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Principles of Marriage

¹ Now in response to the matters you wrote^(F1) about: “It is good for a man not to use^(F2) a woman for sex.” ² But because sexual immorality is so common,^(F1)(C1) each man should have sexual relations with his own wife,^(C2) and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband. ³ A husband should fulfill his marital duty^(C1) to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. ⁴ A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does. ⁵ Do not deprive^(C1) one another—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to^(F1) prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ I say this as a concession, not as a command. ⁷ I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift^(C1) from God, one person has this gift, another has that.

A Word to the Unmarried

⁸ I say to the unmarried^(F1) and to widows:^(C1) It is good for them if they remain as I am. ⁹ But if they do not have self-control,^(C1) they should marry, since it is better to marry^(C2) than to burn with desire.

About Married People

¹⁰ To the married I give this command^(C1)—not I, but the Lord—a wife is not to leave^(F1) her husband. ¹¹ But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband—and a husband is not to divorce his wife.^{(C1) 12} But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother^(C1) has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is made holy^(C1) by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband.^(F1) Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you^(F1) to live in peace. ¹⁶ Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.^(F1)

Various Situations of Life

¹⁷ Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called^(C1) him.^(F1) This is what I command in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God’s commands is what matters. ²⁰ Let each of you remain in the situation^(F1) in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.^{(F1) 22} For he who is called by the Lord as a slave^(C1) is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought^(C1) at a price; do not become slaves of people. ²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called.

About the Unmarried and Widows

²⁵ Now about virgins:^(F1) I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy^(C1) is faithful.^{(C2) 26} Because of the present distress, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ However, if you do get married,^(C1) you have not sinned, and if a virgin^(F1) marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life,^(F2) and I am trying to spare you.

²⁹ This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited,^(C1) so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, ³⁰ those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice^(C1) as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they didn’t own anything, ³¹ and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.^(C1)

³² I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please^(C1) the Lord. ³³ But the married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord,^(C1) so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

³⁶ If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to,^(F1) if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels he should marry—he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. ³⁷ But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will^(C1)) and has decided in his heart to keep her as his fiancée, will do well. ³⁸ So then he who marries^(F1) his fiancée does well, but he who does not marry^(F2) will do better.

³⁹ A wife is bound^(F1) as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.