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Answers To Your Questions:

Now concerning the things which you wrote—

Concerning Marriage And Singleness: Live According To Your Gift From God

It is good[a] for a man not to touch[b] a woman. But because of sexual-immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband give-back to his wife her due[c], and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have-authority[d] over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise also the husband does not have-authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not be depriving one another— except perhaps by agreement, for a time, in order that you may devote-yourselves to prayer and [then] be together again— in order that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack-of-self-control. But I am saying this by way of concession, not by way of command. And I wish that all people were as[e] indeed myself! But each has his own gift from God— one in this manner and another in this manner. And I say to the unmarried and the widows— it is good for them if they remain as I also am. But if they do not have-self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burning[f].

But Do Not Divorce Your Christian Spouse

10 But to the ones having married I command (not I, but the Lord), that a wife not be separated from her husband— 11 but if indeed she is separated, let her remain unmarried or let her be reconciled to her husband— and that a husband not leave[g] his wife.

Do Not Divorce an Unbelieving Spouse Who Chooses To Stay

12 But to the rest I say, not[h] the Lord— if any brother has an unbelieving wife and this one consents to dwell with him, let him not leave her. 13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and this one consents to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified[i] by his wife. And the unbelieving wife has been sanctified by the brother. Otherwise then your children are unclean, but now[j] they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving one separates, let such a one separate. The brother or the sister has not been enslaved by such[k] things, but God has called you in peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 17 Except that[l] as the Lord apportioned[m] to each one, as God has called each one, in this manner let him be walking. And thus I am directing[n] in all the churches.

In General, Remain With God In The Life Context In Which You Were Saved

18 Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not conceal[o] it. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each in the calling in which he was called— in this let him remain. 21 Were you called as a slave? Do not let it be a concern to you. But if also[p] you are able to become free, rather make-use-of the opportunity. 22 For the one having been called in the Lord as a slave is a freedperson of the Lord. Likewise the one having been called as a free one is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves[q] of people. 24 Each in what he was called, brothers— in this let him remain with God.

Concerning The Unmarried: In General, It Is Good To Remain As You Are In Life

25 Now concerning virgins, I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one having been shown-mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. 26 I think then that this[r] is good because of the present necessity[s], that it is good for a person to be so[t]. 27 Have you been bound[u] to a woman? Do not be seeking a release[v]. Have you been released[w] from a woman? Do not be seeking a wife. 28 But even if you marry, you did not sin. And if the virgin marries, she did not sin. But such ones will have affliction in the flesh, and I am sparing[x] you.

We All Must Keep Our Earthly Life In Eternal Perspective

29 And this I say, brothers— the time[y] is shortened, so that henceforth even the ones having wives should be as-though not having, 30 and the ones weeping as-though not weeping, and the ones rejoicing as-though not rejoicing, and the ones buying as-though not holding-on-to[z], 31 and the ones making-use-of the world as-though not making-full-use-of it. For the form[aa] of this world is passing away.

Single People Can Be Solely Devoted To God; The Married Have a Dual Concern

32 Now I want you to be free-from-concern. The unmarried man is concerned-about the things of the Lord— how he may please the Lord. 33 But the man having married is concerned-about the things of the world— how he may please his wife, 34 and he has been divided[ab]. And the unmarried woman[ac], and the virgin, is concerned-about the things of the Lord— that she may be holy both in the body and in the spirit. But the woman having married is concerned-about the things of the world— how she may please her husband.

Do What You Think Is Honorable For Your Virgin Daughter

35 Now I am saying this[ad] for the benefit of you yourselves— not that I may throw a noose[ae] on you, but toward good-order and devotion[af] to the Lord, undistractedly. 36 But if one[ag] thinks that he is behaving-dishonorably[ah] toward his virgin daughter— if she is beyond-the-bloom-of-youth[ai], and it ought[aj] to be so— let him do what he wants. He is not sinning. Let them marry. 37 But he who stands steadfast[ak] in his heart, not having a necessity[al], and has authority[am] concerning[an] his own will, and has determined this in his own heart, to keep[ao] his virgin daughter— he will do well[ap]. 38 So then, both the one giving his virgin daughter in marriage is doing well, and the one not giving-in-marriage will do better.

