Chapter 7

Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for man not to touch woman.

Yet, for fear of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

Let the husband render to the wife her due, and likewise the wife to the husband.

The wife has not authority over her body, but the husband; the husband likewise has not authority over his body, but the wife.

Do not deprived each other, except perhaps by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again lest Satan tempt you because you lack self-control.

But this I say by way of concession, not by way of commandment.

For I would that you all were as I am myself; but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that. Advice to the Unmarried

But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they so remain, even as I.

But if they do not have self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.

But to those who are married, not I, but the Lord commands that a wife is not to depart from her husband,

and if she departs, that she is to remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And let not a husband put away his wife. Obligation of the Believing Spouse

To the others I say, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to live with him, let him not put her away.

And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, let her not put away her husband.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but, as it is, they are holy.

But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.

For how dost thou know, O wife, whether thou wilt save thy husband? Or how dost thou know, O husband, whether thou wilt save thy wife? No Change to Be Sought

Only, as the Lord has allotted to each, as when God has called each, so let him walk---and so I teach in all the churches.

Was one called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was one called being uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

Circumcision does not matter, and uncircumcision does not matter; but the keeping of the commandments of God is what matters.

Let every man remain in the calling in which he was called.

Wast thou a slave when called? Let it not trouble thee. But if thou canst become free, make use of it rather.

For a slave who has been called in the Lord, is a freeman of the Lord; just as a freeman who has been called is a slave of Christ.

You have been bought with a price; do not become the slaves of men.

Brethren, in the state in which he was when called, let every man remain with God. The State of Virginity

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give an opinion, as one having obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

I think, then, that this is good on account of the present distress---that it is good for a man to remain as he is.

Art thou bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Art thou freed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

But if thou takest a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you that.

But this I say, brethren, the time is short; it remains that those who have wives be as if they had none;

and those who weep, as though not weeping; and those who rejoice, as though not rejoicing; and those who buy, as though not possessing;

and those who use this world, as though not using it, for this world as we see it is passing away.

I would have you free from care. He who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please God.

Whereas he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife; and he is divided.

And the unmarried woman, and the virgin, thinks about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and in spirit. Whereas she who is married thinks about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Now this I say for your benefit, not to hold you in check, but to promote what is proper, and to make it possible for you to pray to the Lord without distraction. Duty of Father to Virgin Daughter

But if any man thinks that he incurs disgrace with regard to his virgin, since she is over age, and that it ought so to be done, let him do what he will; he does not sin if she should marry.

But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but is free to carry out his own will, and has decided to keep his virgin---he does well.

Therefore both he who gives his virgin in marriage does well, and he who does not give her does better. Widows

A woman is bound as long as her husband is alive, but if her husband dies, she is free. Let her marry whom she pleases, only let it be in the Lord.

But she will be more blessed, in my judgment, if she remains as she is. And I think that I also have the spirit of God.