1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Concerning Christian Marriage

¹ Now concerning what you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ² But, because of the fornications, let each have his own wife, and let each have her own husband. ³ Let the husband give to the wife proper kindness, and likewise the wife also to the husband. ⁴ The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. And likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. ⁵ Do not deprive one another, unless it is with consent for a time, so that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. And come together again so that Satan does not tempt you for your incontinence. ⁶ But I speak this according to permission, not according to commandment. ⁷ For I would that all men were even as I myself am. But each has his proper gift from God, one according to this manner and another according to that.

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

¹⁰ And to the married I command (not I, but the Lord), a woman not to be separated from her husband. ¹¹ But if she is indeed separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to leave his wife. ¹² But to the rest I speak, not the Lord, If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is pleased to dwell with him, do not let him put her away. ¹³ And the woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is pleased to dwell with her, do not let her leave him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbelieving one separates, let him be separated. A brother or a sister is not in bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace. ¹⁶ For what do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or what do you know, O man, whether you shall save your wife?

¹⁷ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all churches. ¹⁸ Was any called having been circumcised? Do not be uncircumcised. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? Do not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. ²⁰ Let each one remain in the calling in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called as a slave? It does not matter to you, but if you are able to become free, use it rather. ²² For he who is called a slave in the Lord is a freed man of the Lord. And likewise, he who is called a free man is a slave of Christ. ²³ You are bought with a price, do not be the slaves of men. ²⁴ Each in whatever way he was called, brothers, in this remain with God.