Concerning Married Life

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”(A) But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,(B) and likewise the wife to her husband. The 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. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time,(C) so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan(D) will not tempt you(E) because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command.(F) I wish that all of you were as I am.(G) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.(H)

Now to the unmarried[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.(I) But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,(J) for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.(K) 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.(L) And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):(M) If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For 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.(N)

15 But 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.(O) 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save(P) your husband?(Q) Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.(R) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.(S) 18 Was 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.(T) 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.(U) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(V)

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;(W) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.(X) 23 You were bought at a price;(Y) do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(Z)

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,(AA) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy(AB) is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.(AC) 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.(AD) 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;(AE) 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.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.(AF) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those 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; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.(AG)

32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs(AH)—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and 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.(AI) But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided(AJ) devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong[b] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.(AK) They should 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 not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right,(AL) but he who does not marry her does better.[c]

39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.(AM) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.(AN) 40 In my judgment,(AO) she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:8 Or widowers
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:38 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.

Now de concerning peri the matters hos you wrote graphō about . Yes, “It is good kalos for a man anthrōpos not to have sexual contact haptō with a woman gynē.” 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. 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. 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. Do not 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 tempt peirazō you hymeis · ho because dia of · ho your hymeis lack of self-control akrasia. This houtos · de I say legō by kata way of concession syngnōmē, not ou of kata command epitagē. 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.

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. 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 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 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 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 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 conceal his circumcision epispaomai. If a man tis was not circumcised en when he was called kaleō, he should not 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 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 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 seek zēteō to be set free lysis; if you are free lyō from apo a wife gynē, do not 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 , 30 and kai those ho who mourn klaiō as hōs though they were not mourning klaiō, and kai those ho who rejoice chairō as hōs though they were not rejoicing chairō, and kai those ho who buy agorazō as hōs though they had no possessions katechō, 31 and kai those ho who use chraomai the ho world kosmos as hōs though they were not 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 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 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.