1 Corinthians 7:5-7 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Defraud not Or deprive not; one the other Of this benevolence; or withdraw not from the company of each other; except it be with consent for a time, that On those special and solemn occasions, you may entirely give yourselves up to the exercises of devotion. From this passage it appears, that, in the first age, when married persons parted for a time to employ themselves in the duties of devotion, they lived in separate habitations, or rather in different parts of their own house. For in the eastern countries the houses were so built, that the women had apartments allotted to themselves. And come together again As usual, and do not continue the separation too long; that Satan tempt you not To unclean thoughts, if not actions too, which he probably might do, if you should long remain separate from each other; for your incontinency The word ακρασια, thus translated, properly signifies, the want of the government of one's passions and appetites. It is properly observed here by Dr. Macknight, “that marriage being an affair of the greatest importance to society, it was absolutely necessary that its obligation and duties, as well as the obligation and duties of the other relations of life, should be declared by inspiration in the Scriptures. This passage, therefore, of the word of God ought to be read with due reverence, both because it was dictated by the Holy Spirit, and because throughout the whole of his discourse the apostle has used the greatest chastity and delicacy of expression.” But I speak this That which I have said, for the preventing of incontinency, both in the unmarried, (1 Corinthians 7:2,) and married, (1 Corinthians 7:5,) by permission From Christ, to leave you to your liberty therein, if you have the gift of continency. Or, as an advice, as some render κατα συγγνωμην. Bengelius says the word denotes an opinion, rightly suited to the state or disposition of another. And not of commandment Not as an injunction. Or, as some commentators suppose, he may refer to what follows. For I would that all men All the disciples of Christ who are unmarried, and can live chastely, were even as I myself That is, would remain eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake; or, that they could as easily bear the restraints of a single life in present circumstances, and exercise as resolute a command over their natural desires. Paul, having tasted the sweetness of this liberty, wished others to enjoy it as well as himself. But every man hath his proper gift of God According to our Lord's declaration, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given, Matthew 19:11.