New Testament in a Year

Teaching on Marriage

7 Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage]. ² But because of [the temptation to participate in] sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ³ The husband must fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife [with good will and kindness], and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴ The wife does not have [exclusive] authority over her own body, but the husband shares with her; and likewise the husband does not have [exclusive] authority over his body, but the wife shares with him. ⁵ Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ But I am saying this as a concession, not as a command. ⁷ I wish that all the people were as I am; but each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that.

⁸ But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, [that as a practical matter] it is good if they remain [single and entirely devoted to the Lord] ^[a]as I am. ⁹ But if they do not have [sufficient] self-control, they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

¹⁰ But to the ^[b]married [believers] I give instructions—not I, but the Lord—that the wife is not to separate from her husband, ¹¹ (but even if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be ^[c]reconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not leave his wife.

¹² To the ^[d]rest I declare—I, not the Lord [since Jesus did not discuss this]—that if any [believing] brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ], and she consents to live with him, he must not leave her. ¹³ And if any [believing] woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not leave him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is ^[e]sanctified [that is, he receives the blessings granted] through his [Christian] wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be [ceremonially] ^[f]unclean, but as it is they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him leave. In such cases the [remaining] brother or sister is not [spiritually or morally] bound. But God has called us to ^[g]peace. ¹⁶ For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband [by leading him to Christ]? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife [by leading her to Christ]?

¹⁷ Only, let each one live the life which the Lord has assigned him, and to which God has called him [for each person is unique and is accountable for his choices and conduct, let him walk in this way]. This is the rule I make in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone at the time of his calling [from God already] circumcised? He is not to ^[h]become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called while uncircumcised? ^[i]He is not to be circumcised.^{(A) 19} Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping the commandments of God.