1 Corinthians 7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Principles of Marriage
7 Now in response to the matters you wrote[a] about: “It is good for a man not to have relations with[b] a woman.”[c] 2 But because sexual immorality is so common,[d](A) each man should have his own wife,(B) and each woman should have her own husband. 3 A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility(C) to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. 4 A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does. 5 Do not deprive(D) one another sexually—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to[e] prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say the following[f] as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift(E) from God, one person in this way and another in that way.
A Word to the Unmarried
8 I say to the unmarried and to widows:(F) It is good for them if they remain as I am. 9 But if they do not have self-control,(G) they should marry, for it is better to marry(H) than to burn with desire.
About Married People
10 I command the married(I)—not I, but the Lord—a wife is not to leave[g] her husband. 11 But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband—and a husband is not to leave his wife.(J) 12 But I (not the Lord)[h] say to the rest: If any brother(K) has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. 13 Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God(L) by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband.[i] Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you[j] to live in peace. 16 For you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?
Various Situations of Life
17 However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called(M) him.[k] This is what I command in all the churches. 18 Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. 19 Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter, but keeping God’s commands does. 20 Each person should remain in the life situation[l] in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.[m] 22 For he who is called by the Lord as a slave(N) is the Lord’s freedman.[n] Likewise he who is called as a free man[o] is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought(O) at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called.
About the Unmarried and Widows
25 About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy(P) is trustworthy.(Q) 26 Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 However, if you do get married,(R) you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life,[p] and I am trying to spare you. 29 And I say this, brothers: The time is limited,(S) so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice(T) as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.(U)
32 I want you to be without concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please(V) the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord,(W) so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin,[q] if she is past marriageable age,[r] and so it must be, he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will(X)) and has decided in his heart to keep his own virgin, will do well. 38 So then he who marries[s] his virgin does well, but he who does not marry[t] will do better.
39 A wife is bound[u] as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord.[v] 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 7:1 Other mss add to me
- 1 Corinthians 7:1 Lit not to touch
- 1 Corinthians 7:1 The words in quotation marks are a principle that the Corinthians wrote to Paul about to ask for his view.
- 1 Corinthians 7:2 Lit because of immoralities
- 1 Corinthians 7:5 Other mss add fasting and to
- 1 Corinthians 7:6 Lit say this; some interpret the word as referring to v. 2, vv. 2-5, v. 5 (wholly or in part), or v. 6
- 1 Corinthians 7:10 Or separate from, or divorce
- 1 Corinthians 7:12 Jesus did not address the situation of a marriage in the Gentile world where only one person is a believer.
- 1 Corinthians 7:14 Lit the brother
- 1 Corinthians 7:15 Other mss read us
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 Lit called each
- 1 Corinthians 7:20 Lit in the calling
- 1 Corinthians 7:21 Or But even though you can become free, make the most of your position as a slave.
- 1 Corinthians 7:22 A former slave
- 1 Corinthians 7:22 A man who was never a slave
- 1 Corinthians 7:28 Lit in the flesh
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 = a man’s fiancée, or his daughter, or his Levirate wife, or a celibate companion
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or virgin, if his passions are strong,
- 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or marries off
- 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or marry her off
- 1 Corinthians 7:39 Other mss add by law
- 1 Corinthians 7:39 Only a believer
1 Corinthians 7
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
7 Now de concerning peri the matters hos you wrote graphō about . Yes, “It is good kalos for a man anthrōpos not mē to have sexual contact haptō with a woman gynē.” 2 But de because dia of cases ho of sexual porneia immorality , each hekastos man should have echō · ho his heautou own wife gynē and kai each hekastos woman · ho her idios own husband anēr. 3 The ho husband anēr should fulfill apodidōmi his ho marital responsibility opheilē to his ho wife gynē, and de likewise homoiōs · kai the ho wife gynē to her ho husband anēr. 4 For the ho wife gynē does exousiazō not ou have authority exousiazō over ho her idios own body sōma, but alla the ho husband anēr does. In the same homoiōs way , · de · kai the ho husband anēr does exousiazō not ou have authority exousiazō over ho his idios own body sōma, but alla the ho wife gynē does. 5 Do not mē deprive apostereō one allēlōn another , except ei perhaps mēti an by ek agreement symphōnos for pros a set time kairos, so hina that you may devote scholazō yourselves to ho prayer proseuchē; then kai come eimi together epi again palin, · ho so that hina Satan Satanas may not mē tempt peirazō you hymeis · ho because dia of · ho your hymeis lack of self-control akrasia. 6 This houtos · de I say legō by kata way of concession syngnōmē, not ou of kata command epitagē. 7 I wish thelō · de that all pas men anthrōpos were eimi as hōs · kai I myself emautou am. But alla each hekastos has echō his own idios gift charisma from ek God theos, one ho of one kind houtōs and de one ho of another houtōs.
