What is 1 Corinthians 7:4 actually about?
1 Corinthians 7:4 teaches that in marriage neither spouse has authority over their own body; the wife’s body belongs to the husband, and the husband’s body belongs to the wife. This establishes equal ground—a 50-50 relationship—centered on satisfying each other’s sexual needs and preventing one from withholding sex as a lever.
Les explains that 1 Corinthians 7:4 appears in a chapter that becomes more appropriate as society crumbles into the same social fabric as Corinth. Paul addresses the husband-wife relationship, saying the wife has no power over her own body but the husband, and likewise the husband has no power over his own body but the wife. Les says this places them on equal ground—a 50-50 marriage relationship. Paul is talking about the satisfaction of the sexual needs of both parties. Verse 5 continues that because it is 50-50, each spouse is to be aware of the other's needs and not defraud one another except by consent. Les notes that marriage manuals warn never to use sex as a lever against your spouse—wives should not withhold the marriage bed to gain an advantage, and vice versa.
The 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.