NOW with regard to those things concerning which ye have written unto
me, it were good for a man not to touch a woman. (2)But because of the
whoredoms, let every man have his own wife, and every wife her own
husband.
(3)Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence, and in like
manner also the wife to the husband. (4)The wife hath not power over
her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not
power over his own body, but the wife. (5)Defraud not one another,
except it may be by consent occasionally, that ye may have more leisure
for fasting and prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you
through your incontinence. (6)But in this I speak my opinion only, not
authoritatively. (7)For I would that all men were even as myself: but
every man hath his peculiar gift from God, one of this sort, and
another of that. (8)I say then to the unmarried and the widows, that it
is becoming them if they abide as I am. (9)But if they have not the
gift of continence, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to
burn. (10)But to the married not I command, but the Lord, That the wife
be not separated from the husband: (11)and even if she should be
separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband:
and let not the husband put away his wife.
(12)But to the others I speak, not the Lord, If any brother hath a wife
unbelieving, yet she chuseth to dwell with him, let him not put her
away. (13)And the wife which hath a husband not a believer, and he
chuses to dwell with her, let her not put him away. (14)For the husband
that believeth not is sanctified by the wife, and the wife who
believeth not is sanctified by the husband: else indeed your children
were unclean, but now are they holy. (15)But if the unbelieving person
depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in
these cases, but God hath called us unto peace.
(16)For how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband? and
how knowest thou, O husband, but thou shalt save thy wife?
(17)Nevertheless as God has bestowed the gift on every man as the Lord
hath called every man, so let him walk, and so I give command in all
the churches.
(18)Is any man called being circumcised? let him not affect
uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him not be
circumcised. (19)Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is
nothing, but the observance of the commandments of God.
(20)Let every one abide in the calling in which he is called. (21)Art
thou called being a slave? let it give thee no concern; but if thou
canst also obtain thy freedom, rather make use of it. (22)For he that
is called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freed man: in like
manner also, he that is called, being a free man, is the servant of
Christ. (23)Have you been redeemed with a price? become not the slaves
of men. (24)Let every one, brethren, in the vocation wherein he is
called, therein abide with God.
(25)Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I
offer my opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be
faithful. (26)I think then that this is becoming, considering our
present straits, that it is proper for a man to be thus. (27)Art thou
bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife?
seek not a wife. (28)But if thou shouldst marry, thou hast not sinned;
and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned; though such will have
tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.
(29)Now this I say, brethren, that the time is short. The conclusion
is, that even they who have wives, should be as though they had not;
(30)and they who weep as though they wept not; and they who rejoice as
though they rejoiced not; and they that purchase as though they
possessed not; (31)and they who use this world, as not abusing it: for
the fashion of this world passeth away. (32)But I would have you to be
free from anxiety. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the
Lord, how he shall please the Lord: (33)but he who is married is
anxious about the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.
(34)A wife and a virgin hath different pursuits: the unmarried woman is
anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body
and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the things of the
world, how she shall please her husband. (35)Now I say this for your
own advantage, and not that I should lay a snare in your way, but as
what is seemly, and that you may wait on the Lord without distraction.
(36)But if a person supposes it would be unseemly for a virgin of his
if she should pass the flower of her age _in celibacy_, and that duty
directs it should be so, let him do as he is inclined, he doth not sin:
let such marry. (37)But he that is stedfast in his heart, not having
any necessity, but retaineth power over his own inclination, and hath
determined this in his heart that he will preserve his own virgin
state, doeth well. (38)Wherefore though he who giveth in marriage doeth
well, yet he who avoids a matrimonial connection, doeth better.
(39)The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if
her husband be dead, she is free to be married to whomsoever she will,
but only in the Lord. (40)But she is more blessed if she abide as she
is, in my opinion: and I think I have the spirit of God.