1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Concerning Christian Marriage

¹ Now concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ² Nevertheless, to avoid lewdness, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. ³ Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife to the husband. ⁴ The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. ⁵ Defraud ye not one the other, except with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan may not tempt you for your incontinence. ⁶ But I speak this by permission, and not as a commandment. ⁷ For I would that all men were as I myself. But every man hath 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 remain even as I. ⁹ But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰ And to the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: ¹¹ But if she shall depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. ¹² But to the rest I speak, not the Lord, if any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. ¹³ And the woman who hath a husband that believeth not, and if he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases; but God hath called us to peace. ¹⁶ For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

¹⁷ But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all churches. ¹⁸ Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any 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 man continue in the same calling in which he was called. ²¹ Art thou called being a servant? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. ²² For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's free-man: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. ²³ Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let every man in the state in which he is called, continue in it with God.