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
Concerning Married Life
1Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8Now to the unmarried#7:8 Or widowers and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Concerning Change of Status
17Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
Concerning the Unmarried
25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong#7:36 Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.#7:36-38 Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years (or if her passions are too strong), and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
39A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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