Paul is not forbidding marriage; he means that singleness is good in the circumstances, while marriage is God's remedy for uncontrolled sexual desire.
The Corinthians had written Paul questions after coming out of paganism without Bible instruction. Les Feldick explains that Paul's counsel about remaining single was shaped by the imminent coming of the Lord and the coming persecution, not by opposition to marriage. When Paul says it is better to marry than to burn, he shows that marriage is the right answer where sexual desire cannot be controlled.
1 Corinthians 7:1 — In this verse Paul directly answers the Corinthians' written questions with the phrase 'It is good for a man not to touch a woman.'
1 Corinthians 7 opens with the apostle Paul answering questions the Corinthian believers had written to him: 'Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.' The very next verse immediately addresses the subject of marriage and moral purity: 'Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.' Paul goes on to speak to married believers: '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.' He then tells the unmarried and widows: 'I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.' But he immediately qualifies this: 'But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.' Thus Scripture itself presents both singleness and marriage as legitimate, and gives marriage as the answer for those who cannot control their sexual desires.
Les places 1 Corinthians 7:1 within the situation at Corinth. These believers had come right out of idolatrous paganism and had never had Bible teaching or Sunday school; the entire letter was prompted by a batch of questions they sent Paul. So when Paul says it is good for a man not to touch a woman, he is not laying down a prohibition against marriage. Les shows from the context that Paul is encouraging singleness in view of the Lord's soon coming and the persecution that was ahead—'I say therefore to the unmarried and the widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.' At the same time, Les is emphatic that marriage is the biblical remedy when sexual desire cannot be controlled: if they cannot contain, let them marry; it is better to marry than to burn. He also notes that Paul's words apply to men and women alike, and that the marriage bed is for the satisfaction of both partners.
Paul was answering a letter of questions from believers who had only recently come out of pagan idolatry. They had not grown up in church, had no Sunday school or catechism, and had no New Testament. Les explains that it was these questions—'now concerning the things that ye wrote unto me'—that prompted the whole Corinthian letter.
No. Les points out that Paul immediately deals with the purpose of marriage: the satisfaction of the sexual needs of both parties, so that believers do not fall into sexual immorality. Paul says if they cannot control their sexual desires, they are better off married—'it is better to marry than to burn.' The statement about singleness is tempered by Paul's expectation of the Lord's soon coming and the coming persecution. So 'not to touch a woman' is not a command against marriage.
Paul commands husbands and wives not to defraud one another—not to use the marriage relationship as a lever or withhold it to gain advantage. If they agree to abstain for a period for spiritual purposes, that is acceptable, but they are to come together again so that Satan does not tempt them because of their lack of self-control. Les describes this as a 50-50 situation; both spouses are to be aware of the other's needs.
Paul tells the unmarried and widows that it is good for them to remain single even as he is. Les says this counsel was influenced by the fact that the Lord's coming seemed imminent and that severe persecution was about to hit the Roman Empire. So remaining single could be more comfortable, but Paul adds that every man has his proper gift from God—singleness is a gift, not a universal command.
Questions from New Pagan Converts
Les explains that 1 Corinthians was prompted by a letter of questions from Corinthian believers who had just come out of paganism and had no Bible training, which frames Paul's statement in chapter 7.
Marriage Is Better Than Burning
Les says that if believers cannot control their sexual desires and are tempted to commit adultery, Paul tells them to marry, because it is better to marry than to burn.
Singleness in View of Persecution
Les explains that Paul's counsel for unmarried people and widows to remain single was shaped by the imminent coming of Christ and the coming persecution.
Instructions for Married Believers
Les walks through Paul's commands about marriage: a believer is not to depart from a spouse, and if an unbelieving spouse is willing to dwell with the believer, they should stay.
God's Purpose for the Sex Drive
Les notes that the sex drive is powerful and God-given but not to be abused; Paul permits temporary abstinence by mutual consent, and says every person has his own gift from God—singleness included.
What the Bible Really Says About Judging Other Christians
This is what we need today, regardless of what happens down the road prophetically. Here's where we are today. Galatians 6, verse 1. Brethren, so who is he talking to? Believers, see? So brethren, if a man, now we don't want to leave the women out. This is a generic term. Don't think for a minute that the women aren't involved in the Christian church.
The Marriage Bed Is Not a Lever
Les says Paul is dealing with the satisfaction of sexual needs for both parties and warns against using the marriage bed to gain an advantage over a spouse.
Come Together Again
Les stresses that temporary separation in marriage is to be brief and by consent, so that Satan cannot tempt either spouse through lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7:1: Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
This is the verse in question—Paul's opening answer to the Corinthians' written questions about marriage and relationships.
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 explains that marriage is the safeguard against sexual immorality.
1 Corinthians 7:5: 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.
Paul instructs married couples to recognize each other's needs and not to withhold sexual intimacy except briefly and by mutual consent.
1 Corinthians 7:7: For 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.
Paul presents singleness as a gift, not a requirement for all believers.
1 Corinthians 7:8: I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
Paul tells unmarried people and widows that remaining single is good, but the surrounding verses show it is not a command.
1 Corinthians 7:9: But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Paul says marriage is the right answer when sexual desires cannot be controlled.
No. Les explains that Paul was answering questions from new believers and encouraging singleness under the circumstances. Paul immediately turns to marriage as the remedy for sexual immorality and says, 'let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.'
Les explains that this means if a person cannot control his sexual desires and is tempted to commit adultery, marriage is the better path. It comes back to what Paul said in verse 2: to avoid sexual immorality, each should have his own spouse.
No. Paul said it is good for them to remain single even as he was, but he immediately adds that every man has his proper gift from God. For those who cannot contain, he tells them to marry.
Watch the Teaching: Your Body Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit — 1 Corinthians 6:19