Principles of Marriage

1Now as to the things concerning which ye wrote to me: it were good for a man not to touch a woman. 2Nevertheless to prevent whoredoms, let every one have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence; and in like manner also the wife to the husband. 4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband; and in like manner also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5Do not withdraw from one another, unless by consent for a season, that ye may attend to fasting and prayer: and come together again, least Satan tempt you through your incontinency. 6But I say this by way of permission, not of command: 7for I could wish that all men were as I myself am; but every man hath his proper gift from God, one of one kind and another of another?

8Now to the unmarried and widows I say, it is good for them to continue so, as I do. 9But if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with lust.

10But those that are married, not I command, but the Lord, that the wife be not separated from her husband; 11(but if she separate, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and that the husband put not away his wife.

12But to the rest say I, not the Lord, If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she like to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13And if any wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he like to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband: else were your children unclean; but they are holy. 15But if the unbeliever depart, let them depart; a brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. 16But God hath called us to peace; for how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband; or how knowest thou, O husband, but thou shalt save thy wife?

Live Your Calling

17However, as God hath distributed to every man, and as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk: and thus I order in all the churches. 18Is any one called that is circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: is any one called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised: for circumcision is nothing, 19and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God. 20In the calling in which every one was called, let him continue.

21Wast thou called being a slave, be not anxious about it; but if thou canst be made free, prefer it. 22For he that is called in the Lord being a slave, is the Lord's freed-man: and he likewise that is called being free is the servant of Christ. 23Ye are bought with a price, do not become the slaves of men. 24Brethren, in whatever condition every one was when called, let him abide therein with God.

The Unmarried and Widowed

25But concerning single persons I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgement as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 26I think then, that it is---better on account of the present distress,---that it is better, I say, 27for a single man to be so. Art thou bound to a wife indeed? seek not to be loosed: but art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28Though, if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: such however will probably have more trouble in life: but I spare you. 29But this I say, brethren, that the time is short: it remains therefore, that even those, who have wives, be as though they had none; 30and they, that weep, as if they wept not; and they, that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they, that buy, as if they possessed not; 31and they, that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32And I would have you without anxiety. Now he, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he, 33that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and how he may please his wife. 34There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin: she, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she, that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and how she may please her husband. 35And this I say for your own benefit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but in order to recommend that which is fit and becoming before the Lord without distraction.

36But if any one think that he acts unbecomingly towards his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and that it ought to be so, let him do what he will; he doth not sin: let them marry. 37But he, that is stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doth well. 38So that he, who giveth her in marriage, doth well; but he, that giveth her not in marriage, doth better.

39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord: 40but she is happier, in my opinion, if she continue as she is: and I think I have the Spirit of God.