Dual Panel1Now with regard to the issues you wrote <1125> about: “It is good <2570> for a man <444> not <3361> to have sexual relations <680> with a woman <1135>.”
2But <1161> because of <1223> immoralities <4202>, each man <1538> should have <2192> relations with his own <1438> wife <1135> and <2532> each woman <1538> with her own <2398> husband <435>.
3A husband <435> should give <591> to his wife <1135> her sexual rights <3782>, and <2532> likewise <3668> a wife <1135> to her husband <435>.
4It is not <3756> the wife <1135> who has <1850> the rights <1850> to her own <2398> body <4983>, but <235> the husband <435>. In the same way <3668>, it is not <3756> the husband <435> who has <1850> the rights <1850> to his own <2398> body <4983>, but <235> the wife <1135>.
5Do <650> not <3361> deprive <650> each other <240>, except <1487> by mutual agreement <4859> for <4314> a specified time <2540>, so that <2443> you may devote <4980> yourselves to prayer <4335>. Then <2532> resume your relationship, so that <2443> Satan <4567> may <3985> not <3361> tempt <3985> you <5209> because of <1223> your <5216> lack of self-control <192>.
6I say <3004> this <5124> as <2596> a concession <4774>, not <3756> as <2596> a command <2003>.
7I wish <2309> that everyone <3956> <444> was <1510> as <5613> I am <1683>. But <235> each <1538> has <2192> his own <2398> gift <5486> from <1537> God <2316>, one <3303> this way <3779>, another that <3779>.
8To the unmarried <22> and <2532> widows <5503> I say <3004> that it is best <2570> for them <846> to remain <3306> as <5613> I <2504> am.
9But <1161> if <1487> they do <1467> not <3756> have self-control <1467>, let them get married <1060>. For <1063> it is <1510> better <2909> to marry <1060> than <2228> to burn with sexual desire <4448>.
10To the married <1060> I give <3853> this command <3853>– not <3756> I <1473>, but <235> the Lord <2962>– a wife <1135> should <5563> not <3361> divorce <5563> a husband <435>
11(but <1161> if <1437> she does, let her remain <3306> unmarried <22>, or <2228> be reconciled <2644> to her husband <435>), and <2532> a husband <435> should <863> not <3361> divorce <863> his wife <1135>.
12To the rest <3062> I say <3004>– I <1473>, not <3756> the Lord <2962>– if <1487> a brother <80> has <2192> a wife <1135> who is not a believer <571> and <2532> she <846> is happy <4909> to live <3611> with <3326> him <846>, he should <863> not <3361> divorce <863> her <846>.
13And <2532> if a woman <1135> has <2192> a husband <435> who is not a believer <571> and <2532> he <3778> is happy <4909> to live <3611> with <3326> her <846>, she should <863> not <3361> divorce <863> him <435>.
14For <1063> the unbelieving <571> husband <435> is sanctified <37> because of <1722> the wife <1135>, and the unbelieving <571> wife <1135> because of <1722> her husband <80>. Otherwise <1893> your <5216> children <5043> are <1510> unclean <169>, but <1161> now <3568> they are <1510> holy <40>.
15But <1161> if <1487> the unbeliever <571> wants a divorce <5563>, let it take place <5563>. In <1722> these circumstances <5108> the brother <80> or <2228> sister <79> is <1402> not <3756> bound <1402>. God <2316> has called <2564> you <5209> in <1722> peace <1515>.
16For <1063> how <5101> do you know <1492>, wife <1135>, whether <1487> you will bring <4982> your husband <435> to salvation <4982>? Or <2228> how <5101> do you know <1492>, husband <435>, whether <1487> you will bring <4982> your wife <1135> to salvation <4982>?
17Nevertheless <1487> <3361>, as <5613> the Lord <2962> has assigned <3307> to each one <1538>, as <5613> God <2316> has called <2564> each person, so <3779> must he live <4043>. I give <1299> this sort of direction <1299> in <1722> all <3956> the churches <1577>.
18Was anyone <5100> called <2564> after <4059> he had been circumcised <4059>? He should <1986> not <3361> try to undo his circumcision <1986>. Was anyone <5100> called <2564> who is uncircumcised <203>? He should <4059> not <3361> get circumcised <4059>.
19Circumcision <4061> is <1510> nothing <3762> and <2532> uncircumcision <203> is <1510> nothing <3762>. Instead <235>, keeping <5084> God’s <2316> commandments <1785> is what counts.
20Let <3306> each one <1538> remain <3306> in <1722> that <3778> situation <2821> in life in which <3739> he was called <2564>.
