1 Corinthians 7
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 fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3 A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.
4 It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.
5 So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.
6 But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.
7 For I would prefer it if you were all like myself. But each person has his proper gift from God: one in this way, yet another in that way.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am.
9 But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned.
10 But to those who have been joined in matrimony, it is not I who commands you, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from her husband.
11 But if she has separated from him, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife.
12 Concerning the rest, I am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.
14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, whereas instead they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to peace.
16 And how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 However, let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him, each one just as God has called him. And thus do I teach in all the churches.
18 Has any circumcised man been called? Let him not cover his circumcision. Has any uncircumcised man been called? Let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; there is only the observance of the commandments of God.
20 Let each and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called.
21 Are you a servant who has been called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you ever have the ability to be free, make use of it.
22 For any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord. Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ.
23 You have been bought with a price. Do not be willing to become the servants of men.
24 Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God.
25 Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give counsel, as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord, so as to be faithful.
26 Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity: that it is good for a man to be such as I am.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free of a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 But if you take a wife, you have not sinned. And if a virgin has married, she has not sinned. Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh. But I would spare you from this.
29 And so, this is what I say, brothers: The time is short. What remains of it is such that: those who have wives should be as if they had none;
30 and those who weep, as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if they possessed nothing;
31 and those who use the things of this world, as if they were not using them. For the figure of this world is passing away.
32 But I would prefer you to be without worry. Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord, as to how he may please God.
33 But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world, as to how he may please his wife. And so, he is divided.
34 And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world, as to how she may please her husband.
35 Furthermore, I am saying this for your own benefit, not in order to cast a snare over you, but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance, so as to worship the Lord.
36 But if any man considers himself to seem dishonorable, concerning a virgin who is of adult age, and so it ought to be, he may do as he wills. If he marries her, he does not sin.
37 But if he has decided firmly in his heart, and he does not have any obligation, but only the power of his free will, and if he has judged this in his heart, to let her remain a virgin, he does well.
38 And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well, and he who does not join with her does better.
39 A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives. But if her husband has died, she is free. She may marry whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord.
40 But she will be more blessed, if she remains in this state, in accord with my counsel. And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 7: CPDV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Military Bible Association