OET interlinear 1 COR 7:1

7:1a

Now for the matters you wrote about: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Now for can also be translated as “Now concerning.” This phrase introduces a new topic. Paul was about to begin to discuss a letter that the Corinthian believers had written to Paul. Another way to translate this verse part is:

Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. (NCV)

7:1b

It is good to abstain from sexual relations: Scholars disagree as to whether these are Paul’s own words or whether he was quoting from the Corinthians’ letter. The two views are:

1. This is a quotation. The Corinthians had asked Paul if he agreed with them concerning this matter. Paul was referring back to what they had said. For example, the NRSV shows this by putting the words in quotation marks:

   “It is well for a man not to touch a woman.” (NRSV) (ESV, NJB, NET, NLT, NRSV, REB, CEV)

2. These are Paul’s own words. For example:

   It is well for a man not to touch a woman. (RSV) (BSB, RSV, GNT, KJV, NASB, GW, NCV, NIV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). These words were probably a Corinthian saying or slogan that they had written in their letter to Paul. The Display text meaning lines show that these are some of the words from the Corinthians’ letter.Here are some reasons why it is best to interpret 7:1b as a quote from the Corinthians’ letter: (1) In other parts of 1 Corinthians Paul quoted what the Corinthians said; for example: 6:12, 6:13; and 10:23. (2) In 1 Timothy 4:3, Paul talked about some false teachers who were forbidding people to get married; Paul did not agree with their teaching. (3) Paul was a Jew; the Jewish people as a whole thought that marriage was good (following Genesis 2:18). If you use quotation marks in your language, it is good to use them here. However, quotation marks alone will not help the listener. So it is good to also use a phrase such as “You say” or “You wrote” so that the listener will understand that these words are not Paul’s own teaching.

It is good: The Greek word that the BSB translates as good here probably means useful, beneficial, or helpful. The saying implies that the Corinthians thought it was better for Christian men, even those who were married, not to have any intimate relations with women. They believed that this would make them more holy.

to abstain from sexual relations: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as to abstain from sexual relations is literally “not to touch a woman.” This is a euphemism. (A euphemism is the use of a polite or indirect expression in place of an expression that might offend.) There are two views about the meaning of this euphemism.

1. It refers to sexual intercourse in general. For example:

   It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. (ESV) (BSB, ESV, NET, NLT, REB, NCV)

2. It refers to marriage. For example:

   A man does well not to marry. (GNT) (NIV, GNT, GW, CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Paul would not have needed to use a euphemism to speak about marriage. In his culture it was acceptable to speak openly about marriage. But it was common to use euphemisms when talking about sex.

Consider whether it is good to use a euphemism here in your translation. Consider carefully which euphemism might be appropriate. Do not use the euphemism “touch” if your readers will understand it literally as referring to any form of touching.