1 Corinthians 7
7
1NOW concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband.
4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.
6But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.
7For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.
8But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.
9But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.
10But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband.
11And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.
12For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband.
14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.
15But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace.
16For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one, so let him walk: and so in all churches I teach.
18Is any man called, being circumcised? let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.
20Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.
21Wast thou called, being a bondman? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.
23You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men.
24Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.
26I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.
27Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.
29This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none;
30And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.
33But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.
34And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.
36But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry.
37For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.
38Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.
39A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
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