The big picture
1 Corinthians 7 opens in verse 1 with “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 20 with “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”, and closes in verse 40 with “But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the…” Repeated or prominent terms include wife, husband, Lord, marry, abide. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Corinthians · King James Version · 401 Corinthians 7:1-8
1–8: Concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not…
1 Corinthians 7:1–8 opens with “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” and reaches “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Married, unmarried, widowed, and engaged believers listening to practical counsel for faithful life in their present circumstances, with particular weight carried by husband, wife, body.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” The line’s distinctive content terms include concerning, good, touch. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.” The line’s distinctive content terms include husband, wife, benevolence. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Corinthians 7:1-8
King James Version1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5Defraud 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.
6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1 Corinthians 7:9-16
9–16: If they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than…
1 Corinthians 7:9–16 opens with “But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.” and reaches “For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Married, unmarried, widowed, and engaged believers listening to practical counsel for faithful life in their present circumstances, with particular weight carried by husband, wife, depart.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.” The line’s distinctive content terms include marry, better, burn. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
“But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his…” The line’s distinctive content terms include husband, depart, reconciled. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Corinthians 7:9-16
King James Version9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
10And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
17–24: As God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one…
1 Corinthians 7:17–24 opens with “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk…” and reaches “Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Married, unmarried, widowed, and engaged believers listening to practical counsel for faithful life in their present circumstances, with particular weight carried by servant, abide, circumcised.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
King James Version17But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
1 Corinthians 7:25-32
25–32: Concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my…
1 Corinthians 7:25–32 opens with “Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that…” and reaches “But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Married, unmarried, widowed, and engaged believers listening to practical counsel for faithful life in their present circumstances, with particular weight carried by Lord, wife, good.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Corinthians 7:25-32
King James Version25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
26I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
29But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
1 Corinthians 7:33-40
33–40: He that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he…
1 Corinthians 7:33–40 opens with “But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.” and reaches “But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Married, unmarried, widowed, and engaged believers listening to practical counsel for faithful life in their present circumstances, with particular weight carried by careth, doeth, husband.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.” The line’s distinctive content terms include careth, married, please. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath…” Naming Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Corinthians 7:33-40
King James Version33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Corinthians 7:1 begins with “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Corinthians 7:21 forms a natural hinge: “Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.”
The final note
1 Corinthians 7:40 leaves the reader with “But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words wife, husband, Lord, marry, abide, careth help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What links this event with creation?
Waters overwhelm the inhabited world, reversing the separations that made life possible.
What details show continuity rather than total abandonment?
The named household and preserved kinds of living creatures survive within the ark.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.