1 Corinthians 7
7
Concerning Christian Marriage
1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to touch#I.e., in a sexual sense a woman.” 2But because of sexual immorality, let each man have#I.e., in the sense of “have sexual relations with” his own wife and let each woman have her own husband. 3The husband must fulfill his obligation to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. And likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does. 5Do not defraud one another, except perhaps by agreement, for a time, in order that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then you should be together#Literally “at the same” again, lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self control. 6But I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish all people could be like myself, but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way and another in that way.
8Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.
10To the married I command—not I, but the Lord—a wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if indeed she does separate, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12Now to the rest I say—not the Lord—if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother, since otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. 15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. The brother or the sister is not bound in such cases. But God has called us#Some manuscripts have “you” (plural) in peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17But to each one as the Lord has apportioned. As God has called each one, thus let him live—and thus I order in all the churches. 18Was anyone called after#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being circumcised”) which is understood as temporal being circumcised? He must not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? He must not become circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20Each one in the calling in which he was called—in this he should remain. 21Were you called while a slave? Do not let it be a concern to you. But if indeed you are able to become free, rather make use of it. 22For the one who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedperson. Likewise the one who is called while free is a slave of Christ. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24Each one in the situation in which he was called, brothers—in this he should remain with God.
Concerning the Unmarried
25Now concerning virgins I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. 26Therefore, I consider this to be good because of the impending distress, that it is good for a man to be thus. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you marry, you have not sinned, and if the virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have affliction in the flesh, and I would spare you. 29But I say this, brothers: the time is shortened, that from now on even those who have wives should be as if they do not have wives, 30and those who weep as if they do not weep, and those who rejoice as if they do not rejoice, and those who buy as if they do not possess, 31and those who make use of the world as if they do not make full use of it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
32But I want you to be free from care. The unmarried person cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33But the one who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34and he is divided. And the unmarried woman or the virgin cares for the things of the Lord, in order that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.
36But if anyone thinks he is behaving dishonorably concerning his virgin, if she is past her prime#Or “if his passions are strong” (it is not clear in context whether this term refers to the man or to the woman) and it ought to be thus, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin. Let them marry. 37But he who stands firm in his heart, not having necessity, but has authority concerning his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. 38So then, the one who marries#Or perhaps “the one who gives in marriage” his own virgin does well, and the one who does not marry her will do better.
39A wife is bound for as long a time as her husband lives. But if her husband dies#Literally “falls asleep”, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord. 40But she is happier if she remains thus, according to my opinion—and I think I have the Spirit of God.
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1 Corinthians 7
7
About Marriage
1Now I will discuss the things you wrote to me about. It is good for a man not to marry. 2But sexual immorality is a danger. So each man should have his own wife. And each woman should have her own husband. 3The husband should give his wife all that she should have as his wife. And the wife should give her husband all that he should have as her husband. 4The wife does not have power over her own body. Her husband has the power over her body. And the husband does not have power over his own body. His wife has the power over his body. 5Do not refuse to give your bodies to each other. But you might both agree to stay away from intimate relations for a time. You might do this so that you can give your time to prayer. Then come together again. This is so that Satan cannot tempt you in your weakness. 6I say this to give you permission. It is not a command. 7I wish everyone were like me. But each person has his own gift from God. One has one gift, another has another gift.
8Now for those who are not married and for the widows I say this: It is good for them to stay single as I am. 9But if they cannot control their bodies, then they should marry. It is better to marry than to burn with lust.
10Now I give this command for the married people. (The command is not from me; it is from the Lord.) A wife should not leave her husband. 11But if she does leave, she must not marry again. Or she should go back to her husband. Also the husband should not divorce his wife.
12For all the others I say this (I am saying this, not the Lord): A brother in Christ might have a wife who is not a believer. If she will live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And a woman might have a husband who is not a believer. If he will live with her, she must not divorce him. 14The husband who is not a believer is made holy through his believing wife. And the wife who is not a believer is made holy through her believing husband. If this were not true, then your children would not be clean. But now your children are holy.
15But if the person who is not a believer decides to leave, let him leave. When this happens, the brother or sister in Christ is free. God called us# Some Greek copies read “you.” to a life of peace. 16Wives, maybe you will save your husband; and husbands, maybe you will save your wife. You do not know now what will happen later.
Live As God Called You
17But each one should continue to live the way God has given him to live—the way he was when God called him. This is a rule I make in all the churches. 18If a man was already circumcised when he was called, he should not change his circumcision. If a man was without circumcision when he was called, he should not be circumcised. 19It is not important if a man is circumcised or not circumcised. The important thing is obeying God’s commands. 20Each one should stay the way he was when God called him. 21If you were a slave when God called you, do not let that bother you. But if you can be free, then become free. 22The person who was a slave when the Lord called him is free in the Lord. He belongs to the Lord. In the same way, the one who was free when he was called is now Christ’s slave. 23You all were bought for a price. So do not become slaves of men. 24Brothers, in your new life with God each one of you should continue the way you were when you were called.
Questions About Getting Married
25Now I write about people who are not married. I have no command from the Lord about this, but I give my opinion. And I can be trusted, because the Lord has given me mercy. 26This is a time of trouble. So I think that it is good for you to stay the way you are. 27If you have a wife, then do not try to become free from her. If you are not married, then do not try to find a wife. 28But if you decide to marry, this is not a sin. And it is not a sin for a girl who has never married to get married. But those who marry will have trouble in this life. And I want you to be free from this trouble.
29Brothers, this is what I mean: We do not have much time left. So starting now, those who have wives should use their time to serve the Lord as if they had no wives. 30Those who are sad should live as if they are not sad. Those who are happy should live as if they are not happy. Those who buy things should live as if they own nothing. 31Those who use the things of the world should live as if those things are not important to them. You should live like this, because this world, the way it is now, will soon be gone.
32I want you to be free from worry. A man who is not married is busy with the Lord’s work. He is trying to please the Lord. 33But a man who is married is busy with things of the world. He is trying to please his wife. 34He must think about two things—pleasing his wife and pleasing the Lord. A woman who is not married or a girl who has never married is busy with the Lord’s work. She wants to give herself fully—body and soul—to the Lord. But a married woman is busy with things of the world. She is trying to please her husband. 35I am saying this to help you. I am not trying to limit you. But I want you to live in the right way. And I want you to give yourselves fully to the Lord without giving your time to other things.
36A man might think that he is not doing the right thing with the girl he is engaged to. The girl might be almost past the best age to marry. So he might feel that he should marry her. He should do what he wants. They should get married. It is no sin. 37But another man might be more sure in his mind. There may be no need for marriage, so he is free to do what he wants. If he has decided in his own heart not to marry, he is doing the right thing. 38So the man who marries his girl does right. And the man who does not marry does even better.
39A woman must stay with her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to marry any man she wants. But she must marry another believer. 40The woman is happier if she does not marry again. This is my opinion, and I believe that I have God’s Spirit.
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