What does it mean that it is better to marry than to burn in 1 Corinthians 7:9?

Answer

First Corinthians 7:8–9 states, “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” The King James Version simply says “to burn,” which has led to some confusion. Some have speculated that the term burn refers to burning in hell; however, when we consider the passage in context, we see Paul is expressing that, although he prefers singleness, it is not inappropriate to marry. Indeed, for those with strong sexual urges, it is preferable to marry than to be consumed by unfulfilled desire.

Paul’s assertion that it is better to marry than to burn reinforces the Bible’s firm stance against sexual immorality: if an unmarried couple is burning with passion for each other, they should marry, not yield to sin. Many attempt to rationalize premarital sexual activities with excuses such as “we’re engaged” or “we love each other.” However, the Bible does not make such concessions. In 1 Corinthians 7:1–2, Paul discusses the difference between the married and the unmarried and emphasizes that sexual satisfaction is a primary purpose of marriage: “Now for the matters you wrote about: ‘It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’ But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.” Marriage is God’s design for fulfilling sexual desires, and any sexual activity outside of marriage is sin «Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. », (Hebrews 13:4).

Sexual desires emerge during puberty and intensify as the body matures. The desires themselves are not sinful. They are a natural part of becoming a healthy adult.

O man. How we handle those desires determines whether they result in sin. James 1:13–15 explains the progression from temptation to sin: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death.”

With his statement that it is preferable to marry than to burn, Paul issues a caution for those moving toward sin. Lengthy engagements, teenage dating, and intimate sessions between dating couples are all ways that temptation can ignite. First Thessalonians 4:3–7 also emphasizes the importance of controlling our passions: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

When we fail to control our bodies in ways that are holy and honorable, we risk allowing the natural sexual urge to transform into lust—or inciting lust in others. This is particularly relevant during late adolescence and early twenties when hormones are surging and bodies are at their peak. Sexual desire is heightened, and the naive or uninformed often engage in sexual sin before understanding the lasting consequences. God’s intention is for those who “burn” with sexual desire to prayerfully seek a spouse and manage their desires until the wedding night. Those who can uphold moral purity should not feel compelled to marry. Singleness is a completely acceptable way of life.

However, if one begins to “burn” with passion, it is time to seek God’s guidance in finding a spouse.