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OET (OET-LV) Not be_defrauding one_another, if surely_not wishfully by harmonious for a_time, in_order_that you_all_may_have_leisure the for_prayer, and again with the same you_all_may_be, in_order_that not may_be_tempt you_all the Satan/(Sāţān), because_of the intemperance of_you_all.
OET (OET-RV) Don’t deprive each other, except by mutual agreement so that you may devote yourselves to prayer for an agreed time, and then be together again, so that Satan can’t easily tempt you all because of your lack of self-control.
In an earlier letter to Paul, the Corinthians had mentioned some problems and asked him some questions. There are no longer any copies of this letter, so we can only guess what they wrote by reading Paul’s answers. Apparently some of the questions the Corinthians had asked were about marriage and sex. In this section Paul discussed these topics. He wrote about sexual intercourse, divorce, marrying again after a person’s husband or wife dies, and never marrying.
From the way Paul talked, it appears that the Corinthians were thinking that if believers want to be holy, they should abstain from sexual relations. The Corinthians were wondering if married people should sleep together, if Christians who were married to non-Christians should divorce them, and if Christians should get married. Paul gave them some wise teaching on each of these topics. In 7:1–16 he addressed Christians who were married. In 7:17–24 he wrote about his general rule for Christians: Remain as you are. In 7:25–38 he taught Christians who were not married. In 7:39–40 he addressed women whose husbands had died.
Other possible section headings include:
Paul gave/wrote instructions about Christian marriage
Paul’s teaching on marriage
Paul began to discuss the subjects the Corinthians had written to him about. It seems that some believers were thinking that sexual intercourse was not good. Those people even said that married Christians should not have sexual intercourse with each other. Paul said that it was good for married believers to live together normally as man and wife. This would help them avoid being tempted to commit sex sins.
Do not deprive each other,
To you married people I say: Stop refusing to fulfill your duty to one another.
So now I command you married people to stop denying your spouse his or her marriage rights.
Do not say to your spouse, “I will not sleep with you.”
Do not deprive each other: The Greek word that the BSB translates as deprive here means to keep back from someone something that belongs to him or her. It means to prevent someone from having and enjoying what rightfully belongs to him or her. In this context it refers to someone refusing to have sexual relations with his or her spouse. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as direct speech. For example:
Do not say to your spouse, “I will no longer have sex with you.”
Do not deprive: In Greek this is in the present tense. This probably indicates that when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, some married Christians in Corinth were not having sex with their husbands or wives. So you can translate this as:
Stop depriving each other.
Stop refusing to give your spouse his marriage rights.
except by mutual consent and for a time,
The only exception to normal relations should be when you have both agreed to stay apart from each other for a little while
However, it is all right if you decide together that you will not be intimate for a short time
You may perhaps both agree not to sleep together for a little while
except by mutual consent and for a time: Paul was allowing some exceptions to what he had just said. He accepted that sometimes husbands and wives might not have sexual relations.
by mutual consent: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as by mutual consent can also be translated as “by agreement.” It indicates that the husband and wife must both wish to stay apart from one another. They must agree to refrain from sexual relations.
for a time: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as for a time means “for a short time” or “for a little while.” The husband and wife should not stay apart for very long.
so you may devote yourselves to prayer.
so that you will be able to use your time for praying.
so that you can spend your time praying.
so you will have more/extra time to pray.
so you may devote yourselves to prayer: This is a purpose clause. It indicates the purpose for which a husband and wife might refrain from sexual relations for a while. Among the Jewish people in the OT and among the Christians in the NT, it was a custom to pray and fast for several days at a time. During these times it was common for husbands and wives to refrain from sexual relations. (See for example Exodus 19:15.)The KJV translates 7:5c this way: “that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer.” Many Greek copies of 1 Corinthians have the words “fasting and prayer” in 7:5c, instead of just the word “prayer.” But the UBS Greek text does not include the words “fasting and,” because these words are not in the oldest Greek copies of 1 Corinthians. It gives the shorter version an A rating, indicating that the words “fasting and” were almost certainly not in the original text of 1 Corinthians. Almost all English versions follow the UBS Greek text. It is recommended that you do not include the words “fasting and.” Other ways to translate this include:
in order to spend your time in prayer (GNT)
to leave yourselves free for prayer (NJB)
devote yourselves: The Greek word that the BSB translates as devote yourselves means to focus on something strongly. Here Paul is saying that it is permissible for a husband and wife to abstain from sexual relations for a while in order to focus more strongly on prayer.
Then come together again,
But after that, you should have normal relations with each other again
But after that you must begin to live together again as husbands and wives should
Then: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Then is the common conjunction often translated as “and.” The RSV and GNT translate it here as “but then.”
come together again: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as come together again is a euphemism meaning “begin again to have sexual intercourse.” Other ways to translate this include:
resume normal marital relations (GNT)
you should get back together (GW)
start sleeping together again
Consider if a euphemism would be appropriate in this context in your culture.
so that Satan will not tempt you
so that Satan will not tempt you to behave immorally.
in order to avoid Satan’s temptations to sin/immorality,
so that Satan will not tempt you: These words connect to the command in 7:5a, “Do not deprive each other.” This is a negative purpose clause. Paul gave his command not to “deprive each other” so that believers would not be tempted by Satan. He knew that when married people do not have sexual intercourse, they give Satan a chance to tempt them.
