity-Impurity;   Purity;   Social Duties;   The Topic Concordance - Defrauding;   Marriage;   Sexual Activities;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Corinthians;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Corinthians, letters to the;   Guidance;   Interpretation;   Mission;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Marriage;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Polygamy;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Holiness;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adultery;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Achaicus;   Food Offered to Idols;   Inspiration of Scripture;   Letter Form and Function;   Paul;   1 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Corinthians, Second Epistle to;   Marriage;   Quotations;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abstinence;   Essenes;   Gospels (2);   Marriage;   New Testament;   Worldliness;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Corinthians, Epistles to the;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Corinthians;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Epistle;   Essenes, the;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Now in response to the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to use a woman for sex.”
King James Version (1611)
Now cocerning the things wherof ye wrote vnto me, It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
King James Version
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
English Standard Version
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."
New American Standard Bible
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
New Century Version
Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.
Amplified Bible
Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Berean Standard Bible
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
Contemporary English Version
Now I will answer the questions that you asked in your letter. You asked, "Is it best for people not to marry?"
Complete Jewish Bible
Now to deal with the questions you wrote about: "Is it good for a man to keep away from women?"
Darby Translation
But concerning the things of which ye have written [to me]: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman;
Easy-to-Read Version
Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. You asked if it is better for a man not to have any sexual relations at all.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe concerning the thinges whereof ye wrote vnto mee, It were good for a man not to touche a woman.
George Lamsa Translation
NOW concerning the things which you wrote to me: It is proper for a husband not to have intimacy with his wife at times.
Good News Translation
Now, to deal with the matters you wrote about. A man does well not to marry.
Lexham English Bible
Now concerning the things about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to touch a woman."
Literal Translation
But concerning what you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman;
American Standard Version
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Bible in Basic English
Now, as to the things in your letter to me: It is good for a man to have nothing to do with a woman.
Hebrew Names Version
Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
International Standard Version
Now concerning the things you wrote about: It's good for a man not to touch a woman.[fn]1 Corinthians 7:8,26;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
BUT concerning those (questions) of which you wrote to me, It is well for a man unto a woman not to come nigh;
Murdock Translation
And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me, it is praiseworthy for a man not to approach a woman.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nowe as concernyng the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me, it is good for a man not to touche a woman.
English Revised Version
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
World English Bible
Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me. It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote to me, It is good for a man, not to touch a woman.
Weymouth's New Testament
I now deal with the subjects mentioned in your letter. It is well for a man to abstain altogether from marriage.
Update Bible Version
Now concerning the things whereof you wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman.
New English Translation
Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."
New King James Version
Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
New Living Translation
Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.
New Life Bible
You asked me some questions in your letter. This is my answer. It is good if a man does not get married.
New Revised Standard
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is well for a man not to touch a woman."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, concerning the things whereof ye wrote, it were, good, for a man, not to touch, a woman;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Revised Standard Version
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
As concerninge the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me: it is good for a ma not to touche a woman.
Young's Literal Translation
And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good [it is] for a man not to touch a woman,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As concernynge the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me, I answere: It is good for a man not to touche a woman.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Now as to the question you writ to me about; "whether it is best for a man not to marry?"
THE MESSAGE
Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations?
Simplified Cowboy Version
Now, let's talk about some questions you had in your letter. You asked if cowboys should stay away from sex. Listen, there ain't nothing wrong with sex if it is in the right context. And God is the one who decides the context, not you.

Contextual Overview

1 But of thilke thingis that ye han write to me, it is good to a man to touche not a womman. 2 But for fornycacioun eche man haue his owne wijf, and ech womman haue hir owne hosebonde. 3 The hosebonde yelde dette to the wijf, and also the wijf to the hosebonde. 4 The womman hath not power of hir bodi, but the hosebonde; and the hosebonde hath not power of his bodi, but the womman. 5 Nyle ye defraude eche to othere, but perauenture of consent to a tyme, that ye yyue tent to preier; and eft turne ye ayen to the same thing, lest Sathanas tempte you for youre vncontynence. 6 But Y seie this thing as yyuyng leeue, not bi comaundement. 7 For Y wole, that alle men be as my silf. But eche man hath his propre yifte of God; oon thus, and another thus. 8 But Y seie to hem, that ben not weddid, and to widewis, it is good to hem, if thei dwellen so as Y. 9 That if thei conteynen not hem silf, be thei weddid; for it is betere to be weddid, than to be brent.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

good: 1 Corinthians 7:8, 1 Corinthians 7:26, 1 Corinthians 7:27, 1 Corinthians 7:37, 1 Corinthians 7:38, Matthew 19:10, Matthew 19:11

touch: Genesis 20:6, Ruth 2:9, Proverbs 6:29

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:3 - touch Exodus 21:10 - her food 1 Corinthians 7:40 - she

