1 Corinthians 7:1-22 ▼

1 NOW concerning the things which you wrote to me: It is proper for a husband not to have intimacy with his wife at times.

2 Nevertheless, because of the danger of immorality, let every man cling to his own wife, and let every woman cling to her own husband.

3 Let the husband give to his wife the love which he owes her; and likewise also the wife to her husband.

4 The wife has no authority over her own body, but her husband; and likewise also the husband has no authority over his own body, but his wife.

5 Therefore do not deprive one another except when both of you consent to do so, especially at the time when you devote yourselves to fasting and prayer; and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your physical passion.

6 But I say this only to weak persons, for it is not part of the law.

7 For I would that all men were like myself in purity. But every man has his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 I say this to those who have no wives and to widows, It is better for them to be as I am;

9 But if they cannot endure it, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 But those who have wives, I command, yet not I, but my LORD, Let not the wife be separated from her husband;

11 But if she separate, let her remain single, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband desert his wife.

12 But to the rest, I say this, not my LORD: If any brother has a wife who is not a convert, and she wishes to live with him, let him not leave her.

13 And the woman who has a husband who is not a convert but is content to live with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the husband who is not a convert is sanctified through the wife who is a convert, and the wife who is not a convert is sanctified through the husband who is a convert; otherwise, their children would be impure, but in such cases they are pure.

15 But if the one who is not a convert wishes to separate, let him separate. In such cases, a convert man or woman is free; for God has called us to live in peace.

16 For how do you know, O wife, that you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, that you shall save your wife?

17 But every man, according as the LORD has distributed to him, and every man, as God has called him, so let him walk. And this I command also for all the churches.

18 If a man was circumcised when he was called, let him not adhere to the party of uncircumcision. And if he was uncircumcised, when he was called, let him not be circumcised.

19 For circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the LORD’s commandments is everything.

20 Let every man remain in the station of life in which he is called.

21 If you were a slave when you were called, do not feel concerned about it; but even though you can be made free, choose rather to serve.

22 For he who is called by our LORD, being a slave, is God’s free man; likewise he who is called, being a freeman, is also Christ’s servant.