1 Corinthians 7

1Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.Cross-references: Gen 20:6 · Ruth 2:9 · Prov 6:29 · Matt 19:10 · 1Cor 7:8 · 1Cor 7:26 · +1 more

2But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.Cross-references: Prov 5:18 · Prov 18:22 · Prov 19:14 · Mal 2:14 · 1Cor 6:18 · 1Cor 7:9 · +3 more

3Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.Cross-references: Ex 21:10 · 1Pet 3:7

4The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.Cross-references: Hos 3:3 · Matt 19:9 · Mark 10:11

5Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.Cross-references: Ex 19:15 · 1Sam 21:4 · Joel 2:16 · Zech 7:3 · Zech 12:12 · Matt 4:10 · +2 more

6But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.Cross-references: 1Cor 7:12 · 1Cor 7:25 · 2Cor 8:8 · 2Cor 11:17

7Yet I wish that all men were like me. However, each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.Cross-references: Matt 19:11 · Acts 26:29 · Rom 12:6 · 1Cor 7:8 · 1Cor 9:5 · 1Cor 9:15 · +2 more

8But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.Cross-references: 1Cor 7:1 · 1Cor 7:7 · 1Cor 7:26 · 1Cor 7:32 · 1Cor 7:34

9But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn with passion.Cross-references: 1Cor 7:2 · 1Cor 7:28 · 1Cor 7:36 · 1Cor 7:39 · 1Tim 5:11 · 1Tim 5:14

10But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husbandCross-references: Jer 3:20 · Mal 2:14 · Matt 5:32 · Matt 19:3 · Mark 10:11 · Luke 16:18 · +5 more

11(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.Cross-references: Deut 22:19 · Judg 19:2 · Isa 50:1 · Jer 3:1 · Mark 10:2 · 1Cor 7:10

12But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.Cross-references: Ezra 10:2 · Ezra 10:11 · 1Cor 7:6 · 1Cor 7:25 · 2Cor 11:17

13The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.Cross-references: Ezra 9:1 · Isa 52:1 · Mal 2:15 · Acts 10:23 · Rom 11:16 · 1Cor 6:15 · +2 more

15Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.Cross-references: Matt 12:50 · Rom 12:18 · Rom 14:19 · 1Cor 14:33 · 2Cor 13:11 · Gal 5:22 · +3 more

16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?Cross-references: Prov 11:30 · Luke 15:10 · Rom 11:14 · 1Cor 9:22 · 1Tim 4:16 · James 5:19 · +1 more

17Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.Cross-references: Matt 19:12 · Rom 12:3 · 1Cor 4:17 · 1Cor 7:7 · 1Cor 7:18 · 1Cor 7:20 · +6 more

18Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.Cross-references: Acts 15:1 · Acts 15:5 · Acts 15:19 · Acts 15:24 · Acts 15:28 · Gal 5:1 · +1 more

19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments.Cross-references: 1Sam 15:22 · Jer 7:22 · Matt 5:19 · John 15:14 · Rom 2:25 · Rom 3:30 · +9 more

20Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called.Cross-references: Prov 27:8 · Luke 3:10 · 1Cor 7:17 · 1Cor 7:21 · 1Thess 4:11 · 2Thess 3:12

21Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.Cross-references: Luke 10:40 · Luke 12:29 · Luke 21:34 · 1Cor 12:13 · Gal 3:28 · Phil 4:6 · +6 more

22For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.Cross-references: Ps 116:16 · Luke 1:74 · John 8:32 · Rom 1:1 · Rom 6:18 · 1Cor 9:19 · +10 more

23You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men.Cross-references: Lev 25:42 · Matt 23:8 · Acts 20:28 · 1Cor 6:20 · Gal 2:4 · Titus 2:14 · +3 more

24Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.Cross-references: Gen 5:22 · Gen 17:1 · 1Sam 14:45 · 1Cor 7:17 · 1Cor 7:20 · 1Cor 10:31 · +1 more

25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.Cross-references: Ps 78:63 · 1Cor 4:2 · 1Cor 7:6 · 1Cor 7:10 · 1Cor 7:12 · 1Cor 7:28 · +9 more

26Therefore I think that because of the distress that is on us, it’s good for a man to remain as he is.Cross-references: Jer 16:2 · Matt 24:19 · Luke 21:23 · Luke 23:28 · 1Cor 7:1 · 1Cor 7:8 · +3 more

27Are you bound to a wife? Don’t seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don’t seek a wife.Cross-references: 1Cor 7:12 · 1Cor 7:20

28But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.Cross-references: 1Cor 7:26 · 1Cor 7:32 · 2Cor 1:23 · Heb 13:4

29But I say this, brothers: the time is short. From now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;Cross-references: Job 14:1 · Ps 39:4 · Ps 90:5 · Ps 103:15 · Eccl 6:12 · Eccl 9:10 · +12 more

30and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess;Cross-references: Ps 30:5 · Ps 126:5 · Eccl 3:4 · Isa 25:8 · Isa 30:19 · Luke 6:21 · +5 more

31and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.Cross-references: Ps 39:6 · Ps 73:20 · Eccl 1:4 · Eccl 2:24 · Eccl 3:12 · Eccl 5:18 · +17 more

32But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;Cross-references: Ps 55:22 · Matt 6:25 · Matt 13:22 · Phil 4:6 · 1Tim 5:5

33but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.Cross-references: 1Sam 1:4 · Neh 5:1 · Luke 12:22 · 1Cor 7:3 · Eph 5:25 · Col 3:19 · +3 more

34There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.Cross-references: Luke 2:36 · Luke 10:40 · Rom 6:13 · Rom 12:1 · 1Cor 6:20 · 2Cor 7:11 · +6 more

35This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.Cross-references: Matt 19:12 · Luke 8:14 · Luke 10:40 · Luke 21:34 · 1Cor 7:2 · 1Cor 7:5 · +7 more

36But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry.Cross-references: 1Sam 2:33 · 1Cor 7:9 · 1Cor 7:37

37But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no urgency, but has power over his own will, and has determined in his own heart to keep his own virgin, does well.

38So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her in marriage does better.Cross-references: 1Cor 7:1 · 1Cor 7:8 · 1Cor 7:26 · 1Cor 7:32 · 1Cor 7:37 · Heb 13:4

39A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord.Cross-references: Gen 6:2 · Deut 7:3 · Mal 2:11 · Rom 7:2 · 1Cor 7:10 · 1Cor 7:15 · +1 more

40But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.Cross-references: 1Cor 7:1 · 1Cor 7:6 · 1Cor 7:8 · 1Cor 7:25 · 1Cor 7:35 · 1Cor 9:1 · +5 more