Faithfulness Whether Single or Married
1 Corinthians 7Now concerning what y’all wrote about: “It is excellent for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own woman, and let each woman have her own man. The man must give what is owed to the woman, and likewise also the woman to the man. The woman doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the man does. Similarly, the man doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the woman does. Y’all must not deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, so that y’all may devote yourselves* to prayer. Then y’all must come together again, so that Satan doesn’t tempt y’all through your* lack of self-control.
But this I say as a concession, not as a commandment. Yet I wish that all humans were as I am. However, each person has their own gift from God, one has this, another that. But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is excellent for them if they remain as I am. But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. But to the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord) that the woman not leave her man. But if she leaves, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her man. And a man must not divorce his woman.
But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving woman, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has an unbelieving man, and he consents to live with her, let her not divorce the man. For the unbelieving man is sanctified through the woman, and the unbelieving woman is sanctified through the brother. Otherwise y’all’s children would be unclean, but now they are holy. Yet if the unbeliever leaves, let them leave. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but in peace God has called y’all. For how do you know, woman, whether you will save your man? Or how do you know, man, whether you will save your woman?
Contentment in the Current Situation
Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each person and as God has called them, so they should walk. This is how I direct all the churches.
Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called? He should not get circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments. Let each person stay in the calling in which they were called. Were you called while a slave? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, you should take it. For the one who was called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freed person. Likewise the one who was called being free is Christ’s slave. Y’all were bought with a price. Y’all must not become slaves of humans. Siblings, let each person, in whatever condition they were called, stay in that condition with God.
Concerning Singleness
Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. Therefore I think that because of the present distress, it is excellent for a man to remain as he is. Are you bound to a woman? Don’t seek to be released. Are you free from a woman? Don’t seek a woman. But if you get married, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have pressures in life, and I want to spare y’all. But I say this, siblings, the time is short. From now on, those who have women should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t own anything; and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world is passing away.
But I want y’all to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he can please the Lord; but the married man is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his woman, and he is divided. A virgin or a single woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman cares about the things of the world, how she may please her man. I am saying this for y’all’s own benefit, not to restrict y’all, but toward an honorable devotion to the Lord that is without distraction.
But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth, and it seems necessary, let him do as he wishes. He doesn’t sin. Let them get married. But he who stands steadfast in his heart, and is under no distress but has authority over his own will, and who has determined in his own heart to keep her as a virgin, does well. Therefore he who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who doesn’t marry does better.
A woman is bound as long as her man lives, but if the man dies, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, only in the Lord. But in my opinion, she is happier if she stays as she is, and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.