1
Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2
Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3
Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
4
The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5
Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6
But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
7
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.
8
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.
10
Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
11
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.
12
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.
13
And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
14
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.
15
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.
16
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?
17
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.
18
Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
19
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
20
Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
21
Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.