1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Concerning Christian Marriage

¹ With reference to the subjects about which you wrote to me: It would be well for a man to remain single. ² But, owing to the prevalence of immorality, I advise every man to have his own wife, and every woman her husband. ³ A husband should give his wife her due, and a wife her husband. ⁴ It is not the wife, but the husband, who exercises power over her body; and so, too, it is not the husband, but the wife, who exercises power over his body. ⁵ Do not deprive each other of what is due-unless it is only for a time and by mutual consent, so that your minds may be free for prayer till you again live as man and wife-lest Satan should take advantage of your want of self-control and tempt you. ⁶ I say this, however, as a concession, not as a command. ⁷ I should wish every one to be just what I am myself. But every one has his own gift from God-one in one way, and one in another.

⁸ My advice, then, to those who are not married, and to widows, is this: It would be well for them to remain as I am myself. ⁹ But, if they cannot control themselves, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion.

¹⁰ To those who are married my direction is-yet it is not mine, but the Master's-that a woman is not to leave her husband ¹¹ (If she has done so, let her remain as she is, or else be reconciled to her husband) and also that a man is not to divorce his wife. ¹² To all others I say-I, not the Master-If a Brother is married to a woman, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with him, he should not divorce her; ¹³ And a woman who is married to a man, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with her, should not divorce her husband. ¹⁴ For, through his wife, the husband who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ's People; and the wife who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ's People through our Brother whom she has married. Otherwise your children would be 'defiled,' but, as it is, they belong to Christ's People. ¹⁵ However, if the unbeliever wishes to be separated, let him be so. Under such circumstances neither the Brother nor the Sister is bound; God has called you to live in peace. ¹⁶ How can you tell, wife, whether you may not save your husband? and how can you tell, husband, whether you may not save your wife?

¹⁷ In any case, a man should continue to live in the condition which the Lord has allotted to him, and in which he was when God called him. This is the rule that I lay down in every Church. ¹⁸ Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Then he should not efface his circumcision. Has a man been called when uncircumcised? Then he should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing; the want of it is nothing; but to keep the commands of God is everything. ²⁰ Let every one remain in that condition of life in which he was when the Call came to him. ²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best. ²² For the man who was a slave when he was called to the master's service is the Master's freed-man; so, too, the man who was free when called is Christ's slave. ²³ You were bought, and the price was paid. Do not let yourselves become slaves to men. ²⁴ Brothers, let every one remain in the condition in which he was when he was called, in close communion with God.