7:13. And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not and he consent
to dwell with her: let her not put away her husband.
7:14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife:
and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband.
Otherwise your children should be unclean: but now they are holy.
Is sanctified... The meaning is not, that the faith of the husband or
the wife is of itself sufficient to put the unbelieving party, or their
children, in the state of grace and salvation; but that it is very often
an occasion of their sanctification, by bringing them to the true faith.
7:15. But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or
sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in
peace.
7:16. For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?
Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
7:17. But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called
every one: so let him walk. And so in all churches I teach.
7:18. Is any man called, being circumcised? Let him not procure
uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? Let him not be
circumcised.
7:19. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing: but the
observance of the commandments of God.
7:20. Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.
7:21. Wast thou called, being a bondman? Care not for it: but if thou
mayest be made free, use it rather.
7:22. For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman
of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of
Christ.
7:23. You are bought with a price: be not made the bondslaves of men.
7:24. Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with
God.
7:25. Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: but I
give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.
7:26. I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity:
that it is good for a man so to be.
7:27. Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed
from a wife? Seek not a wife.
7:28. But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin
marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of
the flesh. But I spare you.
7:29. This therefore I say, brethren: The time is short. It remaineth,
that they also who have wives be as if they had none:
7:30. And they that weep, as though they wept not: and they that
rejoice, as if they rejoiced not: and they that buy as if they possessed
not:
7:31. And they that use this world, as if they used it not. For the
fashion of this world passeth away.
7:32. But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without
a wife is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord: how he may
please God.
7:33. But he that is with a wife is solicitous for the things of the
world: how he may please his wife. And he is divided.
7:34. And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of
the Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that
is married thinketh on the things of the world: how she may please her
husband.
7:35. And this I speak for your profit, not to cast a snare upon you,
but for that which is decent and which may give you power to attend upon
the Lord, without impediment.
7:36. But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured with regard to
his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do
what he will. He sinneth not if she marry.
Let him do what he will; he sinneth not, etc... The meaning is not, as
libertines would have it, that persons may do what they will and not
sin, provided they afterwards marry; but that the father, with regard to
the giving his virgin in marriage, may do as he pleaseth; and that it
will be no sin to him if she marry.
7:37. For he that hath determined, being steadfast in his heart, having
no necessity, but having power of his own will: and hath judged this in
his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.
7:38. Therefore both he that giveth his virgin in marriage doth well:
and he that giveth her not doth better.
7:39. A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if
her husband die, she is at liberty. Let her marry to whom she will: only
in the Lord.
7:40. But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my
counsel. And I think that I also have the spirit of God.