Satan: Satan is a name for the devil, the chief of the evil angels. See the note on 5:5a.
tempt you: If you need to say what the Corinthians might be tempted to do, you could say:
tempt you to sin
tempt you to commit adultery
through your lack of self-control.
For it is hard for you keep control of yourselves.
since you may not be able to control your own desires/passions.
through your lack of self-control: The Greek word that the BSB translates as lack of self-control means that a person is not able to control himself. In some languages it may be necessary to make this more specific and say:
because you are not able to control your strong sexual desire
In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of 7:5e and 5f. For example:
If you fail to have sex with your spouse, 5fyou may have strong desires that you cannot control 5eand then Satan will easily tempt you to commit sex sins.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism
μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους εἰ μήτι ἄν ἐκ συμφώνου πρός καιρόν ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ καί πάλιν ἐπί τό αὐτό ἦτε ἵνα μή πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διά τήν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν)
Here Paul omits a direct reference to having sex in order to be polite. The Corinthians would have understood him to mean that they should not deprive each other of having sex. If your readers also would understand this, you could express the idea the same way Paul did. If your readers would not understand this, you may need to include a word or phrase that politely refers to having sex. Alternate translation: [Do not deprive each other of sleeping together]
Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions
μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους, εἰ μήτι ἂν ἐκ συμφώνου
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους εἰ μήτι ἄν ἐκ συμφώνου πρός καιρόν ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ καί πάλιν ἐπί τό αὐτό ἦτε ἵνα μή πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διά τήν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν)
If it would appear in your language that Paul was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: [You should deprive each other only in one situation: by mutual agreement]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἐκ συμφώνου
by harmonious
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind agreement, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “agree.” Alternate translation: [when you both agree]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
πρὸς καιρὸν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους εἰ μήτι ἄν ἐκ συμφώνου πρός καιρόν ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ καί πάλιν ἐπί τό αὐτό ἦτε ἵνα μή πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διά τήν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν)
Here, for a season identifies a short, undefined period of time. The word season does not refer to winter or summer. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express for a season with a word or phrase that refers vaguely to a short time. Alternate translation: [for a short period of time] or [for a brief time]
Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
ἵνα
in_order_that
Here, so that introduces the purpose for which the Corinthians can deprive each other. In other words, it gives the purpose for the except statement. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express what so that refers back to by clarifying that it explains why the Corinthians can deprive each other. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a period before it. Alternate translation: [You may deprive each only so that]
Note 6 topic: translate-unknown
σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ
˱you_all˲_˓may˒_have_leisure ¬the ˱for˲_prayer
Here, devote yourselves refers to making time to focus on something specific. Paul argues that the only time to avoid having sex with one’s spouse is so that both spouses have extra time to focus on praying to God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express devote yourselves with a comparable expression. Alternate translation: [you may make more time for prayer] or [you may spend more time in prayer]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τῇ προσευχῇ
¬the ˱for˲_prayer
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind prayer, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “praying.” Alternate translation: [to praying]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism
πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἦτε
again (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους εἰ μήτι ἄν ἐκ συμφώνου πρός καιρόν ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ καί πάλιν ἐπί τό αὐτό ἦτε ἵνα μή πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διά τήν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν)
Here, be together again is a polite way to refer to resuming sexual relations. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express be together again with a comparable phrase that politely refers to having sex. Alternate translation: [sleep together again]
Note 9 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
(Occurrence 2) ἵνα
in_order_that
Here, so that could introduce the purpose for which: (1) the Corinthians need quickly to be together again. It is because Satan will tempt them unless they are together. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a period before it. Alternate translation: [Be together again soon so that] (2) the Corinthians should not deprive each other. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a period before it. Alternate translation: [The point of not depriving each other is so that]
Note 10 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
διὰ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους εἰ μήτι ἄν ἐκ συμφώνου πρός καιρόν ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ καί πάλιν ἐπί τό αὐτό ἦτε ἵνα μή πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διά τήν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν)
Here, because could introduce the reason why: (1) Satan may tempt them. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a comma before it. Alternate translation: [which he would do because of] (2) they should soon be together again. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a period before it. Alternate translation: [You should do this because of]
Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους εἰ μήτι ἄν ἐκ συμφώνου πρός καιρόν ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ καί πάλιν ἐπί τό αὐτό ἦτε ἵνα μή πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διά τήν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind self-control, you can express the idea by using a verbal phrase such as “cannot restrain.” Alternate translation: [because you cannot restrain yourselves]
OET (OET-LV) Not be_defrauding one_another, if surely_not wishfully by harmonious for a_time, in_order_that you_all_may_have_leisure the for_prayer, and again with the same you_all_may_be, in_order_that not may_be_tempt you_all the Satan/(Sāţān), because_of the intemperance of_you_all.
OET (OET-RV) Don’t deprive each other, except by mutual agreement so that you may devote yourselves to prayer for an agreed time, and then be together again, so that Satan can’t easily tempt you all because of your lack of self-control.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.