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Advice about Marriage

Now, concerning the things that you wrote about: It’s good for men not to get married. But in order to avoid sexual sins, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

Husbands and wives should satisfy each other’s ⌞sexual⌟ needs. A wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

Don’t withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together so that Satan doesn’t use your lack of self-control to tempt you. What I have just said is not meant as a command but as a suggestion. I would like everyone to be like me. However, each person has a special gift from God, and these gifts vary from person to person.

I say to those who are not married, especially to widows: It is good for you to stay single like me. However, if you cannot control your desires, you should get married. It is better for you to marry than to burn ⌞with sexual desire⌟.

10 I pass this command along (not really I, but the Lord): A wife shouldn’t leave her husband. 11 If she does, she should stay single or make up with her husband. Likewise, a husband should not divorce his wife.

12 I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If any Christian man is married to a woman who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any Christian woman is married to a man who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce her husband. 14 Actually, the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and an unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise, their children would be unacceptable ⌞to God⌟, but now they are acceptable to him. 15 But if the unbelieving partners leave, let them go. Under these circumstances a Christian man or Christian woman is not bound ⌞by a marriage vow⌟. God has called you to live in peace. 16 How do you as a wife know whether you will save your husband? How do you as a husband know whether you will save your wife?

17 Everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him when God called him. This is the guideline I use in every church.

18 Any man who was already circumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t undo his circumcision. Any man who was uncircumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t get circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and the lack of it is nothing. But keeping what God commands is everything. 20 All people should stay as they were when they were called. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? That shouldn’t bother you. However, if you have a chance to become free, take it. 22 If the Lord called you when you were a slave, you are the Lord’s free person. In the same way, if you were free when you were called, you are Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought for a price. Don’t become anyone’s slaves. 24 Brothers and sisters, you should remain in whatever circumstances you were in when God called you. God is with you in those circumstances.

25 Concerning virgins: Even though I don’t have any command from the Lord, I’ll give you my opinion. I’m a person to whom the Lord has shown mercy, so I can be trusted. 26 Because of the present crisis I believe it is good for people to remain as they are. 27 Do you have a wife? Don’t seek a divorce. Are you divorced from your wife? Don’t look for another one. 28 But if you do get married, you have not sinned. If a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. However, these people will have trouble, and I would like to spare them from that.

29 This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time has been shortened. While it lasts, those who are married should live as though they were not. 30 Those who have eyes filled with tears should live as though they have no sorrow. Those who are happy should live as though there was nothing to be happy about. Those who buy something should live as though they didn’t own it. 31 Those who use the things in this world should do so but not depend on them. It is clear that this world in its present form is passing away.

32 So I don’t want you to have any concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, ⌞that is,⌟ about how he can please the Lord. 33 But the married man is concerned about earthly things, ⌞that is,⌟ about how he can please his wife. 34 His attention is divided.

An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s things so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about earthly things, ⌞that is,⌟ about how she can please her husband. 35 I’m saying this for your benefit, not to restrict you. I’m showing you how to live a noble life of devotion to the Lord without being distracted by other things.

36 No father would want to do the wrong thing when his virgin daughter is old enough to get married. If she wants to get married, he isn’t sinning by letting her get married. 37 However, a father may have come to a decision about his daughter. If his decision is to keep her ⌞at home⌟ because she doesn’t want to get married, that’s fine. 38 So it’s fine for a father to give his daughter in marriage, but the father who doesn’t give his daughter in marriage does even better.

39 A married woman must remain with her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if the man is a Christian.[a] 40 However, she will be more blessed if she stays as she is. That is my opinion, and I think that I, too, have God’s Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. 7:39 Or “only as the Lord guides her.”

Salvation is a costly proposition. You and your body belong to God, so use your body for the work of God, not for selfish pursuits.

