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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 7:5 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Co 7:5 |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Defraud . . . not--namely, of the conjugal duty "due" (Co1 7:3; compare the Septuagint, Exo 21:10).
except it be--"unless perchance" [ALFORD].
give yourselves to--literally, "be at leisure for"; be free from interruptions for; namely, on some special "season," as the Greek for "time" means (compare Exo 19:15; Joe 2:16; Zac 7:3).
fasting and prayer--The oldest manuscripts omit "fasting and"; an interpolation, evidently, of ascetics.
come together--The oldest manuscripts read, "be together," namely, in the regular state of the married.
Satan--who often thrusts in his temptations to unholy thoughts amidst the holiest exercises.
for your incontinency--because of your inability to "contain" (Co1 7:9) your natural propensities, which Satan would take advantage of. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Defraud ye not ... - Of the right mentioned above. Withdraw not from the society of each other.
Except it be with consent - With a mutual understanding, that you may engage in the extraordinary duties of religion; compare Exo 19:15.
And come together again ... - Even by mutual consent, the apostle would not have this separation to be perpetual, since it would expose them to many of the evils which the marriage relation was designed to avoid.
That Satan ... - That Satan take not advantage of you, and throw you into temptation, and fill you with thoughts and passions which the marriage compact was designed to remedy. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
May give yourselves (σχολάσητε)
Lit., may have leisure. Like the Latin phrase vacaare rei to be free for a thing, and so to devote one's self to it.
Incontinency (ἀκρασίαν)
Only here and Mat 23:35, on which see note. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Unless it be by consent for a time - That on those special and solemn occasions ye may entirely give yourselves up to the exercises of devotion. Lest - If ye should long remain separate. Satan tempt you - To unclean thoughts, if not actions too. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Defraud ye not one the other - What ye owe thus to each other never refuse paying, unless by mutual consent; and let that be only for a certain time, when prudence dictates the temporary separation, or when some extraordinary spiritual occasion may render it mutually agreeable, in order that ye may fast and pray, and derive the greatest possible benefit from these duties by being enabled to wait on the Lord without distraction.
That Satan tempt you not for your incontinency - It is most evident that the separations permitted by the Apostle, for he enjoins none, are only for a season, on extraordinary occasions; and that the persons may come together again, lest Satan, taking advantage of their matrimonial abstinence, might tempt either party to illicit commerce.
There are a multitude of rules prescribed in such cases by the rabbins, and indeed even by heathen writers; for this was a matter in which common sense could always judge; and under the direction of experience, heathens, as well as those favored with Divine revelation, could see what was proper in all such cases.
Incontinence, εικρασια, want of strength to regulate one's desires or appetites; from α, negative, and κρατος, strength. It is remarkable that the apostle supposes that even this temporary continence might produce incontinence; and universal observation confirms the supposition. |
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
3 And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.