1 Corinthians 7
7
Teaching on Marriage
1Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man #7:1 Prob. referring to abstinencenot to touch a woman. 2But because of sexual immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise the wife also to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise the husband also does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5#7:5 Or do not depriveStop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and #7:5 Lit become together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6But this I say by way of concession, not of command. 7#7:7 One early ms ForYet I wish that all #7:7 Or peoplemen were even as I myself am. However, each has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.
8But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife is not to leave her husband 11(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to #7:11 Or leave his wifedivorce his wife.
12But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he must not #7:12 Or leave herdivorce her. 13And #7:13 One early ms any woman who hasif any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not #7:13 Or leave her husbanddivorce her husband. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through #7:14 Lit the brotherher believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. 15Yet if the unbelieving one is leaving, #7:15 Or then he must leavelet him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called #7:15 One early ms youus in peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this way let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. 18Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. 20Each person is to remain in that #7:20 Lit callingstate in which he was called.
21Were you called as a slave? Do not let it concern you. But if you are also able to become free, take advantage of that. 22For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave, is the Lord’s freed person; likewise the one who was called as free, is Christ’s slave. 23You were bought for a price; do not become slaves of people. 24Brothers and sisters, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
25Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who #7:25 Lit has been shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthyby the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26I think, then, that this is good in view of the #7:26 Or impendingpresent distress, that it is good for a man #7:26 Lit so to beto remain as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people as yourselves will have #7:28 Lit tribulation in the fleshtrouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29But this I say, brothers, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the present form of this world is passing away.
32But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but #7:35 Lit for what is seemlyto promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.
36But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is #7:36 Or past pubertypast her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let #7:36 I.e., the woman and her betrothed or fiancéthem marry. 37But the one who stands firm in his heart, #7:37 Lit having no necessityif he is not under constraint, but has authority #7:37 Lit pertaining toover his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. 38So then, both the one who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and the one who does not give her in marriage will do better.
39A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband #7:39 Lit falls asleepdies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40But in my opinion she is #7:40 Or more fortunatehappier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
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1 Corinthians 7: NASB2020
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1 Corinthians 7
7
Advice about Marriage
1Now, concerning the things that you wrote about: It’s good for men not to get married. 2But in order to avoid sexual sins, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.
3Husbands and wives should satisfy each other’s ⌞sexual⌟ needs. 4A wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but his wife does.
5Don’t withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together so that Satan doesn’t use your lack of self-control to tempt you. 6What I have just said is not meant as a command but as a suggestion. 7I would like everyone to be like me. However, each person has a special gift from God, and these gifts vary from person to person.
8I say to those who are not married, especially to widows: It is good for you to stay single like me. 9However, if you cannot control your desires, you should get married. It is better for you to marry than to burn ⌞with sexual desire⌟.
10I pass this command along (not really I, but the Lord): A wife shouldn’t leave her husband. 11If she does, she should stay single or make up with her husband. Likewise, a husband should not divorce his wife.
12I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If any Christian man is married to a woman who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13If any Christian woman is married to a man who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce her husband. 14Actually, the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and an unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise, their children would be unacceptable ⌞to God⌟, but now they are acceptable to him. 15But if the unbelieving partners leave, let them go. Under these circumstances a Christian man or Christian woman is not bound ⌞by a marriage vow⌟. God has called you to live in peace. 16How do you as a wife know whether you will save your husband? How do you as a husband know whether you will save your wife?
17Everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him when God called him. This is the guideline I use in every church.
18Any man who was already circumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t undo his circumcision. Any man who was uncircumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t get circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and the lack of it is nothing. But keeping what God commands is everything. 20All people should stay as they were when they were called. 21Were you a slave when you were called? That shouldn’t bother you. However, if you have a chance to become free, take it. 22If the Lord called you when you were a slave, you are the Lord’s free person. In the same way, if you were free when you were called, you are Christ’s slave. 23You were bought for a price. Don’t become anyone’s slaves. 24Brothers and sisters, you should remain in whatever circumstances you were in when God called you. God is with you in those circumstances.
25Concerning virgins: Even though I don’t have any command from the Lord, I’ll give you my opinion. I’m a person to whom the Lord has shown mercy, so I can be trusted. 26Because of the present crisis I believe it is good for people to remain as they are. 27Do you have a wife? Don’t seek a divorce. Are you divorced from your wife? Don’t look for another one. 28But if you do get married, you have not sinned. If a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. However, these people will have trouble, and I would like to spare them from that.
29This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time has been shortened. While it lasts, those who are married should live as though they were not. 30Those who have eyes filled with tears should live as though they have no sorrow. Those who are happy should live as though there was nothing to be happy about. Those who buy something should live as though they didn’t own it. 31Those who use the things in this world should do so but not depend on them. It is clear that this world in its present form is passing away.
32So I don’t want you to have any concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, ⌞that is,⌟ about how he can please the Lord. 33But the married man is concerned about earthly things, ⌞that is,⌟ about how he can please his wife. 34His attention is divided.
An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s things so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about earthly things, ⌞that is,⌟ about how she can please her husband. 35I’m saying this for your benefit, not to restrict you. I’m showing you how to live a noble life of devotion to the Lord without being distracted by other things.
36No father would want to do the wrong thing when his virgin daughter is old enough to get married. If she wants to get married, he isn’t sinning by letting her get married. 37However, a father may have come to a decision about his daughter. If his decision is to keep her ⌞at home⌟ because she doesn’t want to get married, that’s fine. 38So it’s fine for a father to give his daughter in marriage, but the father who doesn’t give his daughter in marriage does even better.
39A married woman must remain with her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if the man is a Christian.#7:39 Or “only as the Lord guides her.” 40However, she will be more blessed if she stays as she is. That is my opinion, and I think that I, too, have God’s Spirit.
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