1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Concerning Christian Marriage

¹ Concerning the things that you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch (have sex with) a woman. ² Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. ³ Let the husband fulfill his marital duties to his wife and also the wife to her husband. ⁴ The wife has no authority over her own body, but her husband does. Likewise also the husband has no authority over his own body, but his wife does. ⁵ Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent for a time. That way you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. Then come together again, that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ But I speak this by concession and not by commandment. ⁷ I prefer that all men were as I am. But every man has his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

⁸ I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they stay unmarried like me. ⁹ But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. It is better to marry than to be inflamed [with lust].

¹⁰ To the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord commands do not let the wife depart from her husband. ¹¹ If she leaves, let her remain unmarried or become reconciled to her husband. A husband should not divorce his wife. ¹² To the others, I speak and not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him he should not divorce her. ¹³ And the woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the wife sanctifies the unbelieving husband, and the husband sanctifies the unbelieving wife. Otherwise your children would be unclean. But now they are holy. ¹⁵ If the unbelieving leave, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases for God has called us to peace. ¹⁶ Wife how do you know that you will save your husband? Husband how do you know whether you will save your wife?

¹⁷ But as God has distributed to every person so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the congregations. ¹⁸ Is any man called being circumcised? He should not become uncircumcised. Is any called who is not circumcised? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Obey the commandments of God. ²⁰ Each man should remain in the same condition in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called being a slave? Do not let it worry you. But if you can become free, do so. ²² He who is called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freeman. Likewise also he who is called, being free, is Christ's slave. ²³ You are bought with a price. Stop being slaves of men. ²⁴ Brothers, let every man remain in the condition in which he was called. Abide with God.