The main problem of this verse is first of all to decide what the word this refers to, and secondly to translate the word clearly. Almost certainly, the concession (Good News Bible‘s “permission”) relates to the temporary abstinence from sexual relations. It does not relate to “coming together again” or to the whole of verses 2-5 (as if marriage itself were the concession). That it refers to “temporary abstinence from sexual relations” is confirmed by the tentative expression “except perhaps” of verse 5. Concession is rendered by Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, and Revised English Bible; this is the right word rather than “suggestion” (Jerusalem Bible). This word is used in Sirach 3.13, where Revised English Bible translates “make allowances.” “Permission” (Good News Bible) is also an English equivalent.

There is a further question, whether the concession and the command come from Paul himself, from Christ, or from God. The sentence could be restructured “I say this because God has allowed me to say it, not because he has commanded me to do so.” The language of this verse is very similar to that of 7.25, “I have no command from the Lord,” so that verse 6 may imply that the concession and the command come from Christ. However, the immediate context suggests that Paul is speaking on his own authority. So translators should probably translate the verse in that way.

The phrase by way of concession may be expressed as “but I am permitting you to do this.”

Translators must decide whether it is more natural and effective in their own language to express the negative side of the comparison first; for example, Good News Bible‘s “not as an order” followed by the positive “as a permission.” The Greek puts the positive first, as Revised Standard Version‘s by way of concession, not of command.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• I am not commanding you to abstain like this, but simply giving you permission to do it if you wish.

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 .