7
1 Now
concerning the
things about which
you wrote to me:
it is good
for a man
not to touch a
woman.
2 But,
because of sexual
immoralities, let
each man have
his own wife,
and let each
woman have her
own husband.
3 Let
the husband give his
wife the affection owed
her,
and likewise also
the wife
her husband.
4 The
wife doesn’t have
authority over her
own body, but
the husband does. Likewise
also the husband doesn’t
have authority
over his own
body, but the
wife does.
5 Don’t deprive
one another,
unless it is
by consent for
a season, that
you may give
yourselves to fasting
and prayer, and
may be together
again, that
Satan doesn’t
tempt you because
of your lack
of self-control.
6 But
this I say
by way of
concession, not of
commandment.
7 Yet
I wish that
all men were
like me. However,
each man has
his own gift
from God, one
of this kind,
and another of
that kind.
8 But
I say to
the unmarried and
to widows, it
is good for
them if they
remain even as
I am.
9 But
if they don’t have
self-control, let
them marry. For
it’s better to
marry than to
burn with passion.
10 But
to the married
I command—not
I, but the
Lord—that the
wife not leave
her husband
11 (but
if she departs,
let her
remain unmarried, or
else be reconciled
to her husband),
and that
the husband not
leave his wife.
12 But
to the rest
I—not the
Lord—say, if
any brother has
an unbelieving wife,
and she is content
to live with
him, let him
not leave her.
13 The
woman who has
an unbelieving husband, and
he is content to
live with her,
let her not leave
her husband.
14 For
the unbelieving husband
is sanctified in
the wife, and
the unbelieving wife
is sanctified in
the husband. Otherwise
your children
would be unclean,
but now they
are holy.
15 Yet
if the unbeliever departs,
let there
be separation. The brother
or the sister is
not under bondage
in such cases, but
God has called
us in peace.
16 For
how do you
know, wife,
whether you will
save your husband?
Or how do
you know, husband,
whether you will
save your wife?
17 Only,
as the Lord
has distributed to
each man, as
God has called
each, so let
him walk. So
I command in all
the assemblies.
18 Was
anyone called
having been
circumcised? Let him
not become
uncircumcised. Has
anyone been called
in uncircumcision? Let him
not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is
nothing, and uncircumcision
is nothing, but
what matters is
keeping God’s
commandments.
20 Let
each man stay
in that calling
in which he
was called.
21 Were
you called being
a bondservant? Don’t let
that bother you,
but if you
get an opportunity
to become free,
use it.
22 For
he who was
called in the
Lord being
a bondservant is
the Lord’s
free man. Likewise
he who was
called being free
is Christ’s
bondservant.
23 You
were bought with a
price. Don’t become bondservants
of men.
24 Brothers,
let each man,
in whatever condition
he was called,
stay in
that condition with
God.
25 Now
concerning virgins,
I have no
commandment from
the Lord, but
I give my
judgment as one
who has obtained
mercy from the
Lord to be
trustworthy.
26 Therefore
I think that
because of
the distress that
is on us, it’s
good for a
man to remain
as he is.
27 Are
you bound to
a wife? Don’t seek
to be freed. Are
you free from
a wife? Don’t seek
a wife.
28 But
if you marry,
you have
not sinned. If a
virgin marries,
she has not sinned.
Yet such will
have oppression in
the flesh, and
I want to spare
you.
29 But
I say this,
brothers: the time
is short. From
now on, both
those who have
wives may be
as though they
had none;
30 and
those who weep,
as though
they didn’t weep;
and those who
rejoice, as though
they didn’t
rejoice; and those
who buy, as though
they didn’t
possess;
31 and
those who use
the world, as
not using it
to the fullest.
For the mode of
this world passes
away.
32 But
I desire to
have you to
be free from cares.
He who is unmarried
is concerned for
the things of
the Lord, how
he may please
the Lord;
33 but
he who is
married is
concerned about
the things of
the world, how
he may please his
wife.
34 There
is also a
difference between
a wife and
a virgin. The
unmarried woman cares
about the things
of the Lord,
that she may
be holy both
in body and
in spirit. But
she who is
married cares about
the things of
the world—how
she may please
her husband.
35 This
I say for
your own benefit,
not that I
may ensnare you,
but for that
which is
appropriate, and
that you may attend
to the Lord
without distraction.
36 But
if any man
thinks that he
is behaving inappropriately toward
his virgin, if
she is past
the flower of her
age, and if
need so requires,
let him do
what he desires.
He doesn’t sin.
Let them marry.
37 But
he who stands
steadfast in his
heart, having
no urgency, but
has power over
his own will,
and has determined
in his own
heart to keep
his own virgin,
does well.
38 So
then both he
who gives his
own virgin in
marriage does well,
and he who doesn’t
give her in
marriage does
better.
39 A
wife is bound
by law for as
long as her husband
lives; but if
the husband is
dead, she is
free to be
married to
whomever she
desires, only in
the Lord.
40 But
she is happier
if she stays as
she is, in
my judgment, and
I think that
I also have
God’s Spirit.