The first few words of the Greek are literally “because of (sexual) immorality” (see comments on 5.1). Most translations have found it necessary to expand this phrase. The temptation to is implied in the Greek, as is Good News Bible‘s rendering “so much.” Barrett brings out the meaning by translating “because cases of fornication occur.” The word translated “fornication” or “immorality” is plural, implying more than one act. Barclay has “In order to avoid illicit sexual relationships.” The difference in meaning between “in order to avoid immorality” and “because there is so much immorality” is not great; the second translation implies the first.

Each man should have is literally a command using the third person singular, but this is misleading. Although Paul uses a grammatical imperative, he is really not ordering anyone to do anything. The meaning is closer to Bible en français courant‘s rendering, “it is better for each man to have….” More precisely, Paul is not ordering the Corinthians to marry, but is saying that it may be necessary for men to marry in order to avoid sexual immorality (compare verse 9). In this context the word have does not mean “get married” but “be in a married state.”

The Greek word translated as own is different in the two parts of the verse. The two Greek words are used consistently in the New Testament in speaking respectively of husbands (Eph 5.28, 33) and wives (1 Cor 14.35; Eph 5.22; Titus 2.5; 1 Peter 3.1, 5). If there is any difference of meaning, the first expression would mean “a wife who belongs to him,” and the second “a husband who is hers alone.” The difference is so slight that all translations that we consulted have ignored it. Far more important is the fact that Paul here, and especially in verses 3-4, says that husbands and wives are equally obligated to each other and therefore are not to have sexual relations with others.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .