1 Corinthians 7
7
On Christian Marriage
1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to touch* a woman.” 2 But because of instances of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.* 3 Let the husband perform his conjugal duty** to his* wife, and similarly also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her* own body, but the husband does. Similarly, the husband does* not have authority over his* own body, but the wife does.* 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by mutual consent, for a time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then, come together again,* so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 Now I am saying this by way of concession, not by way of commandment. 7 And I wish that all men were even as I am. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.
8 Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be inflamed with sexual passion.
10 Now to those who are married, I give this commandment (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not be separated from her husband.* 11 But if she is indeed separated,* let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her* husband. And a husband is not to send away* his wife.
12 Now to the rest I say (I, not the Lord): If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she agrees to live with him, let him not send her away. 13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he agrees to live with her, let her not send him away. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his* wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her*husband; for otherwise your children are* unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever separates,* let him separate.* The brother or the sister is not enslaved in such cases, but God has called us* to* 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 Nevertheless, as the Lord* has apportioned to each one, as God* has called each one, so let him walk. And thus I set in order* in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called after being circumcised? Let him not remove the physical marks of circumcision. Has anyone been called while in a state of uncircumcision? Let him not become circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each one in the calling in which he was called—in this let him remain. 21 Were you called while a slave? Let it not be a concern to you. But if indeed you are able to become free, rather take advantage of it. 22 For the one who was called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Similarly, the one who was called while free is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Each one in the state in which he was called, brothers—in this let him remain with God.
25 Now concerning the virgins: I do not have a commandment from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who has received mercy from the Lord to be faithful. 26 Therefore, I consider this to be good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain in his present state.* 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. Are you loosed from a woman? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. However, such individuals will have distress in the flesh,* but I would spare you. 29 But this I say, brothers: the time has been shortened, so that from this time forward even those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as though they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not fully use it. For the form of this world is passing away.
32 Now I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried one is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But the one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his* wife, 34 and his attention is divided.* And the unmarried woman or the virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the one who is married is concerned about the things of the world,* how she may please her* husband. 35 Now I say this for your own advantage, not that I may place a restraint on you,* but to further* what is proper and to ensure* undistracted devotion to the Lord.*
36 But if anyone thinks that he is acting improperly towards his virgin,* if she is beyond her youthful prime and it ought to be so, let him do what he wants. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 But the one who stands firm in his heart, having no constraint but having authority over his will, and has determined this in his own heart to keep his own virgin, will do well.* 38 Therefore, both the one who marries his own virgin does well, and the one who does not marry her will do better.
39 A wife is bound* for as long* as her husband lives. But if her husband has died, she is free to be married to whomever she wants, only in the Lord. 40 But she is more blessed if she remains as she is,* according to my judgment—and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
Notes
1 Or have sexual intimacy with
2 Two ancient Greek manuscripts omit and let each woman have her own husband
3 Greek the [conjugal] duty
3 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to his
3 Some ancient manuscripts instead read as due benevolence
4 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to her
4 In both cases provided in the verse, the Greek text uses elliptical constructions, hence the supply of does for clarification
4 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to his
5 Greek and be together the same again
10 Or A wife must not leave her husband
11 Or But if she does leave
11 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to her
11 Or divorce . So also vv. 12,13
14 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to his
14 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to her
14 Or would be
15 Or leaves
15 Or leave
15 Some ancient manuscripts instead read you
15 Or in
17 Some ancient manuscripts read God
17 Some ancient manuscripts read Lord , while one ancient Greek manuscript reads Lord God
17 Or ordain/prescribe/institute
26 Greek to be in this way
28 Or distress in this life
33 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to his
34 Greek he is divided
34 One ancient Greek manuscript omits the expression the things of the world , resulting in the reading: But the married woman is concerned about how she may please her husband
34 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to her
35 Greek not that I may put a noose on you
35 The infinitive phrase to further is contextually supplied for clarity
35 The infinitive phrase to ensure is contextually supplied for clarity
35 The construction in the Greek text is elliptical, which reads: but for what is proper and devoted to the Lord, without distraction
36 Or the virgin he is engaged to. So also vv. 37,38
37 Or he does well
39 Some ancient manuscripts expand the portion to read bound by Law , possibly to create a parallel with Rom. 7:2
39 Greek for as long a time
40 Greek remains in this way
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
