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.
The apostle comes now, as a faithful and skilful casuist, to answer some cases of conscience which the Corinthians had proposed to him. Those were things whereof they wrote to him, Co1 7:1. As the lips of ministers should keep knowledge, so the people should ask the law at their mouths. The apostle was as ready to resolve as they were to propose their doubts.
Commenting on 1 Corinthians 7:1-9
The wife hath not power of her own body,.... To refrain the use of it from her husband; or to prostitute it to another man: but the husband; he has the sole power over it, and may require when he pleases the use of it: and likewise also the husband has not power over his own body: to withhold due benevolence, or the conjugal debt...
Verse 4. The wife hath not power, etc. By the marriage covenant that power, in this respect, is transferred to the husband. And likewise also the husband. The equal rights of husband and wife, in the Scriptures, are everywhere maintained. They are to regard themselves as united in the most intimate union, and in the most tender ties.