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1 Corinthians 7
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

Answers To Your Questions:

7 Now concerning the things which you wrote—

Concerning Marriage And Singleness: Live According To Your Gift From God

It is good[a] for a man not to touch[b] a woman. 2 But because of sexual-immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband give-back to his wife her due[c], and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have-authority[d] over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise also the husband does not have-authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not be depriving one another— except perhaps by agreement, for a time, in order that you may devote-yourselves to prayer and [then] be together again— in order that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack-of-self-control. 6 But I am saying this by way of concession, not by way of command. 7 And I wish that all people were as[e] indeed myself! But each has his own gift from God— one in this manner and another in this manner. 8 And I say to the unmarried and the widows— it is good for them if they remain as I also am. 9 But if they do not have-self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burning[f].

But Do Not Divorce Your Christian Spouse

10 But to the ones having married I command (not I, but the Lord), that a wife not be separated from her husband— 11 but if indeed she is separated, let her remain unmarried or let her be reconciled to her husband— and that a husband not leave[g] his wife.

Do Not Divorce an Unbelieving Spouse Who Chooses To Stay

12 But to the rest I say, not[h] the Lord— if any brother has an unbelieving wife and this one consents to dwell with him, let him not leave her. 13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and this one consents to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified[i] by his wife. And the unbelieving wife has been sanctified by the brother. Otherwise then your children are unclean, but now[j] they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving one separates, let such a one separate. The brother or the sister has not been enslaved by such[k] things, but God has called you in peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 17 Except that[l] as the Lord apportioned[m] to each one, as God has called each one, in this manner let him be walking. And thus I am directing[n] in all the churches.

In General, Remain With God In The Life Context In Which You Were Saved

18 Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not conceal[o] it. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each in the calling in which he was called— in this let him remain. 21 Were you called as a slave? Do not let it be a concern to you. But if also[p] you are able to become free, rather make-use-of the opportunity. 22 For the one having been called in the Lord as a slave is a freedperson of the Lord. Likewise the one having been called as a free one is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves[q] of people. 24 Each in what he was called, brothers— in this let him remain with God.

Concerning The Unmarried: In General, It Is Good To Remain As You Are In Life

25 Now concerning virgins, I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one having been shown-mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. 26 I think then that this[r] is good because of the present necessity[s], that it is good for a person to be so[t]. 27 Have you been bound[u] to a woman? Do not be seeking a release[v]. Have you been released[w] from a woman? Do not be seeking a wife. 28 But even if you marry, you did not sin. And if the virgin marries, she did not sin. But such ones will have affliction in the flesh, and I am sparing[x] you.

We All Must Keep Our Earthly Life In Eternal Perspective

29 And this I say, brothers— the time[y] is shortened, so that henceforth even the ones having wives should be as-though not having, 30 and the ones weeping as-though not weeping, and the ones rejoicing as-though not rejoicing, and the ones buying as-though not holding-on-to[z], 31 and the ones making-use-of the world as-though not making-full-use-of it. For the form[aa] of this world is passing away.

Single People Can Be Solely Devoted To God; The Married Have a Dual Concern

32 Now I want you to be free-from-concern. The unmarried man is concerned-about the things of the Lord— how he may please the Lord. 33 But the man having married is concerned-about the things of the world— how he may please his wife, 34 and he has been divided[ab]. And the unmarried woman[ac], and the virgin, is concerned-about the things of the Lord— that she may be holy both in the body and in the spirit. But the woman having married is concerned-about the things of the world— how she may please her husband.

Do What You Think Is Honorable For Your Virgin Daughter

35 Now I am saying this[ad] for the benefit of you yourselves— not that I may throw a noose[ae] on you, but toward good-order and devotion[af] to the Lord, undistractedly. 36 But if one[ag] thinks that he is behaving-dishonorably[ah] toward his virgin daughter— if she is beyond-the-bloom-of-youth[ai], and it ought[aj] to be so— let him do what he wants. He is not sinning. Let them marry. 37 But he who stands steadfast[ak] in his heart, not having a necessity[al], and has authority[am] concerning[an] his own will, and has determined this in his own heart, to keep[ao] his virgin daughter— he will do well[ap]. 38 So then, both the one giving his virgin daughter in marriage is doing well, and the one not giving-in-marriage will do better.

