1 Corinthians

Marriage and Celibacy

Now I will answer your questions. It is suitable for a man not to touch a woman.

But to avoid immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

Let the husband fulfill his duty as a husband, and the wife her duty as a wife.

The wife is not the owner of her own body; the husband is. Likewise, the husband is not the owner of his own body; the wife is.

Do not refuse each other, except by mutual consent and only for a short time, so you can pray. Then come back together, or you might fall into Satan’s trap through a lack of self-control.

This I say as a concession, not as a command.

I wish everyone were like me, but each person has a gift from God, some in one way and others differently.

To the unmarried and widows, I say that it is good for them to remain as I am.

But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry, because it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

I command married couples—not I, but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband.

If she does separate from him, let her not marry again or reconcile with her husband. Likewise, the husband should not divorce his wife.

To the others I say—not from the Lord, but from me—if a brother has a wife who is not a believer but agrees to live with him, he should not separate from her.

Likewise, if a woman has a husband who is not a believer but agrees to live with her, she should not separate from him.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife. The unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband who believes. Otherwise, your children would be unconnected to God, but as it is, they are consecrated to God.

Now, if the unbelieving husband or wife wants to separate, let them do so. In this case, the Christian partner is not bound because the Lord has called us to peace.

Besides, are you sure, wife, that you could save your husband? And you, husband, that you could save your wife?

Do Not Change Your Condition

Except for this, let each person continue living as he was when God called him, just as the Lord assigned his lot. This is what I command in all churches.

Let the Jewish person who is circumcised not remove the marks of circumcision when called by God, and let the non-Jew be uncircumcised when called.

For the important thing is not whether you are circumcised or not, but to keep the commandments of God.

Let each of you, therefore, stay in the position you were called by God.

If you were a slave when called, don’t worry; but if you have the chance to gain your freedom, take it.

For anyone called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as anyone called while free becomes a slave of Christ.

You have been bought at a great price; do not become slaves to a human being.

So then, brothers and sisters, keep living the way you were before God called you.

Marriage and Virginity

Regarding those who remain virgins, I have no direct command from the Lord, but I offer some advice in the hope that I am trustworthy through the Lord’s mercy.

I believe this is good during these difficult times we live in. It is beneficial for someone to stay as they are.

If you are married, do not try to divorce your wife; if you are not married, do not marry.

He who marries does not sin, nor does the young girl who marries. Yet they will face challenging experiences, and I would like to spare you from them.

I say this, brothers and sisters: time is running out, and those who are married must live as if they are not;

those who are weeping, as if they are not weeping; those who are rejoicing, as if they are not rejoicing; those who are buying, as if they do not own;

and those who deal with the world, as if they have no dealings with it. For the world in its present form is passing away.

I want you to be free from worries. He who is not married focuses on the things of the Lord and how to please him.

While he who is married is preoccupied with worldly matters and how to please his wife,

his interests are divided.Similarly, the unmarried woman and the virgin focus on serving the Lord, aiming to be holy in both body and spirit. In contrast, the married woman concerns herself with worldly affairs and pleasing her husband.

I say this for your own good. I don’t want to set traps for you but to guide you toward a beautiful life, fully connected with the Lord.

If anyone realizes that he will not behave properly with his fiancée because of the intensity of his passion, and understands that things should follow their natural course, let him marry; he does not sin.

But if another man with a stronger will believes he can control his passion and chooses not to marry so his fiancée can remain a virgin, he does better.

So then, he who marries does well, and the one who does not marry her does better.

The wife is bound as long as her husband is alive. If he dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as she does so in the Christian way.

However, she will be happier if, following my advice, she remains as she is, and I believe that I also have the Spirit of God.