Now to the topics you raised in your last letter. Some have said, “It is better for a man to abstain from having sex with his wife.” Well, I disagree. Because of our tendency to embrace immoralities, each man should feel free to join together in sexual intimacy with his own wife, and each woman should join with her own husband. Husbands and wives have reciprocal duties. Each husband has the responsibility to meet his wife’s sexual desires, and each wife should do the same for her husband. In marriage neither the husband nor the wife should act as if his or her body is private property—your bodies now belong to one another, and together they are whole. So do not withhold sex from one another, unless both of you have agreed to devote a certain period of time to prayer. When the agreed time is over, come together again so that Satan will not tempt you when you are short on self-control. I am trying to encourage you and give you some wise counsel, so don’t take this advice as a command. I wish that all of you could live as I do, unmarried. But the truth is all people are different, each gifted by God in various and dissimilar ways.

Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians about marriage stands in contrast to the message in Genesis 2, where God declares that it is not good to be alone. There He sculpts woman from the rib of the man: she was molded so that man and woman fit perfectly together. And God blesses marriage as a good and beautiful thing.

So is Paul contradicting the declaration of the Creator God when he suggests that it might be better for some people to choose an unmarried life? Absolutely not! Marriage is a sacred union, but it is possible that many will be able to serve God more fully if they do not have the limitations that come with marriage and family. Paul shares his advice humbly based on his own experience. The tension between the beauty of marriage and the freedom from marital obligations is one we should all explore. As we come to our own conclusions, we must also carry them humbly, remembering that one is not better than the other.

To those who are unmarried or widowed, here’s my advice: it is a good thing to stay single as I do. If they do not have self-control, they should go ahead and get married. It is much better to marry than to be obsessed by sexual urges.

10 To those who are married, here’s my command (to be clear, this isn’t merely my opinion; it comes from the teaching of the Lord Jesus): it is not right for a wife to leave her husband. 11 If she does, she must either remain single or reconcile with her husband, but she should not marry someone else. Likewise, the husband should not divorce his wife.

12-13 To everyone else, here’s my counsel (this is not a direct command from the Lord; it is my opinion): if a brother has a wife who does not believe Jesus’ teachings and the truth of His resurrection, he is to stay with her as long as she is willing to live with him. The same is true for any sister; you should not leave your husband even if he has no allegiance to Jesus. 14 Here’s the reason: An unbelieving husband is consecrated by that union—touched by the grace of God through his believing wife—and the same is true when the husband is a man of faith and he’s wed to an unbelieving wife. His wife is consecrated through their union. If this weren’t so, your children wouldn’t be pure; but as it is when faith enters in, God sets apart these children to be used uniquely for His purposes. 15 If the unbelieving spouse decides the marriage is over, then let him or her go; the believing partner is freed from the marital vows because God has called you to peace. 16 Remember that anything is possible, so the life you lead and the love you show under this strain may be what finally liberates your partner.

17 So here is my instruction to all the churches: each must live with the gifts the Lord Jesus grants you and with the call God offers you. 18 When you heard the voice of Jesus, what were your circumstances? Were you living as a circumcised Jew? If so, then don’t try to undo your circumcision. Were you living as if you were an uncircumcised outsider? If so, you don’t need to become a Jew. 19 You see, whether you are circumcised or not—these outward signs aren’t the issue—the way you live out the commands of God is what really matters. 20 It is important for all people to live out faith in the circumstances they know.

The call to faith is not a call to abandon your life, family, neighborhood, and culture. We must play with the hand God deals us, not look for a new deck. He works through faith to redeem broken lives and wasted years, not to provide a change of scenery. Even in the worst circumstances, faith can change the believer from the inside.

21 Did you hear God’s voice while you were a slave? Don’t be concerned. (But if the opportunity comes to gain your freedom, then take it.) 22 For the slave who hears the Lord’s call is set free to belong to the Lord. In the same way, the so-called free person is called to become a slave of the Anointed One. 23 A high price has been paid for your freedom, so don’t devalue God’s investment by becoming a slave to people. 24 My brothers and sisters, each of you should remain in whatever external circumstances you were in when God called you.

25 Now when it comes to unmarried young women, I do not have a command from our Lord. The best I can do is to give you my advice as a trustworthy brother who knows the Lord’s mercy well. 26 Because of the challenging times we live in, I think the best plan is to stay as you are. 27 If you are married, don’t divorce. If you are single, there is no need to get married. 28 But if you decide to get married, this is not a sin; there is nothing wrong with a young woman taking a husband, but know that marriage is not easy and those who marry will face hard times. I am only trying to protect you. 29 But hear what I say, brothers and sisters: the time is short and growing shorter. So for the time remaining, even if you have wives, live with the undivided focus of those who do not have them. 30 Those who cry should live as those who have no tears. Those who rejoice should live as those who have no pleasure. Those who buy things should live as those who do not possess anything. 31 If you make use of this rebellious and broken world, live as if you have no use for it—because the form of this world is fading away.

