1 Corinthians 7

Principles of Marriage

1 Now in response to the matters you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have relations with a woman." 2 But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3 A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. 4 A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another sexually-except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say the following as a concession, not as a command.

7 I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift from God, one person in this way and another in that way.

A Word to the Unmarried

8 I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.

9 But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with desire.

About Married People

10 I command the married-not I, but the Lord-a wife is not to leave her husband. 11 But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband-and a husband is not to leave his wife. 12 But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. 13 Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband. Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to [live in] peace.

16 For you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?

Various Situations of Life

17 However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches. 18 Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. 19 Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter, but keeping God's commands does. 20 Each person should remain in the life situation in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. 22 For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

24 Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called.

About the Unmarried and Widows

25 About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29 And I say this, brothers: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

31 and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.
32 I want you to be without concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord-how he may please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the things of the world-how he may please his wife- 34 and [his interests] are divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world-how she may please her husband.

35 Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin, if she is past marriageable age, and so it must be, he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will) and has decided in his heart to keep his own virgin, will do well.

38 So then he who marries his virgin does well, but he who does not marry will do better.
39 A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants-only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.2 But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.3 Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.4 The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.6 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.7 Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.9 But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.10 But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband11 (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.13 And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell 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 brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.15 Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace.16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?17 Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.18 Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.20 Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.21 Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather.22 For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ’s bondservant.23 Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.26 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.27 Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.28 But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.29 But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;30 and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;31 and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.32 But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:33 but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,34 and is divided. So also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.35 And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.36 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well.38 So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.39 A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.40 But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.