21Were you called <2564> as a slave <1401>? Do <3199> not <3361> worry <3199> about it. But <235> if <1487> indeed you are able <1410> to be <1096> free <1658>, make <5530> the most <3123> of the opportunity <5530>.
22For <1063> the one who was called <2564> in <1722> the Lord <2962> as a slave <1401> is <1510> the Lord’s <2962> freedman <558>. In the same way <3668>, the one who was called <2564> as a free person <1658> is <1510> Christ’s <5547> slave <1401>.
23You were bought <59> with a price <5092>. Do <1096> not <3361> become <1096> slaves <1401> of men <444>.
24In <1722> whatever situation <1538> someone <3739> was called <2564>, brothers and sisters <80>, let him remain <3306> in <1722> it <5129> with <3844> God <2316>.
25With regard <4012> to the question about people who have never married <3933>, I have <2192> no <3756> command <2003> from <2962> the Lord <2962>, but <1161> I give <1325> my opinion <1106> as <5613> one shown mercy <1653> by <5259> the Lord <2962> to be <1510> trustworthy <4103>.
26Because of <1223> the impending crisis <1764> I think <3543> it best <2570> for you to remain <5225> as you are.
27The one bound <1210> to a wife <1135> should <2212> not <3361> seek <2212> divorce <3080>. The one released <3089> from <575> a wife <1135> should <2212> not <3361> seek <2212> marriage <1135>.
28But <1161> if <1437> you marry <1060>, you have <264> not <3756> sinned <264>. And <2532> if <1437> a virgin <3933> marries <1060>, she has <264> not <3756> sinned <264>. But <1161> those who marry will face <2192> difficult circumstances <2347>, and I <1473> am trying to spare <5339> you <5216> such problems <5108>.
29And <1161> I say <5346> this, brothers and sisters <80>: The time <2540> is <1510> short <4958>. So then <3063> those who have <2192> wives <1135> should be <1510> as <5613> those who have <2192> none <3361>,
30those with tears <2799> like <5613> those not <3361> weeping <2799>, those who rejoice <5463> like <5613> those not <3361> rejoicing <5463>, those who buy <59> like <5613> those without <3361> possessions <2722>,
31those who use <5530> the world <2889> as though <5613> they were <2710> not <3361> using <2710> it to the full. For <1063> the present shape <4976> of this <5127> world <2889> is passing away <3855>.
32And <1161> I want <2309> you <5209> to be <1510> free from concern <275>. An unmarried man <22> is concerned <3309> about the things of the Lord <2962>, how <4459> to please <700> the Lord <2962>.
33But <1161> a married man <1060> is concerned <3309> about the things of the world <2889>, how <4459> to please <700> his wife <1135>,
34and <2532> he is divided <3307>. An unmarried <22> woman <1135> or <2532> a virgin <3933> is concerned <3309> about the things of the Lord <2962>, to be holy <40> both <2532> in body <4983> and <2532> spirit <4151>. But <1161> a married woman <1060> is concerned <3309> about the things of the <3588> world <2889>, how <4459> to please <700> her husband <435>.
35I am saying <3004> this <5124> for your <5216> benefit <4851>, not <3756> to <2443> place <1911> a limitation <1029> on you <5213>, but <235> so that without distraction <563> you may give notable <2158> and <2532> constant service <2145> to the Lord <2962>.
36If <1487> anyone <5100> thinks he is acting inappropriately <807> toward <1909> his <846> virgin <3933>, if <1437> she is <1510> past the bloom of youth <5230> and <2532> it seems <1096> necessary <3784>, he should do what <3739> he wishes <2309>; he does <4160> not <3756> sin <264>. Let them marry <1060>.
37But <1161> the man who is firm <2476> in <1722> his <846> commitment <1476>, and is under <2192> no <3361> necessity <318> but <1161> has <2192> control <1849> over <4012> his <2398> will <2307>, and <2532> has decided <2919> in <1722> his own <2398> mind <2588> to keep <5083> his own <1438> virgin <3933>, does <4160> well <2573>.
38So then <5620>, the one who marries <1061> his own <1438> virgin <3933> does <4160> well <2573>, but <2532> the one who does <1061> not <3361>, does <4160> better <2908>.
39A wife <1135> is bound <1210> as long as <1909> <3745> <5550> her <846> husband <435> is living <2198>. But <1161> if <1437> her husband <435> dies <2837>, she is <1510> free <1658> to marry <1060> anyone <3739> she wishes <2309> (only <3440> someone in <1722> the Lord <2962>).
40But <1161> in my <1699> opinion <1106>, she will be <1510> happier <3107> if <1437> she remains <3306> as she is <3779>– and I think <1380> that I too <2504> have <2192> the Spirit <4151> of God <2316>!