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But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
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For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
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But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;
9
but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
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Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
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But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
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But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.
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And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
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For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
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But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.
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For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
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But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
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Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
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Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
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Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
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Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.
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For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave.
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You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
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Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
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Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.
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I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress--that it is good for a man to remain as he is: