1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Concerning Christian Marriage

¹ But concerning the things of which ye have written to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman; ² but on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each woman have her own husband. ³ Let the husband render her due to the wife, and in like manner the wife to the husband. ⁴ The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife. ⁵ Defraud not one another, unless, it may be, by consent for a time, that ye may devote yourselves to prayer, and again be together, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. ⁶ But this I say, as consenting to, not as commanding it. ⁷ Now I wish all men to be even as myself: but every one has his own gift of God: one man thus, and another thus.

⁸ But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain even as I. ⁹ But if they have not control over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰ But to the married I enjoin, not I, but the Lord, Let not wife be separated from husband; ¹¹ (but if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and let not husband leave wife. ¹² But as to the rest, I say, not the Lord, If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not leave her. ¹³ And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother; since otherwise indeed your children are unclean, but now they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever go away, let them go away; a brother or a sister is not bound in such cases, but God has called us in peace. ¹⁶ For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save thy wife?

¹⁷ However, as the Lord has divided to each, as God has called each, so let him walk; and thus I ordain in all the assemblies. ¹⁸ Has any one been called circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: has any one been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but keeping God's commandments. ²⁰ Let each abide in that calling in which he has been called. ²¹ Hast thou been called being a bondman, let it not concern thee; but and if thou canst become free, use it rather. ²² For the bondman that is called in the Lord is the Lord's freedman; in like manner also the freeman being called is Christ's bondman. ²³ Ye have been bought with a price; do not be the bondmen of men. ²⁴ Let each, wherein he is called, brethren, therein abide with God.