Open Bible Data Home  About  News  OET Key

1COR C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16

AICNT 1COR Chapter 7

◄ 1COR 7 ► ║ ═ ©

7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote [[to me]],[fn] “it is good for a man not to touch a woman.” 2 But because of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

3 The husband should give to his wife her due [[affection]],[fn] and likewise the wife to her husband.

4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to [[fasting and]][fn] prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 Now I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord): if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, if she is willing to live with him, let him not send her away. 13 And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the {brother};[fn] otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called {you}[fn] to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Only let each person lead the life that {the Lord}[fn] has assigned to him, and to which {God}[fn] has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? {Let him} not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.

22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.

24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who has received mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

26 I think, therefore, that this is good because of the present distress: that it is good for a man to be as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in the flesh, and I would spare you.

29 But this I say, brothers, the time is short; from now on, let those who have wives be as though they had none, 30 and those who weep as though they did not weep, and those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, and those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use {the}[fn] world as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried person is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord; 33 But the one who marries is concerned with the things of the world, how to please his wife, 34 {and his interests are divided.}[fn] The unmarried woman and the virgin are concerned about the things of the Lord, that they may be holy both in body and in spirit; but the married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 Now I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it must be so, let him do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.

37 But the one who stands firm in his heart, having no necessity, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. 38 So then, he who marries [his own virgin][fn] does well, and he who does not marry her will do better.

39 A woman is bound [[by law]][fn] as long as her husband lives; but if her husband falls asleep, she is free to marry whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

40 But in my opinion, she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

◄ 1COR 7 ► ║ ═ ©

1COR C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16