1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Concerning Christian Marriage

¹ Now concerning the things of which ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman; ² but, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ³ Let the husband render to the wife her due; and, in like manner, the wife to the husband. ⁴ The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife. ⁵ Defraud not one the other, except by consent for a Season, that ye may have leisure for prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. ⁶ But this I say by way of permission, not of command. ⁷ And I wish all men to be even as myself. Each one, however, has his own gift from God; one, indeed, after this manner, and another, after that.

⁸ Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows, it is good for them, if they remain even as I am. ⁹ But, if they have not continency let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰ And to the married I give command??ot I, but the Lord??hat the wife depart not from her husband; ¹¹ but if she even depart, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to her husband; and that the husband leave not his wife. ¹² But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not leave her. ¹³ And, if any wife has an unbelieving husband, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified in the brother; else your children are unclean; but as it is they are holy. ¹⁵ But, if the unbelieving departs, let him depart. The brother or the sister has not come into bondage in such cases; but God hath called us in peace. ¹⁶ For what do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or what do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

¹⁷ Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each one, as God hath called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the assemblies. ¹⁸ Was any one called, having been circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Has any one been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. ²⁰ Let each one abide in that calling in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called, being a slave? care not for it; but, even if you can become free, use it rather. ²² For he that was called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freedman: likewise, he that was called, being free, is Christ's slave. ²³ Ye were bought with a price; become not slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let each one abide with God in the same condition in which he was called.