- 1
- Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. [1]
- 2
- But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
- 3
- The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
- 4
- The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
- 5
- Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
- 6
- I say this as a concession, not as a command.
- 7
- I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
- 8
- Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.
- 9
- But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
- 10
- To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
- 11
- But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
- 12
- To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
- 13
- And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
- 14
- For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
- 15
- But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
- 16
- How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
- 17
- Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
- 18
- Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
- 19
- Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.
- 20
- Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.
- 21
- Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
- 22
- For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.
- 23
- You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
- 24
- Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
- 25
- Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
- 26
- Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are.
- 27
- Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.
- 28
- But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
- 29
- What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
- 30
- those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;
- 31
- those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
- 32
- I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord.
- 33
- But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife--
- 34
- and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband.
- 35
- I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
- 36
- If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
- 37
- But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin--this man also does the right thing.
- 38
- So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better. [2]
- 39
- A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
- 40
- In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
- [1] Or "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."
- [36-38] Or [36] If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years, and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. [37] But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried--this man also does the right thing. [38] So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does even better.
FAQs
Bible Gateway 1 Corinthians 7 :: NIV? ›
Ephesians 5:22—“Wives, submit to your own husbands.” Ephesians 5:24—“Just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” Colossians 3:18—“Wives, submit to your own husbands.” Titus 2:3-5—“Older women likewise…
What does the Bible say about a wife not submitting to her husband? ›Ephesians 5:22—“Wives, submit to your own husbands.” Ephesians 5:24—“Just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” Colossians 3:18—“Wives, submit to your own husbands.” Titus 2:3-5—“Older women likewise…
What does 1 Corinthians 7 say about marriage? ›Bible Gateway 1 Corinthians 7 :: NIV. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband.
What does the Bible say about a woman's body to her husband? ›The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.
What is the message of 1 Corinthians 7? ›Main idea: Paul corrects a misunderstanding around sex in the Corinthian church where some thought it was holier to abstain even in their marriages. Instead Paul shows us that sex within marriage helps us avoid temptation, is an opportunity to give and points to a greater intimacy and oneness in new creation.
Should a wife submit to her husband in everything? ›In the New Testament, the word always indicates authority and submission (cf. Titus 2:9; 1 Pet 2:18). And of course that meaning is confirmed in Ephesians 5:21 by the immediate context which clarifies, “As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything” (Eph 5:24).
Where in the Bible does it say a woman should not divorce her husband? ›1 Corinthians 7:10-17 New Living Translation (NLT)
But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him.
The only specific allowance for remarriage after a divorce is for adultery (Matthew 19:9), and even this is debated among Christians. Another possibility is desertion—when an unbelieving spouse leaves a believing spouse (1 Corinthians 7:12-15).
Is it a sin to marry more than one wife in the Bible? ›William Luck states that polygyny is not prohibited by the Bible and it would have been required if a married man seduced (Ex. 22) or raped (Deut. 22) a virgin, as long as her father did not veto the marriage.
What is the fruit of the spirit in marriage? ›The 'fruits of the spirit' kind of love is a transcendent love that flows from a decision that is based on a covenant commitment. It is the unconditional love that we show to our spouse, and it is unselfish and serving.
What does the Bible say about wife's breasts? ›
Proverbs 5:18-19 King James Version (KJV)
Let thy fountain be blessed: And rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravished always with her love.
1 Corinthians 7:4 New International Version (NIV)
The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
But the Bible is clear that as husbands, you should show your wife honor as well. 1 Peter 3:7 says, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayer may not be hindered.”
What is the summary of 1 Corinthians 1 7? ›Context Summary
Those gifts confirm that the Corinthians are truly in Christ. This means Christ will sustain them all the way to the end. Because they are in Christ who has paid for their sin with His blood, they will stand blameless before God on the day of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 1:7 in Other Translations
7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.
Those who are married ought to remain married. Unmarried believers with the gift of celibacy, however, should consider remaining single in order to avoid the troubles of marriage. That is Paul's personal preference, though that gift is not given to all others.
What is a submissive wife according to the Bible? ›“A submissive wife in a Christian marriage is a supportive wife. You work together with your spouse, and respect and support him in your marriage.” “Within a Christian marriage, a wife freely expresses her thoughts, trusting her husband's response will lovingly support her and look out after her best interests.”
What does the Bible say about an unloved wife? ›Proverbs 30:21-28 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995) Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up: Under a slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food, Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.
What does it mean to be a helpmate to your husband? ›A person's helpmate is someone who helps them in their life or work, especially their husband or wife. [old-fashioned] More Synonyms of helpmate. Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
How does a woman show submission? ›Here are some of the typical external signs of a submissive wife are that she: Curbs her opinions and thoughts to ensure peaceful communication without arguments. Glorifies the husband and makes him feel on top of the world by showing eagerness to please.