CHAPTER 7
But
because
there is so much
sexual immorality,
each man
should have
his
own
wife,
and
each woman
her
own
husband.
The
wife
does not
have authority over
her
own
body,
but
the
husband.
Likewise
the
husband
does not
have authority over
his
own
body,
but
the
wife.
Do not
deprive
one another,
except
by
mutual consent
for
a limited time,
so
you may devote yourselves
to prayer.
Then
come
together
again,
so that
Satan
will not tempt
you
through
your
lack of self-control.
I wish that
all
men
were
as
I am.
But
each man
has
his own
gift
from
God;
one has
this gift,
another has
that.
But
if
they cannot control themselves,
let them marry.
For
it is
better
to marry
than
to burn with passion.
To the
married
I give this command
(not
I,
but
the
Lord):
A wife
must not separate
from
her husband.
But
if
she does,
she must remain
unmarried
or else
be reconciled
to her
husband.
And
a husband
must not divorce
his wife.
To the
rest
I
say this
(I, not
the
Lord):
If
a
brother
has
an unbelieving
wife
and
she
is willing
to live
with
him,
he must not divorce
her.
And
if
a
woman
has
an unbelieving
husband
and
he
is willing
to live
with
her,
she must not divorce
him.
For
the
unbelieving
husband
is sanctified
through
his
believing wife,
and
the
unbelieving
wife
is sanctified
through
her
believing husband.
Otherwise
your
children
would be
unclean,
but
now
they are
holy.
But
if
the
unbeliever
leaves,
let him go.
The believing
brother
or
sister
is not bound
in
such cases.
God
has called
you
to live in
peace.
How
do you know,
wife,
whether
you will save
your
husband?
Or
how
do you know,
husband,
whether
you will save
your
wife?
Regardless,
each one
should lead
the life
that
the
Lord
has assigned to him
and to which
God
has called
him.
This is what
I prescribe
in
all
the
churches.
Was a man
already circumcised
when he was called?
He should not become uncircumcised.
Was a man
still uncircumcised
when called?
He should not be circumcised.
Circumcision
is
nothing
and
uncircumcision
is
nothing.
Keeping
God’s
commandments is what matters.
Were you a slave when you were called?
Do not let it concern
you,
but
if
you can
gain
your freedom,
take the opportunity.
For
he who
was a slave
when he was called
by
the Lord
is
the Lord’s
freedman.
Conversely,
he who
was a free man
when he was called
is
Christ’s
slave.
Now
about
virgins,
I have
no
command
from the Lord,
but
I give
a judgment
as one who
by
the Lord’s
mercy
is
trustworthy.
Are you committed
to a wife?
Do not
seek
to be released.
Are you free
of
commitment?
Do not
look for
a wife.
But
if
you do marry,
you have not sinned.
And
if
a virgin
marries,
she has not sinned.
But
those who marry
will face
troubles
in this
life,
and
I
want to spare
you this.
What
I am saying,
brothers,
is that
the
time
is
short.
From now on
those who
have
wives
should live
as if
they had
none;
those who
weep,
as if
they did not;
those who
are joyful,
as if
they were not;
those who
make a purchase,
as if
they had nothing;
and
those who
use
the things of
this world,
as if
not dependent on them.
For
this
world
in its
present form
is passing away.
I want
you
to be
free from concern.
The
unmarried man
is concerned about
the work
of the
Lord,
how
he can please
the
Lord.
and
his interests are divided.
The
unmarried
woman
or
virgin
is concerned about
the work
of the
Lord,
how
she can be
holy
in
both
body
and
spirit.
But
the
married woman
is concerned about
the affairs
of this
world,
how
she can please
her
husband.
I am saying
this
for
your
own
good,
not
to
restrict
you,
but
in order to promote
proper decorum
and
undivided
devotion
to the
Lord.
However,
if
someone
thinks
he is acting inappropriately
toward
his
betrothed,
and if
she is
beyond her youth
and
they ought
to marry,
let him do
as
he wishes;
he is not sinning;
they should get married.
But
the man who
is firmly
established
in
his
heart
and under
no
constraint,
with
control
over
his
will
and
resolve
in
his
heart
not to marry
the
virgin,
he will do
well.
A wife
is bound
to her
husband
as long as
he lives.
But
if
her
husband
dies,
she is
free
to marry
anyone
she wishes,
as long as
he belongs to
the Lord.
In
my
judgment,
however,
she is
happier
if
she remains
as she is.
And
I think that
I too
have
the Spirit
of God.