Widows Are Free To Remarry, But May Be Happier Remaining As They Are

39 A wife has been bound for as much time as her husband lives. But if her husband falls-asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wishes— only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains thus[aq], according to my opinion; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Or, commendable, praiseworthy.
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:1 That is, to have sexual contact with, and thus, to marry. Paul extols singleness, in contradiction to the views of his day.
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:3 That is, what is due her, physically and otherwise.
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:4 Or, have-the-right.
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:7 That is, single and pure, devoting themselves fully to God.
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:9 That is, with sexual desire.
  7. 1 Corinthians 7:11 Or, abandon, divorce.
  8. 1 Corinthians 7:12 That is, this was not spoken of by the Lord, as was the last case.
  9. 1 Corinthians 7:14 Or, consecrated, made holy. Rather than the believer being defiled by the unbeliever (who is probably an idolater), the reverse is true.
  10. 1 Corinthians 7:14 Or, as-it-is. The children also are sanctified by the presence of the believer.
  11. 1 Corinthians 7:15 Or, by such ones. Or, in such cases.
  12. 1 Corinthians 7:17 That is, you are not enslaved... except that. Paul provides perspective. This is the general rule of Christian living of which the preceding is an exception.
  13. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Or, distributed, assigned.
  14. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Or, commanding, ordering.
  15. 1 Corinthians 7:18 Lit, pull-over the foreskin (a medical term). Do not hide your heritage.
  16. 1 Corinthians 7:21 That is, if also (while not being concerned about it, but serving the Lord)... the opportunity. Or, if indeed... your freedom. Or, even if... your present state; that is, do not wait to be free to serve Christ.
  17. 1 Corinthians 7:23 That is, sell yourselves as slaves; or, become slaves of the opinions of people regarding your status in life.
  18. 1 Corinthians 7:26 That is, being a virgin; remaining unmarried.
  19. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or, constraint, pressure, distress.
  20. 1 Corinthians 7:26 That is, unmarried. Or, as-follows.
  21. 1 Corinthians 7:27 That is, promised, betrothed, in an arrangement usually made between the parents, according to their custom; or, bound (in marriage) to a wife.
  22. 1 Corinthians 7:27 Or, unbinding, untying. That is, a release from your pledge, your commitment to marry; or, a release from your marriage, a divorce.
  23. 1 Corinthians 7:27 Or, unbound, untied. That is, released from your commitment to marry; or, released from your wife; unbound from your marriage by any circumstance.
  24. 1 Corinthians 7:28 That is, trying to spare you from the problems that will result due to the ‘present necessity’.
  25. 1 Corinthians 7:29 That is, the time remaining to serve Christ before you die or He comes is in a state of shortness.
  26. 1 Corinthians 7:30 Or, retaining.
  27. 1 Corinthians 7:31 Or, outward appearance.
  28. 1 Corinthians 7:34 The divided interests are not sinful, but can dilute and distract (v 35) a person’s service to the Lord.
  29. 1 Corinthians 7:34 That is, the widowed, divorced, or abandoned.
  30. 1 Corinthians 7:35 That is, that the unmarried should remain so.
  31. 1 Corinthians 7:35 Or, halter, restraint, choke-chain.
  32. 1 Corinthians 7:35 Or, service, attending.
  33. 1 Corinthians 7:36 That is, a father who must decide what to do with his daughter.
  34. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or, behaving improperly, disgracefully, indecently. That is, by not permitting his daughter to wed.
  35. 1 Corinthians 7:36 That is, she is of marriageable age.
  36. 1 Corinthians 7:36 That is, if the marriage is right and ought to take place, all things considered.
  37. 1 Corinthians 7:37 That is, believing it is best for his daughter to remain single.
  38. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Or, constraint, obligation, compulsion. That is, outside forces, including his daughter’s wishes, are not compelling the father to do otherwise.
  39. 1 Corinthians 7:37 That is, freedom to act as he thinks best in the case of his daughter.
  40. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Or, in relation to, with regard to.
  41. 1 Corinthians 7:37 That is, keep her in his household, keep her as she is.
  42. 1 Corinthians 7:37 That is, he is doing a good and commendable thing.
  43. 1 Corinthians 7:40 That is, unmarried.

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