Cross-References

Genesis 6:9
These ben the generaciouns of Noe. Noe was a iust man and perfit in hise generaciouns; Noe yede with God,
Genesis 7:1
Also the Lord seide to Noe, Entre thou and al thin hous in to the schip, for Y seiy thee iust bifore me in this generacioun.
Genesis 7:4
For yit and aftir seuene daies Y schal reyne on erthe fourti daies and fourti nyytis, and Y schal do awey al substaunce which Y made, fro the face of erthe.
Genesis 7:5
Therfor Noe dide alle thingis whiche the Lord comaundide to hym.
Genesis 7:6
And he was of sixe hundrid yeer, whanne the watris of the greet flood flowiden on erthe.
Genesis 7:7
And Noe entride in to the schip, and hise sones, and hise wijf, and the wyues of his sones, entriden with him for the watris of the greet flood.
Genesis 7:8
And of lyuynge beestis clene and vnclene, and of briddis of heuene, and of ech beeste which is moued on erthe,
Genesis 7:9
bi tweyne and bi tweyne, male and female entriden to Noe in to the schip, as the Lord comaundide to Noe.
Genesis 7:10
And whanne seuene daies hadden passid, the watris of the greet flood flowiden on erthe.
Genesis 7:11
In the sixe hundrid yeer of the lijf of Noe, in the secunde moneth, in the seuententhe dai of the moneth, alle the wellis of the greet see weren brokun, and the wyndowis of heuene weren opened,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me,.... Though the false apostles had greatly influenced the members of this church, yet there were many among them that had a very great respect for the apostle, and kept up a correspondence with him, though at a distance from him, by writing; in which way they informed him of their doubts and difficulties, that arose in their minds about certain things, and desired his judgment in them, to which they paid a very great deference. The things they wrote to him about, here referred to, may be collected from the contents of this chapter, and some others following; as whether a Christian man ought not to abstain from the use of women; whether a believer ought to live with an unbelieving yoke fellow; whether such as had been circumcised should not make use of some methods to draw on the foreskin of their flesh; whether apprentices, who were called by the grace of God, ought to serve out their time with their masters; and concerning celibacy or virginity, the eating of things offered to idols, and the maintenance of ministers: and he begins with the first; to which he answers,

it is good for a man not to touch a woman; which is to be understood, not of merely touching a woman, which can neither be criminal, nor in all cases inexpedient, or be attended with any ill, or dangerous consequences; nor of the matrimonial contract, which is lawful and honourable; but of the act of carnal copulation with a woman: in this sense the Jews use the phrase,

"there are three (they say r) that fled from transgression, and the blessed God joined his name with them; and they are these, Joseph, and Joel, and Phalti. Joseph, as appears from what is said, Psalms 81:5 "a testimony in Joseph is his name"; what is the meaning of the phrase "in Joseph?" this testifies concerning him,

שלא נגע באשת פוטיפר, "that he did not touch Potiphar's wife" (i.e. he did not lie with her); Jael, as is clear from what is said, Judges 4:18 "and Jael went forth to meet Sisera, and she covered him with a mantle"; what is the meaning of the phrase, בשמיכה? (which is rendered, "with a mantle";) our Rabbins here (in Babylon) say with a linen cloth; but our Rabbins there (in the land of Israel) say with bed clothes; says Resh Lekish, if we run over the whole Scripture, we shall not find any household goods so called; wherefore what is it? it is all one as שמי כה, "my name is thus": and the meaning is, my name witnesses concerning her, שלא נגע בה אותו רשע, "that that wicked one (Sisera) did not touch her" s; (i.e. had not carnal knowledge of her;) Phalti, as is evident from hence, one Scripture says, "and Saul gave Michal his daughter to Phalti", 1 Samuel 25:44 and another Scripture says Phaltiel; sometimes he is called Phalti, and sometimes he is called Phaltiel; who takes Phalti? and who gives Phaltiel? but I testify concerning him; שלא נגע באשת דוד, "that he did not touch David's wife"; (i.e. did not lie with her;)''

see Genesis 20:6. And in this sense also is the word "touch" used, both by Greek and Latin authors. The apostle's meaning is not that it is unlawful to marry, or that it is sinful to lie with a woman in lawful wedlock; but that it is much better, and more expedient on several accounts, to abstain from the use of women, when persons have the gift of continency.