8 Now de to the ho unmarried agamos and kai to the ho widows chēra I say legō that it is good kalos for them autos if ean they remain menō single, as hōs I kagō am. 9 But de if ei they are not ou practicing self-control enkrateuomai, they should marry gameō; for gar it is eimi better kreittōn to marry gameō than ē to burn pyroō with sexual passion.
10 To the ho · de married gameō I give this command parangellō ( not ou I egō, but alla the ho Lord kyrios): a wife gynē should chōrizō not mē separate chōrizō from apo her husband anēr 11 ( however de if ean · kai she does chōrizō, let her remain menō unmarried agamos or ē else be reconciled katallassō to her ho husband anēr), and kai a husband anēr should aphiēmi not mē divorce aphiēmi his wife gynē.
12 To the ho · de rest loipos I say legō ( I egō, not ou the ho Lord kyrios): If ei some tis brother adelphos has echō a wife gynē who is not a believer apistos, and kai she houtos is willing syneudokeō to live oikeō with meta him autos, he should not mē divorce aphiēmi her autos. 13 And kai if ei some tis woman gynē has echō a husband anēr who is not a believer apistos, and kai he houtos is willing syneudokeō to live oikeō with meta her autos, she should not mē divorce aphiēmi · ho him anēr. 14 For gar the ho unbelieving apistos husband anēr is consecrated hagiazō · ho through union with en his ho wife gynē, and kai the ho unbelieving apistos wife gynē is consecrated hagiazō · ho through union with en her ho husband adelphos. Otherwise epei ara · ho your hymeis children teknon would be eimi defiled akathartos, but de as it is nyn, they are eimi holy hagios. 15 But de if ei the ho unbelieving apistos partner separates chōrizō, let it be so chōrizō. In en such cases toioutos the ho brother adelphos or ē the ho sister adelphē is not ou bound douloō. · ho It is to en · de peace eirēnē that God theos has called kaleō us hymeis. · ho 16 For gar how tis do you know oida, wife gynē, whether ei you will save sōzō your ho husband anēr? Or ē how tis do you know oida, husband anēr, whether ei you will save sōzō your ho wife gynē?
17 Only ei mē, as hōs the ho Lord kyrios has assigned merizō to each hekastos person , as hōs God theos has called kaleō each hekastos one , · ho so houtōs let that person conduct peripateō his life . And kai thus houtōs I prescribe diatassō in en all pas the ho churches ekklēsia. 18 If a man tis was already circumcised peritemnō when he was called kaleō, he should not mē conceal his circumcision epispaomai. If a man tis was not circumcised en when he was called kaleō, he should not mē submit to circumcision peritemnō. 19 · ho Circumcision peritomē is eimi nothing oudeis and kai · ho uncircumcision akrobystia is eimi nothing oudeis. Rather alla, it is keeping tērēsis God’ s theos commandments entolē that counts. 20 Let menō each hekastos person continue menō in en that condition houtos · ho in which hos he was called kaleō.
21 If you were a slave when called kaleō, do not mē be concerned melei about it. However alla, if ei · kai you are able dynamai to gain ginomai your freedom eleutheros, make the most mallon of the opportunity chraomai. 22 For gar the ho one who was called kaleō by en the Lord kyrios as a slave is eimi a freedman apeleutheros of the Lord kyrios. Likewise homoiōs, the ho one who was called kaleō as a free eleutheros person is eimi a slave of Christ Christos. 23 You were bought agorazō with a price timē; do not mē become ginomai slaves of men anthrōpos. 24 Each hekastos one in the condition in en which hos he was called kaleō, brothers adelphos, in en that houtos condition let him remain menō with para God theos.
