Principles of Marriage

1Now concerning the things of which ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman; 2but, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render to the wife her due; and, in like manner, the wife to the husband. 4The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife. 5Defraud not one the other, except by consent for a Season, that ye may have leisure for prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. 6But this I say by way of permission, not of command. 7And I wish all men to be even as myself. Each one, however, has his own gift from God; one, indeed, after this manner, and another, after that.

8Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows, it is good for them, if they remain even as I am. 9But, if they have not continency let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

10And to the married I give command?not I, but the Lord?that the wife depart not from her husband; 11but if she even depart, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to her husband; and that the husband leave not his wife.

12But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not leave her. 13And, if any wife has an unbelieving husband, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified in the brother; else your children are unclean; but as it is they are holy. 15But, if the unbelieving departs, let him depart. The brother or the sister has not come into bondage in such cases; but God hath called us in peace. 16For what do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or what do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live Your Calling

17Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each one, as God hath called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the assemblies. 18Was any one called, having been circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Has any one been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20Let each one abide in that calling in which he was called.

21Were you called, being a slave? care not for it; but, even if you can become free, use it rather. 22For he that was called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freedman: likewise, he that was called, being free, is Christ's slave. 23Ye were bought with a price; become not slaves of men. 24Brethren, let each one abide with God in the same condition in which he was called.

The Unmarried and Widowed

25Now, concerning the virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as having received mercy from the Lord to be faithful. 26I think, therefore, that this is good on account of the impending distress; namely, that it is good for a man to be thus. 27Have you become bound to a wife? Seek not a release. Have you been loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28But, even if you marry, you did not sin; and, if a virgin marry, she did not sin. Yet such will have tribulation in the flesh; and I am sparing you. 29But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened; that henceforth both those who have wives may be as though they had none; 30and those who weep, as though they wept not; and those who rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those who buy, as though they possessed not; 31and those who use the world, as not using it to the full; for the fashion of this world is passing away.

32But I wish you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33but he that is married is anxious for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34and has become divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she that is married is anxious for the things of the world, that she may please her husband. 35And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast restraint upon you, but for that which is seemly, and compatible with constant devotion to the Lord without distraction.

36But, if any one thinks that he behaves himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be beyond the prime of life, and thus it ought to be brought about, let him do what he wishes, he sins not; let them marry. 37But he who has been standing steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has authority respecting his own will, and has determined this in his own heart, that he will keep his own virgin daughter, will do well. 38So that both he that gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well; and he that gives her not in marriage will do better.

39A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but, if her husband fall asleep, she is at liberty to he married to whom she will: only in the Lord. 40But she is happier, if she abides as she is, according to my judgment; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.