1 Corinthians 7:5

Defraud. Gr. apostered, “to rob,” “to deprive of.” The word occurs in the LXX of Ex. 21:10, where a man is counseled not to diminish the food, raiment, and duty of marriage due his first wife. Christians are told that they must not deprive one another of the intimate privileges of marriage, except for a limited time, under special circumstances and by mutual consent. The next statement introduces grounds for a mutual arrangement for temporary abstention from intimate relations, unhindered participation in special religious exercise, though not with any suggestion of promoting asceticism in married life. It cannot be concluded from this counsel that such refraining from the privileges of marriage is necessary in order to engage in regular daily seasons of prayer, but only that it is an allowable plan to adopt when one feels the need of a period of specially intense devotion such as here suggested by the phrase, “fasting and prayer” (cf. Ex. 19:14, 15).

Fasting. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the omission of this word. For fasting among the Jews see on Mark 2:18.

Come together. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the reading “be together.” The reason for the mutually planned period of abstinence having ceased to exist, husband and wife should return to the normal conduct of married life. The reason for this admonition to resume normal relations is clearly stated, the avoidance of sexual misconduct. Marriage guards the purity of the race; hence any attempt to introduce lengthy abstention from intercourse between husband and wife would tend to remove the safeguard against fornication that is established by marriage (see PP 46).