1 Corinthians 7
7
Questions About Marriage
1#1Co 7:8Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” 2#1Co 7:9Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3#Ex 21:10; 1Pe 3:7Let the husband render to the wife due affection, and likewise the wife to the husband. 4The 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. 5#Ex 19:15; 1Sa 21:4–5Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan does not tempt you for lack of self-control. 6#2Co 8:8; 1Co 7:12I speak this as a concession and not as a command. 7#Mt 19:11–12; 1Co 9:5For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man has his proper gift from God, one after this manner and another after that.
8#1Co 7:1I say to the unmarried and widows that it is good for them if they live even as I am. 9#1Ti 5:14; 1Co 7:2But if they cannot restrain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10#Mt 5:32; Lk 16:18; Mal 2:14–16Now to the married I command, not I, but the Lord, do not let the wife depart from her husband. 11But if she departs, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And do not let the husband divorce his wife.
12#1Co 7:6; 2Co 11:17To the rest I speak, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife who consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13And if the woman has an unbelieving husband who consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean. But now they are holy.
15#Ro 14:19; 1Co 14:33But if the unbeliever departs, let that one depart. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called us to peace. 16#Ro 11:14For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Living as God Called You
17#1Co 4:17; 2Co 11:28But as God has given to every man and as the Lord has called every man, so let him walk. This I command in all churches. 18#Ac 15:5; 15:19Is any man called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any man called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19#Gal 5:6; 6:15Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God is everything. 20Let each man remain in the same condition in which he was called.
21Were you called while a servant? Do not worry about it. But if you may become free, do so. 22#1Pe 2:16; Phm 1:16For he who is called in the Lord while a servant is the Lord’s freeman. Likewise, he who is called while free is Christ’s servant. 23#1Co 6:20; Lev 25:42You were bought at a price. Do not be the servants of men. 24#1Co 7:20Brothers, let every man, in whatever condition he is called, remain there with God.
The Unmarried and Widows
25#1Co 7:6; 4:2Now concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord. Yet I will give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful. 26#1Co 7:1; 7:8I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be uncommitted. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless they will have trouble in this life, but I would spare you that.
29#Ro 13:11–12But this I say, brothers, the time is short. It remains that those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30those who weep, as though they did not weep; those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; those who buy, as though they possessed nothing; 31#1Jn 2:17; Ps 39:6; 1Co 9:18and those who use this world, as though they did not make full use of it. For the form of this world is passing away.
32#1Ti 5:5But I prefer that you have no concern. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33But he who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife. 34There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35#1Co 7:36I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
36If any man thinks that he is behaving improperly toward his virgin,#Some versions translate this word as “virgin daughters,” others translate it as “fiancée.” Since the Greek text itself remains unclear, the editors have chosen to keep the literal translation. and if she is past the flower of her youth, and passions so require, let him do what he will. He does not sin. Let them marry. 37Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart without necessity, and has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38#Heb 13:4So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who gives her not in marriage does better.
39#Ro 7:2–3; 1Co 7:15The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives. But if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, but only in the Lord. 40But in my judgment she is happier if she so remains as she is. And I think that I have the Spirit of God.
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Military Bible Association
1 Corinthians 7
7
1Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman. 2But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does. 5#Ex 19.15. Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control. 6I say this by way of concession, not of command. 7#1 Cor 7.8; 9.5. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do. 9#1 Tim 5.14. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.
10To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not separate from her husband 11(but if she does, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband)—and that the husband should not divorce his wife.
12 #
2 Cor 11.17. To the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. 15But if the unbelieving partner desires to separate, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. For God has called us#7.15 Other ancient authorities read you to peace. 16#1 Pet 3.1. Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?
17 #
Rom 12.3; 1 Cor 14.33; 2 Cor 8.18; 11.28. Only, let every one lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18#1 Macc 1.15; Acts 15.1-8. Was any one at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was any one at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19#Gal 5.6; 6.15; Rom 2.25. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20Every one should remain in the state in which he was called. 21Were you a slave when called? Never mind. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.#7.21 Or make use of your present condition instead 22#Jn 8.32,36. For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23#1 Cor 6.20. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24So, brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God.
25Now concerning the unmarried,#7.25 Greek virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26I think that in view of the present#7.26 Or impending distress it is well for a person to remain as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. 28But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a girl#7.28 Greek virgin marries she does not sin. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29#Rom 13.11-12; 1 Cor 7.31. I mean, brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the form of this world is passing away.
32 #
1 Tim 5.5. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; 33but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl#7.34 Greek virgin is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband. 35I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
36If any one thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed,#7.36 Greek virgin if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed,#7.37 Greek virgin he will do well. 38So that he who marries his betrothed#7.38 Greek virgin does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better.
39 #
Rom 7.2. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40#1 Cor 7.25. But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I have the Spirit of God.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America