32 My primary desire is for you to be free from the worries that plague humanity. A single man can focus on the things of the Lord and how to please the Lord, 33 but a married man has to worry about the details of the here and now and how to please his wife. 34 A married man will always have divided loyalties. The same idea is true for a young unmarried woman. She concerns herself only with the work of the Lord and how to dedicate herself entirely, body and spirit, to her Lord. On the other hand, a married woman has vast responsibilities for her family and a desire to please her husband. 35 I am not trying to give you more rules and regulations. I only want to give you advice that is fitting and helpful. I want to help you live lives of faithful devotion to the Lord without any distraction.

36 But I have this advice for every single man: If anyone thinks he is behaving badly toward his fiancée, if his desires prove to be too much for him, and if he feels they ought to marry, then he should do what he wants; it is not wrong to marry her. It is better that we let men and women in this situation do as they wish and get married. 37 If a man has no compulsion and chooses not to marry his fiancée, but commits himself to live a celibate life for the sake of following God and has the strength to live out his conviction, then he is doing a good thing. 38 So those who marry do a good thing, and they will share in a holy blessing; those who do not marry do an even better thing because they are part of an even greater blessing in the service of God.

39 A wife should stay by her husband’s side all of his life. But if he dies, she is free to marry any man she wishes as long as it is in the Lord. 40 You can likely guess that in my opinion this woman would be better off to remain single, and I think that I have this insight from God’s Spirit.

Teaching on Marriage

Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is (A)good for a man [a]not to touch a woman. But because of sexual immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise the wife also to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise the husband also does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. [b](B)Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and [c]come together again so that (C)Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But this I say by way of concession, (D)not of command. [d]Yet I wish that all [e]men were (E)even as I myself am. However, (F)each has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.

But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is (G)good for them if they remain (H)even as I. But if they do not have self-control, (I)let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 But to the married I give instructions, (J)not I, but the Lord, that the wife is not to leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to [f]divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest (K)I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he must not [g]divorce her. 13 And [h]if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not [i]divorce her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through [j]her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are (L)holy. 15 Yet if the unbelieving one is leaving, [k]let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called [l]us (M)in peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will (N)save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Only, (O)as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this way let him walk. And (P)so I direct in (Q)all the churches. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? (R)He is not to be circumcised. 19 (S)Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is (T)the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 (U)Each person is to remain in that [m]state in which he was called.

21 Were you called as a slave? Do not let it concern you. But if you are also able to become free, take advantage of that. 22 For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave, is (V)the Lord’s freed person; likewise the one who was called as free, is (W)Christ’s slave. 23 (X)You were bought for a price; do not become slaves of people. 24 Brothers and sisters, (Y)each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

25 Now concerning virgins, I have (Z)no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who [n](AA)by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think, then, that this is good in view of the [o]present (AB)distress, that (AC)it is good for a man [p]to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people as yourselves will have [q]trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29 But this I say, brothers, (AD)the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not (AE)make full use of it; for (AF)the present form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is (AG)unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but [r]to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36 But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is [s]past her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let [t]them marry. 37 But the one who stands firm in his heart, [u]if he is not under constraint, but has authority [v]over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. 38 So then, both the one who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and the one who does not give her in marriage will do better.

