1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Concerning Christian Marriage

¹ Now as to the matters about which ye wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman; ² but on account of the commonness of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and every woman her own husband. ³ Let the husband render to his wife her due; and so also the wife to her husband. ⁴ The wife hath not the disposal of her own body, but her husband; and so also the husband hath not the disposal of his own body, but his wife. ⁵ Defraud not one another, except by agreement for a time, that ye may have a season for prayer; and be together again, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinence. ⁶ But I say this by way of permission, not command. ⁷ I would that all men were as I myself; but every one hath his own gift from God, one man this, and another that.

⁸ I say also to the unmarried and the widows, it is good for them to remain as I am; ⁹ but if they cannot control themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰ But to those who are married it is my command, yet not mine, but the Lords: Let not the wife separate herself from her husband, ¹¹ and if she have separated herself let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband put away his wife. ¹² But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she be satisfied to dwell with him, let him not put her away; ¹³ and if a wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he be satisfied to dwell with her, let her not put her husband away. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband hath been made holy by his wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been made holy by the brother; otherwise were your children unclean, but, as it is, they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbelieving separateth himself, let him separate himself; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God hath called you to be in peace. ¹⁶ For how dost thou know, O wife, but that thou mayst save thy husband? or how dost thou know, O husband, but that thou mayst save thy wife?

¹⁷ But let every one continue to walk in the lot which the Lord appointed him, in the condition in which God called him. And this direction I give in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was any one called being circumcised, let him not become as if uncircumcised; hath any one been called in uncircumcision, let him not become circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. ²⁰ Let every one remain in the same calling in which he was called. ²¹ Wast thou called being a slave, care not for it; but even if thou canst be made free, use it rather. ²² For he that was called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lords freeman. In like manner the freeman, who is called, is Christs slave. ²³ Ye were bought with a price; become not the slaves of men. ²⁴ In that state, brethren, in which he was called, let every one remain with God.