1 Corinthians 7:2

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

'because of fornications' -(multiplied occurrences of it). 'but because there is no much immorality' (Mon) 'The many instances of fornication current.' (Alford p. 1010) 'Because of the (prevalent) fornications (the unusual plural indicating the variety and extent of profligacy).' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 822)

Points to Note:

1. Some have accused Paul of holding. very low view of marriage. 'The accusation brought against Paul that he thus places marriage on. very low level as though it were only the lesser of two evils, is unwarranted. For in Ephesians 5:22 the same Paul writes about the high and holy aspects of marriage as no man has ever done.' (Lenski p. 274)

2. While the above isn't the only reason to get married, it still is. valid one among many.

3. Paul didn't have his head in the sand. He was. spiritually minded man who was very much in touch with reality.. think McGuiggan has. good point here, 'Celibacy is good, but those who are equipped to be celibate won't be committing fornication and fornication is going on (2 Corinthians 12:21). So verbal celibacy was probably more common than actual. Don't claim to be celibate if you can't control yourself sexually, he says. There is an honorable way in which to satisfy sexual hunger--get married! Celibacy is honorable but so is marriage. And marriage without fornication beats "celibacy" with fornication, every time!. (p. 93)

In this commentary Mike Willis has something to say to parents on this point, 'Sometimes pre-marital sexual relationships occur...because the parents will not allow their children to marry as they desire to do...for. family to have to financially assist. young married couple through. couple of years of school is far better than to see their souls lost because of their involvement in fornication.' (p. 210)

'let each man have his own wife' -clearly points to monogamy. 'It must be Christian marriage, as opposed to heathen libertinism and Jewish polygamy.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 822) Jesus taught the same thing. (Matthew 19:5)

'let each woman have her own husband' -no double standard here. Women could only have one current husband and husbands could only have one current wife.

Point to Note:

There is. great lesson in these verses for realizing one's limitations. Here and in 1 Corinthians 7:9, Paul reminds us not to try to live. life that we weren't cut out for. 'Don't try to live the celibate life, if your not cut out for it.' Now, note what Paul doesn't say. He doesn't advocate living together arrangements (such is fornication). It's either celibacy or marriage, with no safe sexual middle ground. This must reveal something about the motives behind living together arrangements. The people in them, don't want celibacy, and yet neither do they want the commitment of marriage. Selfishness must be the motive to want. sexual relationship, without the commitment involved in. marriage relationship. Living together sends. strange message, two people that claim to "love each other" (the excuse given to legitimize the relationship), and yet they don't "love each other" to the point of wanting to commit to each other for life. It is. professed "endless love". But they don't act like it will be endless. 'I love you and am sexually attracted to you..but I'm not sure that. want you to be my only sexual partner for the rest of my life..I want to keep my options open if something better comes along.' [Note:. For more information concerning the fallacy of living-together, see "Living-Together Myths" (Sermon 6-13-93, Beaverton Church of Christ, Mark Dunagan.) For read 'Why Wait', by Josh McDowell and Dick Day, especially pages 130-137.]