1 Corinthians 7:2

7:2 But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with ¹  his own wife and each woman with ²  her own husband.

1 Corinthians 7:5-9

7:5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. ³  Then resume your relationship, ⁴  so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 7:6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7:7 I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.

7:8 To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am. 7:9 But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire. ⁵ 

1 Corinthians 7:28

7:28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, ⁶  and I am trying to spare you such problems. ⁷ 

1 Corinthians 7:36

7:36 If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, ⁸  if she is past the bloom of youth ⁹  and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.

Matthew 19:12

19:12 For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, ¹⁰  and some who were made eunuchs ¹¹  by others, ¹²  and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”

¹ tn Grk “each man should have his own wife.” “Have” in this context means “have marital relations with” (see the following verse). The verb ἐχέτω (ecetw, “have”) occurs twice in the Greek text, but has not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons. This verb occurs 8 times in the LXX (Exod 2:1; Deut 28:30; 2 Chr 11:21; 1 Esd 9:12, 18; Tob 3:8; Isa 13:16; 54:1) with the meaning “have sexual relations with,” and 9 times elsewhere in the NT with the same meaning (Matt 20:23; 22:28; Mark 6:18; 12:33; Luke 20:28; John 4:18 [twice]; 1 Cor 5:1; 7:29).

² tn Grk “should have.” For explanation of the translation, see the note on “have relations with” earlier in this verse.

³ tc Most later witnesses (א² Ï sy) add “fasting and” (τῇ νηστείᾳ καί, th nhsteia kai) before “prayer.” But such an addition is motivated by ascetic concerns; further, its lack in Ì^11vid,46 א* A B C D F G P Ψ 33 1739 1881 2464 al latt co argues decisively against its authenticity.

⁴ tn Grk “and be together again.”

⁵ tn Grk “than to burn,” a figure of speech referring to unfulfilled sexual passion.

⁶ tn Grk “these will have tribulation in the flesh.”

⁷ tn Grk “I am trying to spare you.” Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context. “Such problems” has been supplied here to make the sense of the statement clear.

⁸ tn Grk “virgin,” either a fiancée, a daughter, or the ward of a guardian. For discussion see the note at the end of v. 38.

⁹ tn Or referring to an engaged man: “if he is past the critical point,” “if his passions are too strong.” The word literally means “to be past the high point.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “from the womb of the mother” (an idiom).

¹¹ tn The verb εὐνουχίζω occurs twice in this verse, translated the first time as “made eunuchs” and the second time as “became eunuchs.” The term literally refers to castration. The second occurrence of the word in this verse is most likely figurative, though, referring to those who willingly maintain a life of celibacy for the furtherance of the kingdom (see W. D. Davies and D. C. Allison, Matthew [ICC], 3:23).

¹² tn Grk “people.”