Widows Are Free To Remarry, But May Be Happier Remaining As They Are

39 A wife has been bound for as much time as her husband lives. But if her husband falls-asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wishes— only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains thus[aq], according to my opinion; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Or, commendable, praiseworthy.
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:1 That is, to have sexual contact with, and thus, to marry. Paul extols singleness, in contradiction to the views of his day.
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:3 That is, what is due her, physically and otherwise.
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:4 Or, have-the-right.
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:7 That is, single and pure, devoting themselves fully to God.
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:9 That is, with sexual desire.
  7. 1 Corinthians 7:11 Or, abandon, divorce.
  8. 1 Corinthians 7:12 That is, this was not spoken of by the Lord, as was the last case.
  9. 1 Corinthians 7:14 Or, consecrated, made holy. Rather than the believer being defiled by the unbeliever (who is probably an idolater), the reverse is true.
  10. 1 Corinthians 7:14 Or, as-it-is. The children also are sanctified by the presence of the believer.
  11. 1 Corinthians 7:15 Or, by such ones. Or, in such cases.
  12. 1 Corinthians 7:17 That is, you are not enslaved... except that. Paul provides perspective. This is the general rule of Christian living of which the preceding is an exception.
  13. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Or, distributed, assigned.
  14. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Or, commanding, ordering.
  15. 1 Corinthians 7:18 Lit, pull-over the foreskin (a medical term). Do not hide your heritage.
  16. 1 Corinthians 7:21 That is, if also (while not being concerned about it, but serving the Lord)... the opportunity. Or, if indeed... your freedom. Or, even if... your present state; that is, do not wait to be free to serve Christ.
  17. 1 Corinthians 7:23 That is, sell yourselves as slaves; or, become slaves of the opinions of people regarding your status in life.
  18. 1 Corinthians 7:26 That is, being a virgin; remaining unmarried.
  19. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or, constraint, pressure, distress.
  20. 1 Corinthians 7:26 That is, unmarried. Or, as-follows.
  21. 1 Corinthians 7:27 That is, promised, betrothed, in an arrangement usually made between the parents, according to their custom; or, bound (in marriage) to a wife.
  22. 1 Corinthians 7:27 Or, unbinding, untying. That is, a release from your pledge, your commitment to marry; or, a release from your marriage, a divorce.
  23. 1 Corinthians 7:27 Or, unbound, untied. That is, released from your commitment to marry; or, released from your wife; unbound from your marriage by any circumstance.
  24. 1 Corinthians 7:28 That is, trying to spare you from the problems that will result due to the ‘present necessity’.
  25. 1 Corinthians 7:29 That is, the time remaining to serve Christ before you die or He comes is in a state of shortness.
  26. 1 Corinthians 7:30 Or, retaining.
  27. 1 Corinthians 7:31 Or, outward appearance.
  28. 1 Corinthians 7:34 The divided interests are not sinful, but can dilute and distract (v 35) a person’s service to the Lord.
  29. 1 Corinthians 7:34 That is, the widowed, divorced, or abandoned.
  30. 1 Corinthians 7:35 That is, that the unmarried should remain so.
  31. 1 Corinthians 7:35 Or, halter, restraint, choke-chain.
  32. 1 Corinthians 7:35 Or, service, attending.
  33. 1 Corinthians 7:36 That is, a father who must decide what to do with his daughter.
  34. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or, behaving improperly, disgracefully, indecently. That is, by not permitting his daughter to wed.
  35. 1 Corinthians 7:36 That is, she is of marriageable age.
  36. 1 Corinthians 7:36 That is, if the marriage is right and ought to take place, all things considered.
  37. 1 Corinthians 7:37 That is, believing it is best for his daughter to remain single.
  38. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Or, constraint, obligation, compulsion. That is, outside forces, including his daughter’s wishes, are not compelling the father to do otherwise.
  39. 1 Corinthians 7:37 That is, freedom to act as he thinks best in the case of his daughter.
  40. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Or, in relation to, with regard to.
  41. 1 Corinthians 7:37 That is, keep her in his household, keep her as she is.
  42. 1 Corinthians 7:37 That is, he is doing a good and commendable thing.
  43. 1 Corinthians 7:40 That is, unmarried.
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1 Corinthians 7
New International Version

Concerning Married Life

7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”(A) 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,(B) and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time,(C) so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan(D) will not tempt you(E) because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.(F) 7 I wish that all of you were as I am.(G) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.(H)

8 Now to the unmarried[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.(I) 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,(J) for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.(K) 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.(L) And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):(M) If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.(N)

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.(O) 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save(P) your husband?(Q) Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.(R) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.(S) 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.(T) 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.(U) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(V)

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;(W) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.(X) 23 You were bought at a price;(Y) do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(Z)

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,(AA) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy(AB) is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.(AC) 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.(AD) 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;(AE) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.(AF) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.(AG)

32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs(AH)—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.(AI) But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided(AJ) devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong[b] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.(AK) They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right,(AL) but he who does not marry her does better.[c]

39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.(AM) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.(AN) 40 In my judgment,(AO) she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:8 Or widowers
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years (or if her passions are too strong), and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
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