1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Concerning Christian Marriage

¹ And of what ye wrote to me: good for a man not to touch a woman. ² And, on account of fornication, let each have his own wife, and let each have her own husband. ³ Let the husband return to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife to the husband. ⁴ The wife of her own body has not power, but the husband: and likewise also the husband of his own body has not power, but the wife. ⁵ Deprive ye not one another, except somewhat of an agreement for a time, that ye might have leisure for fasting and prayer; and again upon the same ye might come together, lest Satan tempt you for your want of self command. ⁶ And this I say according to indulgence, not according to order. ⁷ For I will all men to be as also myself. But each has his own favor of God, the one truly thus, and the other thus.

⁸ And I say to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they remain also as I. ⁹ And if they have not self command, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to be set on fire.

¹⁰ And to the married I announce, (not I, but the Lord,) The wife not to be separated from the husband: ¹¹ And if also she be separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to the husband: and the husband not to send away the wife. ¹² And to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and she assents to dwell with him, let him not send her away. ¹³ And the woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he assents to dwell with her, let her not send him away. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband was consecrated in the wife, and the unbelieving wife was consecrated in the husband: for then are our children unclean; and now are they holy. ¹⁵ And if the unbelieving is separated, let him be separated. A brother or a sister has not been reduced to slavery in such things as these: and God has called us in peace. ¹⁶ For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save the husband or what knowest thou, O hushand, if thou shalt save the wife?

¹⁷ Except as God divided to each, as the Lord has called each, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. ¹⁸ Whoever was called circumcised? let him not be drawn to himself. Whoever was called in uncircumeision? let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commands of God. ²⁰ Each in the calling which he was called, in this let him remain. ²¹ A servant wert thou called? let it not concern thee: for if thou art able to be free, rather make use of it. ²² For the servant called in the Lord, is the freedman of the Lord: likewise also the freedman called, is the servant of Christ. ²³ Ye were bought for a price; be ye not servants of men. ²⁴ Each, in what he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God.