1 Corinthians 7:12-16
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
12 To the rest[a] I say (not the Lord): if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to go on living with him, he should not divorce her; 13 and if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to go on living with her, she should not divorce her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, whereas in fact they are holy.(A)
15 If the unbeliever separates,[b] however, let him separate. The brother or sister is not bound in such cases; God has called you to 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?
The Life That the Lord Has Assigned.[c]
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- 7:12–14 To the rest: marriages in which only one partner is a baptized Christian. Jesus’ prohibition against divorce is not addressed to them, but Paul extends the principle of nonseparation to such unions, provided they are marked by peacefulness and shared sanctification.
- 7:15–16 If the unbeliever separates: the basis of the “Pauline privilege” in Catholic marriage legislation.
- 7:17–24 On the ground that distinct human conditions are less significant than the whole new existence opened up by God’s call, Paul urges them to be less concerned with changing their states of life than with answering God’s call where it finds them. The principle applies both to the married state (1 Cor 7:1–16) and to the unmarried (1 Cor 7:25–38).
Ephesians 5:22-24
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.(A) 23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body.(B) 24 As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
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Colossians 3:18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
The Christian Family. 18 [a]Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.(A)
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- 3:18–4:6 After general recommendations that connect family life and the social condition of slavery with the service of Christ (Col 3:18–4:1), Paul requests prayers for himself, especially in view of his imprisonment (Col 3:2–3), and recommends friendly relations and meaningful discussions of Christian teaching with outsiders, i.e., non-Christians (Col 3:5–6). See note on Eph 5:21–6:9.
1 Timothy 2:9-15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
9 Similarly, [too,] women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes,(A) 10 but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds.(B) 11 A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control.(C) 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.[a] She must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.(D) 14 Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.(E) 15 But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.(F)
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- 2:12 A man: this could also mean “her husband.”
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.