7:2. But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife: and let every woman have her own husband.
Have his own wife. . .That is, keep to his wife, which he hath. His meaning is not to exhort the unmarried to marry: on the contrary, he would have them rather continue as they are. (Ver. 7:8.) But he speaks here to them that are already married; who must not depart from one another, but live together as they ought to do in the marriage state.
7:3. Let the husband render the debt to his wife: and the wife also in like manner to the husband.
7:4. The wife hath not power of her own body: but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body: but the wife.
7:5. Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer: and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.
7:6. But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.
By indulgence. . .That is, by a condescension to your weakness.
7:7. For I would that all men were even as myself. But every one hath his proper gift from God: one after this manner, and another after that.
7:8. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.
7:9. But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.