Thematic Bible: Advised
Thematic Bible
Marriage » Advised
I should like to have everyone be just as I am myself; but each one has his own special gift from God, one of one kind, and one of another. To all who are unmarried and to widows, I would say this: It is an excellent thing if they can remain single as I am.
Brothers, everyone must remain in fellowship with God in the station in which he was called. About unmarried women I have no command of the Lord to give you, but I will give you my opinion as that of one on whom through the Lord's mercy you can depend. This, then, is my opinion in view of the present distress??hat it is a good thing for a man to remain just as he is. read more.
If you are united to a wife, do not seek to be released. If you are not, do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, there is no sin in that. And if a girl marries, it is no sin. But those who marry will have worldly trouble, which I would like to spare you. But this I do say, brothers. The appointed time has grown very short. From this time on those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they did not mourn, and those who are glad as though they were not glad, and those who buy anything as though they did not own it, and those who mix in the world, as though they were not absorbed in it. For the present shape of the world is passing away. I want you to be free from all anxiety. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's work, and how he can please the Lord. A married man is concerned about worldly affairs, and how he can please his wife, and so his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a girl is concerned about the Lord's work, so as to be consecrated in body and spirit, but the woman who marries is concerned with worldly affairs, and how she can please her husband. It is for your benefit that I say this, not to put a halter on you, but to promote good order, and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. But if a man thinks he is not acting properly toward the girl to whom he is engaged, if his passions are too strong, and that is what ought to be done, let him do as he pleases; it is no sin; let them be married. But a man who has definitely made up his mind, under no constraint of passion but with full self-control, and who has decided in his own mind to keep her as she is, will be doing what is right. So the man who marries her does what is right, and the man who refrains from doing so does even better. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she pleases so long as he is a Christian. But she will be happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is, and I think I have God's spirit as well as other people.
If you are united to a wife, do not seek to be released. If you are not, do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, there is no sin in that. And if a girl marries, it is no sin. But those who marry will have worldly trouble, which I would like to spare you. But this I do say, brothers. The appointed time has grown very short. From this time on those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they did not mourn, and those who are glad as though they were not glad, and those who buy anything as though they did not own it, and those who mix in the world, as though they were not absorbed in it. For the present shape of the world is passing away. I want you to be free from all anxiety. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's work, and how he can please the Lord. A married man is concerned about worldly affairs, and how he can please his wife, and so his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a girl is concerned about the Lord's work, so as to be consecrated in body and spirit, but the woman who marries is concerned with worldly affairs, and how she can please her husband. It is for your benefit that I say this, not to put a halter on you, but to promote good order, and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. But if a man thinks he is not acting properly toward the girl to whom he is engaged, if his passions are too strong, and that is what ought to be done, let him do as he pleases; it is no sin; let them be married. But a man who has definitely made up his mind, under no constraint of passion but with full self-control, and who has decided in his own mind to keep her as she is, will be doing what is right. So the man who marries her does what is right, and the man who refrains from doing so does even better. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she pleases so long as he is a Christian. But she will be happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is, and I think I have God's spirit as well as other people.