Paul advises against prolonged marital abstinence because it exposes the couple to Satan's temptation; he urges them to come together again.
In 1 Corinthians 7:5, Paul instructs married partners not to deprive one another except by mutual consent for a time, then to come together again so that Satan cannot tempt them because of their lack of self-control. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul is not anti-marriage; instead, he presents the marriage relationship as the God-given safeguard against sexual sin. The marriage bed is honorable and undefiled, so it should not be withheld for long periods.
1 Corinthians 7:5 — This verse directly addresses the question by instructing married couples not to withhold the marriage relationship and to come together again to avoid Satan's temptation.
Scripture speaks directly to this in 1 Corinthians 7:5. Paul writes, "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." In the same chapter, Paul says, "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband," and tells husbands and wives to render "due benevolence" to one another (1 Corinthians 7:2-3). Hebrews 13:4 adds that "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." The marriage bed is therefore not something to be withheld as a tool; sexual faithfulness within marriage is honorable, while sexual sin remains under God's judgment.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul is not anti-marriage. The Corinthian believers had come out of a pagan, idolatrous background where marriage had no moral integrity, and some had swung to the opposite extreme by claiming it was not good to touch a woman. Les says Paul answers by telling every man to have his own wife and every woman her own husband, not as the sole reason for marriage, but as a way to avoid falling into sexual temptation. Les also balances 1 Corinthians 7 with Hebrews 13:4: "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled." He describes the marriage relationship as holy and sanctified, says God intended it to be enjoyed from the Garden of Eden onward, and points out that God will judge whoremongers and adulterers. So when Paul warns against depriving one another, his concern is not with sex itself but with preventing a prolonged separation that would leave a spouse vulnerable to temptation.
No. Les says that is not the sole reason for getting married, but marriage does have a redeeming effect: if a man has his wife and she has him, they are not tempted to go out into the world and be promiscuous with people they have no business with. This is the protective value Paul points to in 1 Corinthians 7:2.
Corinth was a wicked city filled with temptation, and the believers there had been converted out of abject, immoral, idolatrous backgrounds. In paganism, marriage did not have moral integrity. As a result, these believers were going to the opposite extreme and questioning whether it was right to marry. Paul corrects that overreaction rather than discouraging marriage.
Les puts 1 Corinthians 7 alongside Hebrews 13:4. Marriage is honorable in all and the marriage bed is undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. So Paul's warning about abstaining fits within a high view of marriage: the sexual relationship in marriage is clean and God-ordained, while extra-marital immorality is not.
Les says the family and marriage relationship is holy and sanctified, and God has ordained it that way. A believer who commits sexual immorality is adulterating his position with Christ, because he is in union with Him. This underscores why withholding the marriage relationship within marriage goes against God's design.
Setting for 1 Corinthians 7
Les explains that the social conditions of Corinth make 1 Corinthians 7 especially relevant, showing Paul was dealing with real temptations in a crumbling society.
Paul Is Not Anti-Marriage
Les corrects the misreading that Paul forbids marriage; believers may marry, and God created marriage to be enjoyed with children and intimacy.
Marriage Bed Is Undefiled
Les affirms that marriage is honorable and the marriage bed undefiled, while those who commit adultery will face God's judgment.
Marriage Guards Against Promiscuity
Les applies Paul's 'let every man have his own wife' as a practical protection from sexual temptation, especially in a city like Corinth with constant immorality.
God's Original Marriage Plan
Les points back to God's design from the Garden of Eden: one man for one woman for life, with remarriage only if death interrupts.
A Church Full of Pagan Converts
Les describes the Corinthians' pagan background and their overreaction against marriage, which Paul corrects.
Hebrews 13:4 Balances the Picture
Les shows that Hebrews 13:4 confirms the marriage bed is undefiled, so Paul's instruction about marital intimacy fits a positive view of God-ordained marriage.
Marriage Is Holy; Immorality Is Not
Les teaches that sexual immorality adulterates a believer's union with Christ because marriage is holy, sanctified, and God-ordained.
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.
This verse directly commands married couples to resume their physical relationship so Satan cannot exploit their natural desires.
1 Corinthians 7:2: Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Paul presents marriage as a God-given remedy for the temptation to sexual immorality.
1 Corinthians 7:3: Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
This verse shows the mutual responsibility each spouse has to the other in the marriage relationship.
Hebrews 13:4: Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
This verse confirms that the marriage bed is clean and honorable while sexual sin remains under God's judgment.
Paul allows abstinence only by mutual consent for a time dedicated to fasting and prayer, and then he says to come together again. Les confirms the marriage bed is undefiled and God intended the marriage relationship to be enjoyed, so any separation should not be prolonged.
No. Les says Paul was not anti-marriage. The Corinthian believers had come out of paganism and overreacted by saying it was not good to touch a woman, and Paul corrected that overreaction rather than discouraging marriage.
In 1 Corinthians 7:5 Paul says to come together again "that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." Les explains that the marriage relationship is God's safeguard against promiscuity, and a prolonged separation leaves room for temptation.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Marriage — 1 Corinthians 7 Explained