Principles of Marriage

7 Now for the matters you wrote about: [It is] good to abstain from sexual relations 2 But because [there is so much] sexual immorality, each man should have his [own] wife, and each woman [her] own husband.

3 The husband should fulfill [his] [marital] duty to [his] wife, and likewise the wife to [her] husband. 4 The wife [does] not have authority over [her] own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband [does] not have authority over [his] own body, but the wife.

5 {Do} not deprive each other, except by mutual consent [and] for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each [man] has his own gift from God; one [has] this [gift], another [has] that.

8 Now to the unmarried and widows I say [this]: [It is] good for them to remain [unmarried], as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from [her] husband. 11 But if she [does], she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to [her] husband. And a husband must not divorce [his] wife.

12 To the rest I say this ([I,] not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce [him]. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through [his] [believing] wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through [her] [believing] husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The [ believing ] brother or sister is not bound in such [cases]. God has called you[fn] [to live] in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save [your] husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save [your] wife?