On Marriage
7[1-7] Now about the things in which you wrote to me: It’s good for someone not to be sexually active. But even so, to avoid sexual sin, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband give to the wife what is rightfully due her: and the same also the wife to the husband. The wife doesn’t have complete control of her own body, but the husband shares it: and the same also the husband doesn’t have complete control of his own body, but the wife shares it. So don’t cheat one another out of affection, unless it be with agreement for a specific time, so that you can willingly going without and pray; then come together again, so that Satan doesn’t tempt you for your lack of faithfulness. I give you permission for this, but I don’t command it. I wish that everyone were just like I am. But everyone has their own gift of God, one person has one gift, and someone else has another gift.
Live as You are Called
[8-24] So I say to the unmarried, the widows, and the widowers, it’s good for them if they can live without being sexually active just as I do. But if they can’t control themselves, let them marry again because it’s better to marry than to be continually be tempted with sexual immorality. And I say to the married, still not I, but God, the wife shouldn’t leave her husband: But if she must leave, let her stay separated, or make up with her own husband: and the husband shouldn’t divorce his wife. But to the rest, and this is what I think, but it’s not God’s command: If any Christian man has a wife that doesn’t believe, and she is pleased to live with him, he shouldn’t divorce her. And the Christian woman has a husband that doesn’t believe, and that is pleased to live with her, let her not leave him. Because the unbelieving husband is set apart by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart by the husband: or else your children would be ungodly; but now they’re blessed. But if the unbeliever leaves, let them leave. A Christian brother or sister isn’t trapped in such cases: but God has called us to be in peace. And How do you know, wife, whether you’ll save your husband? Or how do you know, husband , whether you’ll save your wife? But use the gifts that God has given to each one, and stay just as you were called by God. And I ordain this in all the churches. If someone is called in a higher social standing, don’t let them seek lower social standing. If someone is called in a lower social standing, then don’t let them seek a higher social standing. What situation you are in is unimportant, but the keeping of the Words of God is what is truly important. Let everyone live the same way they were called. Are you called being a hired worker? Don’t worry about it: but if you can become free to do your own business, then take the chance to do that instead. Because whoever is called in God, being a worker, is free in God: and in the same way also, whoever is called, being free, is Christ's worker. You’re bought with a price; so don’t work for what ungodly people want. Christians, let everyone else live in God just as they were called.
On the Unmarried and the Widows
[25-40] Now about those who have never been sexually active, I have no Word of God: but still I give my judgment, as one that has found the mercy of God to be faithful. I suppose that this is good for the present problem, I say that it’s good for someone to be a one who has never been sexually active. Are you married? Don’t look to be separated. Are you separated from a spouse? Don’t look for a spouse. But if you do marry, you haven’t sinned; and if those who have never been sexually active get married, they haven’t sinned. Even so they’ll have trouble in the physical realm: but I would like to spare them that. But I say this, Christians, the time left is short: so those who have spouses should be as though they didn’t have one; And those who cry, as though they didn’t cry; and those who celebrate, as though they didn’t celebrate; and those who buy, as though they didn’t have anything; And those who use this world, as not abusing it, because the way of this world is coming to an end. But I wouldn’t have you worry. Whoever is unmarried cares for the things that concern God, and how they can please God: But whoever is married cares for the things that are of the world, and how they can please their spouses. There’s difference also between a spouse and one who has never been sexually active. The unmarried cares for the things of God, so that they can be holy both in body and in spirit: but whoever is married cares for the things of the world, how they can please their spouses. And this I speak for your own good; not that I want to limit you, but for what is acceptable, and so that you can serve God without being pulled in two directions at once. But if anyone thinks that they behaved unwisely toward their promised one, if their youth is passing them by, and their needs demand it, then let them do whatever they have vowed in their heart. But if they can keep the one who has never been sexually active pure, they do well. So then whoever gives themselves in marriage does well; but whoever doesn’t give themselves in marriage does better. A spouse is bound by law as long as the other spouse lives; but if one spouse dies, the other is free to be married to whoever they want; as long as they are both Christians. But they’ll be happier if they live as I have said: and I think that I do have the Spirit of God.