39 (AH)A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband [w]dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only (AI)in the Lord. 40 But (AJ)in my opinion she is [x]happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Prob. referring to abstinence
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Or do not deprive
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Lit be
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:7 One early ms For
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:7 Or people
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:11 Or leave his wife
  7. 1 Corinthians 7:12 Or leave her
  8. 1 Corinthians 7:13 One early ms any woman who has
  9. 1 Corinthians 7:13 Or leave her husband
  10. 1 Corinthians 7:14 Lit the brother
  11. 1 Corinthians 7:15 Or then he must leave
  12. 1 Corinthians 7:15 One early ms you
  13. 1 Corinthians 7:20 Lit calling
  14. 1 Corinthians 7:25 Lit has been shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy
  15. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or impending
  16. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Lit so to be
  17. 1 Corinthians 7:28 Lit tribulation in the flesh
  18. 1 Corinthians 7:35 Lit for what is seemly
  19. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or past puberty
  20. 1 Corinthians 7:36 I.e., the woman and her betrothed or fiancé
  21. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Lit having no necessity
  22. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Lit pertaining to
  23. 1 Corinthians 7:39 Lit falls asleep
  24. 1 Corinthians 7:40 Or more fortunate

Respuestas acerca del matrimonio

En cuanto a las cosas de que me escribieron, bueno es para el hombre(A) no tocar mujer. No obstante, por razón de las inmoralidades, que cada uno tenga su propia mujer, y cada una tenga su propio marido. Que el marido cumpla su deber para con su mujer, e igualmente la mujer lo cumpla con el marido. La mujer no tiene autoridad sobre su propio cuerpo, sino el marido. Y asimismo el marido no tiene autoridad sobre su propio cuerpo, sino la mujer.

No se priven el uno del otro(B), excepto de común acuerdo y por cierto[a] tiempo, para dedicarse a la oración. Vuelvan después a juntarse[b], a fin de que Satanás(C) no los tiente por causa de falta de dominio propio. Pero esto lo digo por vía de concesión, no como una orden(D). Sin embargo, yo desearía que todos los hombres fueran como yo(E). No obstante, cada cual ha recibido[c] de Dios su propio don(F), unos de una manera y otros de otra.

A los solteros y a las viudas digo que es bueno para ellos(G) si se quedan como yo(H). Pero si carecen de dominio propio, cásense(I). Que mejor es casarse que quemarse.

10 A los casados instruyo, no yo, sino el Señor(J): que la mujer no debe dejar al[d] marido. 11 Pero si lo deja, quédese sin casar, o de lo contrario que se reconcilie con su marido, y que el marido no abandone a su mujer.

12 Pero a los demás digo yo, no el Señor(K), que si un hermano tiene una mujer que no es creyente, y ella consiente en vivir con él, no la abandone. 13 Y la mujer cuyo marido no es creyente, y él consiente en vivir con ella, no abandone a su marido. 14 Porque el marido que no es creyente es santificado por medio de su mujer; y la mujer que no es creyente es santificada por medio de su marido creyente[e]. De otra manera sus hijos serían inmundos, pero ahora son santos(L). 15 Sin embargo, si el que no es creyente se separa, que se separe. En tales casos el hermano o la hermana no están obligados[f], sino que Dios nos[g] ha llamado para vivir en paz(M). 16 Pues ¿cómo sabes tú, mujer, si salvarás a tu marido? ¿O cómo sabes tú, marido, si salvarás a tu mujer(N)?

Anden en la voluntad de Dios

17 Fuera de esto[h], según el Señor ha asignado a cada uno(O), según Dios llamó a cada cual, así ande. Esto ordeno en todas las iglesias(P). 18 ¿Fue llamado alguno ya circuncidado? Quédese circuncidado[i]. ¿Fue llamado alguien estando incircuncidado[j]? No se circuncide(Q). 19 La circuncisión nada es, y nada es la incircuncisión(R), sino el guardar los mandamientos de Dios(S). 20 Cada uno permanezca en la condición[k] en que fue llamado(T).

21 ¿Fuiste llamado siendo esclavo? No te preocupes. Aunque si puedes obtener tu libertad[l], prefiérelo[m]. 22 Porque el que fue llamado por[n] el Señor siendo esclavo, hombre libre es del Señor(U). De la misma manera, el que fue llamado siendo libre, esclavo es de Cristo(V). 23 Ustedes fueron comprados por precio(W). No se hagan esclavos de los hombres. 24 Hermanos, cada uno permanezca con Dios en la condición[o] en que fue llamado(X).

