Yes — Christians not only may marry; the Bible presents marriage as a holy, God-ordained relationship.
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul tells believers that to avoid fornication, every man should have his own wife and every woman her own husband, and that it is better to marry than to burn. Les Feldick teaches this passage was written to answer the Corinthians' questions about marriage, not to discourage it. God's plan from the Garden of Eden has always been one man for one woman for life.
1 Corinthians 7:2 — Paul tells Corinthian believers that marriage is the God-given way to avoid sexual immorality.
1 Corinthians 7:9 — Paul says those who cannot control their sexual desires should marry rather than burn with temptation.
Ephesians 5:31 — Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 to show the marriage union is sacred and pictures Christ and the church.
Nowhere does the Bible forbid marriage. In response to questions from the Corinthian believers, the Apostle Paul writes, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman." But he immediately adds, "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." Paul continues, "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn." He also commands married believers not to depart from one another: "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife." The Bible teaches that marriage is God's original institution. In Ephesians 5:31 Paul quotes Genesis 2:24: "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." Paul then applies this to Christ and the church, showing that the marriage relationship is not something to be rejected but to be honored.
Les Feldick teaches that Christians are right to marry. He notes that 1 Corinthians 7 was written because the Corinthian believers had sent Paul a letter of questions, and one of their primary questions was how to handle the marriage relationship. Les explains that Paul's instruction is not against marriage; rather, Paul's concern is with sexual morality, since Corinth was a city deeply steeped in immorality and temple prostitution. Les emphasizes Paul's conclusion in verse 9: if believers cannot control their sexual desires, they are better off married than to burn with temptation. He also stresses that God's original plan from the Garden of Eden was one man married for life to one woman, and only death interrupts that union. Les points to Ephesians 5:31, where Paul lifts the marriage union to a higher level, speaking concerning Christ and the church. Les also draws a sharp line against sexual immorality, reminding believers that their bodies are members of Christ and must not be joined to a prostitute.
Les Feldick explains that 1 Corinthians 7 was written because the Corinthian believers had sent Paul a letter of questions. One of their primary questions was how they were to handle the marriage relationship. These believers had come out of a pagan culture where sexual immorality was woven into daily life—Corinth even had a temple of Aphrodite with female priestesses who were temple prostitutes. So Paul had to give them clear, practical instruction about marriage and sexual morality.
No. Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 7:1 is immediately qualified in verse 2: "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." Paul goes on to say in verse 9, "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn." Les Feldick points out that Paul is speaking about controlling sexual desires—if a believer cannot contain them, marriage is the right answer, not sin. Paul's instruction was not against marriage; it simply recognized that singleness is better for those who can manage it without sexual temptation.
Les Feldick teaches that the Biblical concept of marriage has never changed from the Garden of Eden: God intended one man married for life to one woman. Only death interrupts that union, in which case remarriage is permitted. Jesus was challenged by those who used Moses' writing of divorcement, but the original plan remains. Paul shows the high spiritual significance of marriage by applying "the two shall be one flesh" to Christ and the church.
Les emphasizes that because believers' bodies are members of Christ, they must not unite those bodies with prostitutes or be unfaithful to their spouse. A Christian who is faithful in marriage glorifies God in his or her body. Paul also commands married believers not to depart from one another; if there is a separation, the believer should remain unmarried or be reconciled to the husband or wife.
Why Paul Wrote 1 Corinthians 7
Les explains that the letter of 1 Corinthians was prompted by a list of questions from the Corinthian believers, including how to handle the marriage relationship.
Marriage Is Better Than Burning
Les highlights Paul's conclusion that if believers cannot control their sexual desires, they are better off getting married than committing adultery — so marriage is clearly permitted.
Paul's Command to Married Believers
Les reads Paul's command that married believers must not depart from or put away their spouse, showing that marriage is a serious, binding relationship for Christians.
Pagan Background of the Corinthians
Les shows that the Corinthian believers had come from a pagan culture where marriage was viewed very differently, which helps explain why they asked Paul about it.
The Truth About Grace, Faith & Abraham — Romans 4:13-25
Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet, plain enough, absolutely that becomes the guideline for a Christian life, we're not free to break the law, but it's just that we're not under the demands of the law.
Marriage Pictures Christ and the Church
Les notes that Paul takes the marriage union of Genesis 2:24 and applies it to Christ and the church, showing that marriage is a high and holy institution.
God's Original Plan for Marriage
Les teaches that from the Garden of Eden to today, God's plan has always been one man married for life to one woman, and only death interrupts that union.
Believers Must Flee Sexual Immorality
Les explains that because believers' bodies are members of Christ, they must never unite them with a prostitute — a warning rooted in Corinth's temple prostitution culture.
1 Corinthians 6:19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Paul reminds believers that their bodies belong to God, which is why sexual immorality is so serious.
1 Corinthians 7:1: Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Paul begins answering the Corinthians' written questions about marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:2: Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Paul immediately shows that marriage is the remedy for sexual temptation.
1 Corinthians 7:9: But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Paul says those who cannot control their desires should marry rather than burn with temptation.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11: And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
Paul commands married believers not to depart from or put away their spouse.
Ephesians 5:31: For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 to show the one-flesh union of marriage.
Genesis 2:24: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
This is the original institution of marriage, which Paul later applies to Christ and the church.
No. Paul tells believers that to avoid fornication, every man should have his own wife and every woman her own husband, and that it is better to marry than to burn. The Bible presents marriage as God's plan from the Garden of Eden.
Paul's statement is not a command against marriage. He immediately says that to avoid fornication, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. He later says if believers cannot contain their desires, they should marry.
The letter was prompted by questions from the Corinthian believers, but Paul's teaching reflects God's original plan for marriage. Les notes that God's plan from the Garden of Eden has never changed.
Watch the Teaching: Your Body Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit — 1 Corinthians 6:19