¹¹ He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven^(A) has been given to you,^(B) but not to them.

⁷ I wish that all of you were as I am.^(A) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.^(B)

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

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.^(A) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.^(B)