r Vajikra Rabba, sect. 23. fol. 164. 4. & 165. 1. Vid Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 91. 4. s Vid. Kimchi in Jud. iv. 18.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now, concerning ... - In reply to your inquiries. The first, it seems, was in regard to the propriety of marriage; that is, whether it was lawful and expedient.

It is good - It is well. It is fit, convenient, or, it is suited to the present circumstances, or, the thing itself is well and expedient in certain circumstances. The apostle did not mean that marriage was unlawful, for he says Hebrews 13:4 that “marriage is honorable in all.” But he here admits, with one of the parties in Corinth, that it was well, and proper in some circumstances, not to enter into the marriage relation; see 1 Corinthians 7:7-8, 1Co 7:26, 1 Corinthians 7:28, 1 Corinthians 7:31-32.

Not to touch a woman - Not to be connected with her by marriage. Xenophon (Cyro. b. 1) uses the same word (ἅπτω haptō, “to touch”) to denote marriage; compare Genesis 20:4, Genesis 20:6; Genesis 26:11; Proverbs 6:29.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER VII.

A solution of several difficult cases concerning marriage and

married persons, 1-6.

God has given every man his proper gift, 7.

Directions to the unmarried and widows, 8, 9.

Directions to the married, 10, 11.

Directions to men married to heathen women, and to women

married to heathen men, 12-16.

Every man should abide in his vocation, 17-24.

Directions concerning virgins, and single persons in general,

25-28.

How all should behave themselves in the things of this life, in

reference to eternity, 29-31.

The trials of the married state, 39-35.

Directions concerning the state of virginity or celibacy, 36-38.

How the wife is bound to her husband during his life, and her

liberty to marry another after his death, 39, 40.

NOTES ON CHAP. VII.

Verse 1 Corinthians 7:1. The things whereof ye wrote unto me — It is sufficiently evident that the principal part of this epistle was written in answer to some questions which had been sent to the apostle in a letter from the Corinthian Church; and the first question seems to be this: "Is it proper for a man to marry in the present circumstances of the Church?"

The question concerning the expediency or inexpediency of marriage was often agitated among the ancient philosophers; and many, though inclined to decide against it, because of the troubles and cares connected with it, tolerated it in their opinions; because, though an evil, it was judged to be a necessary evil. The words of Menander are full to this effect: Γαμειν, εαν τις την αληθειαν σκοπῃ, κακον μεν εστιν, αλλ' αναγκαιον κακον· "If a man consider marriage in a proper point of view, it is an evil; but then it is a necessary evil." Metellus Numidicus spoke of it nearly in the same way. Si sine uxore possemus, Quirites, esse, omnes ea molestia careremus; sed quoniam ita natura tradidit, ut nec CUM ILLIS salis commode, nec SINE ILLIS ullo modo vivi possit, saluti perpetus potius quam brevi voluptati consulendum. "If, O ye Romans, we could live unmarried, we should be saved from a great deal of trouble; but, seeing that nature has so ordered it that we cannot live very comfortably with wives, and without them cannot live at all, marriage should be adopted, not for the sake of the short-lived pleasure, but rather for perpetual safety." But this was not the common opinion; the Jews absolutely required that every man should marry, and reputed those as murderers who did not. - 1 Corinthians 7:6. By the laws of Lycurgus unmarried persons were prohibited from seeing the public games. By the laws of the Spartans bachelors were punished. And Plato declares all such unworthy of any honour. And to this the commentator says, Amen.

Not to touch a woman — Γυναικος μη ἁπτεσθαι· The learned reader need not be informed in what sense απτομαι is used among the Greeks, and langere among the Latins. For examples Wetstein may be consulted.


 
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