1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Concerning Christian Marriage

¹ As concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man, not to touch a woman. ² Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his wife: and let every woman have her husband. ³ Let the man give unto the wife due benevolence. Likewise also the wife unto the man. ⁴ The wife hath not power over her own body: but the husband; And likewise the man hath not power over his own body: but the wife. ⁵ Withdraw not yourselves one from another except it be with consent for a time, for to give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and afterward come again to the same thing, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency. ⁶ This I say of favour, not of commandment. ⁷ For I would that all men were as I myself am: but every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, another after that.

⁸ I say unto the unmarried men, and widows: it is good for them if they abide even as I do, ⁹ but and if they cannot abstain, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰ Unto the married command not I, but the Lord: that the wife separate not herself from the man. ¹¹ If she separate herself, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled unto her husband again. And let not the husband put away his wife from him. ¹² To the remnant speak I, and not the Lord: if any brother have a wife that believeth not, if she be content to dwell with him, let him not put her away. ¹³ And the woman which hath to her husband an infidel, if he consent to dwell with her, let her not put him away. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife: and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband. Or else were your children unclean: but now are they pure. ¹⁵ But and if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not in subjection to such. God hath called us in peace. ¹⁶ For how knowest thou o woman, whether thou shalt save that man or no? Other, how knowest thou o man, whether thou shalt save that woman or no?

¹⁷ But even as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every person, so let him walk: and so ordain I in all congregations. ¹⁸ If any man be called being circumcised, let him add nothing thereto. If any be called uncircumcised: let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, uncircumcision is nothing: but the keeping of the commandments of God is altogether. ²⁰ Let every man abide in the same state wherein he was called. ²¹ Art thou called a servant? Care not for it. Nevertheless if thou mayst be free, use it rather. ²² For he that is called in the Lord being a servant, is the Lord's freeman. Likewise he that is called being free, is Christ's servant. ²³ Ye are dearly bought; be not men's servants. ²⁴ Brethren, let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God.