25 Now de concerning peri · ho virgins parthenos: I have echō no ou command epitagē from the Lord kyrios, but de I give didōmi my opinion gnōmē as hōs one who has been shown mercy eleeō by hypo the Lord kyrios and is eimi trustworthy pistos. 26 I think nomizō, then oun, that this houtos is hyparchō good kalos because dia of the ho present enistēmi distress anankē— that hoti it is good kalos for a man anthrōpos · ho to remain houtōs as he is eimi. 27 If you are married deō to a wife gynē, do not mē seek zēteō to be set free lysis; if you are free lyō from apo a wife gynē, do not mē seek zēteō a wife gynē. 28 But de if ean · kai you do marry gameō, you have not ou sinned hamartanō, and kai if ean a virgin parthenos marries gameō, · ho she has not ou sinned hamartanō. However de those toioutos who do marry will have echō worldly sarx trouble thlipsis, · ho · ho and de I egō am trying to spare pheidomai you hymeis. 29 And de I say phēmi this houtos, my brothers adelphos: the ho time kairos has eimi grown short systellō. From now on ho those ho who have echō wives gynē should hina · kai be eimi as hōs though they had echō none mē, 30 and kai those ho who mourn klaiō as hōs though they were not mē mourning klaiō, and kai those ho who rejoice chairō as hōs though they were not mē rejoicing chairō, and kai those ho who buy agorazō as hōs though they had no mē possessions katechō, 31 and kai those ho who use chraomai the ho world kosmos as hōs though they were not mē absorbed katachraomai in it. For gar the ho form schēma of ho this houtos world kosmos is passing away paragō.
32 I want thelō · de you hymeis to be eimi free from concern amerimnos. An ho unmarried man agamos is concerned merimnaō about the ho things of the ho Lord kyrios, how pōs to please areskō the ho Lord kyrios. 33 But de a ho married gameō man is concerned merimnaō about the ho things of the ho world kosmos, how pōs to please areskō his ho wife gynē, 34 and kai he is divided merizō. · kai An ho unmarried agamos woman gynē · ho or kai a ho virgin parthenos is concerned merimnaō about the ho things of the ho Lord kyrios, that hina she may be eimi holy hagios both kai in ho body sōma and kai · ho spirit pneuma. But de a ho married gameō woman is concerned merimnaō about the ho things of the ho world kosmos, how pōs to please areskō her ho husband anēr. 35 I am saying legō this houtos · de for pros · ho your hymeis autos benefit symphoros, not ou to hina put epiballō a restraint brochos on epiballō you hymeis, but alla to promote pros · ho propriety euschēmōn and kai undivided aperispastōs devotion euparedros to the ho Lord kyrios.
36 If ei · de someone tis believes nomizō he is not treating aschēmoneō · ho his autos virgin parthenos in an appropriate manner , if ean his passions are eimi strong hyperakmos, and kai so houtōs it has opheilō to be ginomai, he should do poieō what hos he desires thelō, it is no ou sin hamartanō— let them marry gameō. 37 However de, the man who hos stands histēmi firm hedraios in en · ho his autos resolve kardia is under echō no mē compulsion anankē but de has echō control exousia over peri · ho his idios desire thelēma, and kai has determined krinō this houtos in en · ho his idios heart kardia to keep tēreō her ho as his heautou virgin parthenos, he will do poieō well kalōs. 38 So then hōste · kai the ho one who marries gamizō · ho his heautou virgin parthenos does poieō well kalōs, and kai the ho one who does not mē marry gamizō will do poieō even better kreittōn.
39 A wife gynē is bound deō for epi such hosos a time chronos as her autos husband anēr is alive zaō. · ho But de if ean her ho husband anēr should die koimaō, she is eimi free eleutheros to marry gameō whom hos she wishes thelō, only monon in en the Lord kyrios. 40 But de in kata my emos opinion gnōmē she will be eimi happier makarios if ean she remains menō as she is houtōs. · ho And de I believe dokeō that I too kagō have echō the Spirit pneuma of God theos.
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