Teachings on Marriage
1 Now about the things you wrote me about; Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.
2 However, because of the temptation to sexual immorality, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.
4 The husband controls the wife's body, and the wife controls the husband's body.
5 Don't deny each other sexually, except with consent from your mate for a short time, so you can spend time in fasting and prayer; but then resume normal marital relations, so that Satan can't tempt you with a lack of self control.
6 Though, I say this only to give permission. It is not a commandment.
7 I would rather everyone were single like I am. But each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.
8 So, those who are unmarried and who have been widowed, it's good if you can stay single like me.
9 But if they do not have the self-control to be content with singleness, they should get married, because it is more noble to be married than to burn with passion.
10 To the married God (not I) says, "A wife should not leave her husband,
11 But and if she does separate from him, she must not remarry, or she must go back to her husband. And don't let a man divorce his wife.
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
12 Now, I want to talk to the single people, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.
13 And any woman who has an unbelieving husband who is happy to live with her, mus stay with him.
14 Because the believer brings holiness to their marriage; their spouse is purified by them. Without this holiness their children would be unclean, but with it they are set apart by God.
15 But if the unbelieving spouse wants a divorce, give it to him. A believer is not bound to the marriage in such cases, since God wants us to live in peace.
16 Because, how do you know? You might lead your unbelieving spouse to the Lord?
18 For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now.
19 Whether you are circumcised or not is not important. What is important is God's commandments.
20 So don't try to change what you were when God chose you.
21 If you are called to God while a servant, don't worry about it. But if you can become free, use it for God.
22 Remember, even if you are a slave when you begin believing in the Messiah, you are free in Him, and even if you are a free-man when you are called, you are the Messiah's slave.
23 God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.
24 Brothers, let everyone stay in their calling, living with God.
26 Because of the current crisis, I think it is good for everyone to stay as they are.
27 Are you married? Don't get a divorce. Are you single? Don't go looking to get married.
28 But it isn't a sin to marry, even for virgins. However, married people have extra troubles, so I want to spare you these problems.
Single Christians only have to worry about pleasing God, while the married also have to please their spouses, making life a bit more complicated, at least in Paul's eyes.
I disagree, to a point. If you are married to someone who is also seeking to please God it gives you a partner in your work, though I do see the freedom in being alone.
29 What I mean, brothers, is that time is limited. Those who are married should not only focus on their marriage.
30 Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions.
31 And those who deal with the world, don't be absorbed by it, because the world as it appears now is going away.
32 But I want you to be free from worry. Whoever is unmarried can focus on pleasing the Master, caring about His work.
33 But the married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how he can please his wife.
34 The same goes for women; the unmarried woman can focus on the Master's work, being pure in body and spirit. But the married woman has to be concerned with the things of the world, how to please her husband.
35 And I'm saying all this for your benefit, not to make things difficult for you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
36 However, if anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably towards his fiance, if she is no longer a child, and they will inevitably give in to their passion, let them go ahead and get married. It's not a sin.
37 But the man who has decided firmly not to marry, who is under no compulsion, and can control his passion, and has determined in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, does well not to marry.
38 So then, he that marries his fiance does a good thing, but he that decides to stay single does better.
39 The wife is bound to her husband by law as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants to as long as he also follows the Master.
40 But it seems to me she would be happier if she stays single, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
5 Don't deny each other sexually, except with consent from your mate for a short time, so you can spend time in fasting and prayer; but then resume normal marital relations, so that Satan can't tempt you with a lack of self control.
6 Though, I say this only to give permission. It is not a commandment.
7 I would rather everyone were single like I am. But each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.
8 So, those who are unmarried and who have been widowed, it's good if you can stay single like me.
9 But if they do not have the self-control to be content with singleness, they should get married, because it is more noble to be married than to burn with passion.
10 To the married God (not I) says, "A wife should not leave her husband,
11 But and if she does separate from him, she must not remarry, or she must go back to her husband. And don't let a man divorce his wife.
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
12 Now, I want to talk to the single people, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.
13 And any woman who has an unbelieving husband who is happy to live with her, mus stay with him.
14 Because the believer brings holiness to their marriage; their spouse is purified by them. Without this holiness their children would be unclean, but with it they are set apart by God.
15 But if the unbelieving spouse wants a divorce, give it to him. A believer is not bound to the marriage in such cases, since God wants us to live in peace.
16 Because, how do you know? You might lead your unbelieving spouse to the Lord?
Live According to Your Calling
17 Everyone should stay in the life they were in when God called them. This is the order to all the churches.18 For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now.
19 Whether you are circumcised or not is not important. What is important is God's commandments.
20 So don't try to change what you were when God chose you.
21 If you are called to God while a servant, don't worry about it. But if you can become free, use it for God.
22 Remember, even if you are a slave when you begin believing in the Messiah, you are free in Him, and even if you are a free-man when you are called, you are the Messiah's slave.
23 God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.
24 Brothers, let everyone stay in their calling, living with God.
Instructions to Unmarried and Widowed
25 Now about your questions about young women who have not yet married, I don't have any direct commands from the Master about them, but He has mercifully given me wisdom, so I'll share my opinion with you.26 Because of the current crisis, I think it is good for everyone to stay as they are.
27 Are you married? Don't get a divorce. Are you single? Don't go looking to get married.
28 But it isn't a sin to marry, even for virgins. However, married people have extra troubles, so I want to spare you these problems.
Single Christians only have to worry about pleasing God, while the married also have to please their spouses, making life a bit more complicated, at least in Paul's eyes.
I disagree, to a point. If you are married to someone who is also seeking to please God it gives you a partner in your work, though I do see the freedom in being alone.
29 What I mean, brothers, is that time is limited. Those who are married should not only focus on their marriage.
30 Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions.
31 And those who deal with the world, don't be absorbed by it, because the world as it appears now is going away.
32 But I want you to be free from worry. Whoever is unmarried can focus on pleasing the Master, caring about His work.
33 But the married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how he can please his wife.
34 The same goes for women; the unmarried woman can focus on the Master's work, being pure in body and spirit. But the married woman has to be concerned with the things of the world, how to please her husband.
35 And I'm saying all this for your benefit, not to make things difficult for you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
36 However, if anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably towards his fiance, if she is no longer a child, and they will inevitably give in to their passion, let them go ahead and get married. It's not a sin.
37 But the man who has decided firmly not to marry, who is under no compulsion, and can control his passion, and has determined in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, does well not to marry.
38 So then, he that marries his fiance does a good thing, but he that decides to stay single does better.
39 The wife is bound to her husband by law as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants to as long as he also follows the Master.
40 But it seems to me she would be happier if she stays single, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
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