John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 7:6

"But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment." — 1 Corinthians 7:6 (ASV)

By permission. So that they might not, by taking their stand on such a precept as he had prescribed, unduly loosen the restraints of lust, he adds a limitation: he had written these things because of their weakness, so that they may remember that marriage is a remedy for unchastity, lest they should excessively abuse its advantage, so as to gratify their desire by every means—indeed, without measure or modesty.

He also intends to counter the objections of the wicked, so that no one might be able to object in this way: “What! Are you afraid that husbands and wives will not of their own accord be sufficiently inclined to carnal delight that you prompt them to it?” For even the Papists, those little saints, are offended by this doctrine, and would gladly dispute with Paul, on the grounds that he encourages married persons to maintain mutual cohabitation and does not allow them to turn to a life of celibacy.

He therefore assigns a reason for his doctrine and declares that he had not recommended marital intercourse to married persons with the aim of luring them to delight, or as though he took pleasure in commanding it, but had considered what was required by the weakness of those he is addressing.

Foolish zealots for celibacy misuse both clauses of this verse. For since Paul says that he speaks by permission, they infer from this that there is therefore something wrong in marital intercourse, for where there is need of pardon, there must be sin. Furthermore, from his saying that he speaks not by commandment, they infer that it is therefore a holier thing to cease the use of marriage and turn to celibacy.

To the former, I answer that, as I acknowledge there is an immoderate excess in all human affections, I do not deny that in this matter there is an irregularity (ἀταξία), which, I admit, is sinful. Indeed, this affection, I admit, is more violent than others, and almost brutish.

But, on the other hand, I also maintain that whatever vice or baseness there is, is so covered over by the honorableness of marriage, that it ceases to be a vice, or at least is not considered a fault by God, as Augustine elegantly discusses in his book “On the Advantage of Marriage,” and frequently in other places.

You may then understand it briefly thus: marital intercourse is a thing that is pure, honorable, and holy, because it is a pure institution of God. The immoderate desire with which persons burn is a fault arising from the corruption of nature; but in the case of believers, marriage is a veil by which that fault is covered, so that it no longer appears in the sight of God.

To the second I answer: since the term commandment is properly applied to those things that relate to the duties of righteousness and things in themselves pleasing to God, Paul on this account says that he does not speak by commandment; he has, however, sufficiently shown previously that the remedy, which he had prescribed, must necessarily be used.