1 Corinthians 7:5

Amharic Tigrinya (መፅሓፍ ቅዱስ) No Year

ንፀሎት ክትተግሁ፥ ብዝተሰማማዕኹምሉ ጊዜ ጥራሕ እንተ ዘይኮይኑ፥ ኣይትፈላለዩ። ንሰብነትኩም ምቍፅፃር ብዘይምኽኣልኩም፥ ሰይጣን ምእንቲ ኸይፍትነኩም፥ ብሓደ ኹኑ።

What Does This Mean?

This verse is from Paul to the Corinthians, advising them not to deny each other physical intimacy without mutual agreement for a set time to focus on spiritual activities like prayer and fasting. The key message is about balancing marital duties with spiritual growth.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a special friend at school. Sometimes, you both agree to take a break from playing together so you can study really hard for an important test. This verse says married people should sometimes do the same thing but for praying and fasting.

Historical Background

Paul wrote this letter around 53-54 AD to the church in Corinth, addressing various issues among believers, including questions about marriage and sexual relationships. The Corinthians lived in a culture with diverse views on sexuality.

Living It Out Today

A modern application could be a married couple deciding to take a break from physical intimacy for a month to focus on spiritual growth through fasting and prayer during a particularly challenging time at work or school.

Topics

• marriage
• spiritual growth
• fasting and prayer
• intimacy
• self-control
• temptation

Related Verses

• Matthew 6:16-18
• Luke 2:37
• Acts 9:9
• Ephesians 5:22-33
• Hebrews 10:24

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'defraud' mean in this context?

'Defraud' here means to deny or deprive unfairly. Paul is advising against one spouse withholding intimacy without mutual agreement.

Why mention fasting and prayer specifically?

Fasting and prayer are spiritual disciplines that can enhance a couple's faith journey and help them stay focused on God during times of abstinence from physical intimacy.

Does this verse apply to non-married couples as well?

The context is specifically about married couples, but the principles of mutual agreement and spiritual focus can be applied broadly to any committed relationship.

How long should the agreed time for abstinence be?

The verse doesn't specify a duration; it emphasizes that both partners must agree on the length of time, which could vary based on their personal and spiritual needs.