1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Comment: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” In answering a letter which Paul had received from the Corinthian church he says the above. Is it a repetition of their question or the commencement of his answer to their question? If it is an answer we would like to know what their question was! I think that Paul is saying that sex is not to be practiced without understanding the Godly rules. It is not the right of every man to gratify his sexual urges just because he wants the gratification and he finds a willing partner (or by force takes one). But sex is to be within marriage. Marriage is a state between one man and one woman in a faithful relationship. Sex is a conjugal right within marriage and it reads to me as if he is saying that neither is right to refuse unreasonably nor is one partner to be too demanding! There may be periods of abstinence for devotional reasons. Satan waits to cause problems!
Paul in v6-9 seems to say that in his personal opinion that being single has something to recommend it, but there are not to be in either way judgemental attitudes between those who chose marriage or celibacy. To marry is better than to be mentally obsessed over sex and remaining single as if that is a demand of God.
Prayer: As a married person, please help me to be always, in thought and action, faithful to my chosen partner, to whom I have made promises in Your Presence.
As I read it! 