On Marriage
NOW concerning the things of which you wrote me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 But on account of sexual immorality, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 ¶ Let the husband repay to his wife the debt of goodwill: and likewise also the wife to her husband.
4 The wife has not rule of her own body, but rather the husband: and likewise also, the husband has not rule of his own body, but the wife.
5 Do not deprive one another, except with consent for a short time, that you may give time to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan does not tempt you by means of your lack of self control.
6 But I speak this by concession, and not of commandment.
7 ¶ For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each has his own gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I.
9 But if they cannot restrain themselves, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Marriage Vows
10 ¶ And to the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord: Let not the wife separate from her husband:
11 But if she does separate, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
12 But to the rest I say (not the Lord): If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she agrees to live with him, let him not put her away.
13 And the woman which has an unbelieving husband: If he agrees to live with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband: for otherwise your children are unclean; but now are they holy.
15 ¶ But if the unbelieving departs, let them depart. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases: but God has called us to peace.
16 For what do you know, O wife: whether you will save your husband? Or what do you know, O man: whether you will save your wife?
Live as You are Called
17 ¶ But as God has assigned to each man, as the Lord has called each man: In this way let him walk. Also in this way, I command in all the Congregations.
18 Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: Rather, the keeping of the commandments of God is everything.
20 Let every man remain in the same calling wherein he was called.
21 ¶ Are you called being a bond-servant? be not concerned: but if you are also able to become free, rather make use of that opportunity.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a bond-servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also, he that is called being free, is Christ’s bond-servant.
23 You are purchased at a price; do not become subservient to men.
24 Brothers, let each man, wherein he is called, therein remain with God.
Advice to Unmarried and Widows
25 ¶ Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord: but I give my opinion as one, who by the mercy of the Lord, is faithful.
26 I suppose therefore this: it is good on account of the present troubles, that it is better for a man to remain as he is.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek divorce. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 But also: if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh: and I try to spare you this.
29 ¶ But this I say brothers, the time is drawing near, and from now on that: they that have wives, be as though they had not;
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 And they that deal with this world, as not fully occupied by it: for the present form of this world is passing away.
32 But I would have you free from concern. He that is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 ¶ There is also a difference, between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in both body and in spirit; but she that is married, cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own benefit; not that I throw a bridle on you; rather, for the purpose of that which is becoming, and that you may attend the Lord without distraction.
36 ¶ But if any man think that he behaves dishonourably toward his virgin, if she is passing marriageable age, and obligation requires: let him do what he will, he does not sin, let them marry.
37 But he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no obligation, but has control over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that his virgin shall remain as she is, does well.
38 And therefore: he that gives her marriage does well; but he that does not give her marriage does better.
39 ¶ The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband falls asleep (dies), she is free to marry to whom she will; but only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my judgment; and I think that I have the Spirit of God.