1 Corinthians 7:3 cpdv — A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.

Catholic Public Domain Version

"A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband. "

— 1 Corinthians 7:3, Catholic Public Domain Version

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1 Corinthians 7:3 in Other Translations

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1 Corinthians 7 — Context

1

Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2

But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3

A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.

4

It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.

5

So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.

6

But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.

1 Corinthians 7:3 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 7:3 say?
1 Corinthians 7:3 in the Catholic Public Domain Version reads: “A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband. ”
Where is 1 Corinthians 7:3 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 7:3 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 7, verse 3.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 55.
What is the book of 1 Corinthians about?
Paul writes to a gifted but fractured church wrestling with divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage questions, food offered to idols, and disorder in worship. Through every issue he points back to the cross, the Spirit, and the resurrection — and gives us the church's greatest chapter on love.
What are the major themes of 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians explores themes including Unity, Cross, Spiritual Gifts, Love, Resurrection. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Corinthians 7:3.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 7:3 in?
1 Corinthians 7:3 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Corinthians 7:3?
1 Corinthians 7:3 reads (CPDV): “A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband. ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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