Sobre casarse o no casarse

25 En cuanto a las vírgenes[p] no tengo mandamiento del Señor(Y), pero doy mi opinión como el que habiendo recibido la misericordia del Señor(Z) es digno de confianza. 26 Creo, pues, que esto es bueno en vista de la presente[q] aflicción(AA); es decir, que es bueno que el hombre(AB) se quede como está[r]. 27 ¿Estás unido[s] a mujer? No procures separarte[t]. ¿Estás libre de mujer? No busques mujer. 28 Y si te casas, no has pecado; y si una virgen se casa, no ha pecado. Sin embargo, ellos[u] tendrán problemas en esta vida[v], y yo quiero evitárselos.

29 Pero esto digo, hermanos: el tiempo ha sido acortado(AC); de modo que de ahora en adelante los que tienen mujer sean como si no la tuvieran; 30 los que lloran, como si no lloraran; los que se regocijan, como si no se regocijaran; los que compran, como si no tuvieran nada; 31 los que aprovechan el mundo, como si no lo aprovecharan plenamente(AD); porque la apariencia de este mundo es pasajera(AE).

32 Sin embargo, quiero que estén libres de preocupación. El soltero se preocupa por las cosas del Señor, cómo puede agradar al Señor(AF). 33 Pero el casado se preocupa por las cosas del mundo, de cómo agradar a su mujer, 34 y sus intereses están divididos. La mujer que no está casada y la virgen se preocupan[w] por las cosas del Señor, para ser santas tanto en cuerpo como en espíritu; pero la casada se preocupa por las cosas del mundo, de cómo agradar a su marido. 35 Esto digo para su propio beneficio; no para ponerles restricción, sino para promover lo que es honesto y para asegurar su constante devoción al Señor.

36 Y si alguien cree que no está obrando correctamente con respecto a su hija virgen, si ella es de edad madura, y si es necesario que así se haga, que haga lo que quiera, no peca; que se case[x]. 37 Pero el que está firme en su corazón, y sin presión alguna[y], y tiene control sobre[z] su propia voluntad, y ha decidido en su corazón conservar virgen[aa] a su hija, bien hará. 38 Así los dos, el que da en matrimonio a su hija virgen, hace bien; y el que no la da en matrimonio, hace mejor.

39 La mujer está ligada mientras el marido vive; pero si el marido muere[ab], está en libertad(AG) de casarse con quien desee, solo que sea en el Señor(AH). 40 Pero en mi opinión(AI), será más feliz si se queda como está. Y creo que yo también tengo el Espíritu de Dios.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corintios 7:5 Lit. un.
  2. 1 Corintios 7:5 Lit. estén juntos.
  3. 1 Corintios 7:7 Lit. tiene.
  4. 1 Corintios 7:10 Lit. separarse del.
  5. 1 Corintios 7:14 Lit. del hermano.
  6. 1 Corintios 7:15 Lit. sujetos a servidumbre.
  7. 1 Corintios 7:15 Algunos mss. antiguos dicen: los.
  8. 1 Corintios 7:17 Lit. Solamente.
  9. 1 Corintios 7:18 Lit. No se haga incircunciso.
  10. 1 Corintios 7:18 Lit. en incircuncisión.
  11. 1 Corintios 7:20 Lit. el llamamiento.
  12. 1 Corintios 7:21 Lit. también hacerte libre.
  13. 1 Corintios 7:21 Lit. más bien aprovéchate de ello.
  14. 1 Corintios 7:22 Lit. en.
  15. 1 Corintios 7:24 Lit. en esto.
  16. 1 Corintios 7:25 O vírgenes.
  17. 1 Corintios 7:26 O inminente.
  18. 1 Corintios 7:26 Lit. sea.
  19. 1 Corintios 7:27 Lit. atado.
  20. 1 Corintios 7:27 Lit. ser libertado.
  21. 1 Corintios 7:28 Lit. los tales.
  22. 1 Corintios 7:28 Lit. tribulaciones en la carne.
  23. 1 Corintios 7:34 Algunos mss. dicen: Hay asimismo diferencia entre la casada y la doncella. La doncella se preocupa.
  24. 1 Corintios 7:36 Lit. que se casen.
  25. 1 Corintios 7:37 O no teniendo necesidad.
  26. 1 Corintios 7:37 Lit. en cuanto a.
  27. 1 Corintios 7:37 O virgen.
  28. 1 Corintios 7:39 Lit. duerme.