The Marriage Chapter-1 Corinthians 7

¹In answer to the things you wrote to me about, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ²However, to avoid unlawful lusts of the flesh or adultry, let every man have one wife and every woman one husband. ³Let the husband and wife give, yield to each other kindness, duty and the good will due to a spouse. ⁴When married neither has controling power over their own bodies but the husband over the wife's and the wife over the husband. ₅Do not withhold your bodies from each other accept by mutual consent, during a time of fasting and prayer, and then come together again so satan can't tempt you through lack of self-control. ⁶I'm giving permission not a lawful command. ⁷I would prefer all men, like me, would remain unmarried, but every man has a proper gift of God and each has his own gift.

⁸To the unmarried and widows, I say, you'd be happier and more blessed to be like me, unmarried. ⁹But if you cannot use self-control then marry for it is better to marry than to burn with unsatisfied desire. ¹⁰To the married I don't command, but the Lord does, that a wife should not leave her husband. ¹¹And if she does, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled to her own husband. And neither can a man divorce his wife. ¹²I, not the Lord, tell the rest, if you are a believer and your unbelieving wife wishes to remain with you do not divorce her. ¹³And the wife who has an unbelieving husband, if he wishes to remain with her she should not leave him. ¹⁴By holy marriage, before God, the spouse has become sanctified (can't join a child of satan with a child of God) that your children be purified and holy. ¹⁵However, if the unbelieving spouse departs, you are not under the bondage of law in such cases but God has called us to be still. ¹⁶Because how do you know you won't be the instrument of their salvation?

You were not called to fulfill your selfish
desires but to bring others to Christ.

¹⁷So, since God has given to every man, and he called everyone, let us walk in that calling. ¹⁸Were you physically circumcised when you were called? Then don't seek to be surgically uncircumcised or vice versa. ¹⁹Whether you are called in bondage or freedom doesn't matter, what matters is obedience. ²⁰Remain in the same condition [of marriage or unmarried] when you were called. ²¹Were you called while a servant? Use your freedom in Christ while serving. ²²If you were called while a servant you are free in the Lord and he who was called while free is now a servant to Christ. [Every road leads to the same place]. ²³You were bought with a price so do not spiritually submit to men. ²⁴Brothers and Sisters, let everyone in whatever state they were in when called to Christ, endure, remain, stand with God.

²⁵I have no commands, from the Lord, concerning virgins, but my opinion, as one whose obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful only to him, ²⁶I say it is good for a man to be so. ²⁷Are you already married? Seek no separation. Are you single, don't seek to be married. ²⁸If you marry it's not a sin. However, with marriage comes a lot of trouble with the flesh and I would spare you this. ^29-31Brothers and Sisters, the time is short, (Earthly ties and possesions will pass away). Whether married, unmarried, weeping, not weeping, rejoicing, not rejoicing, buying, possessing nothing, using or abusing things of the world, all will pass away. ³²I would prefer you were without care, he that is single can focus on the things of the Lord and how to please the Lord. ³³A married man must care for things of this world to care for and please his wife. ³⁴The same applies to women, the unmarried woman can focus on the Lord and can be holy in body and spirit, but she that is married must care for worldly things and how to please her husband. ³⁵I tell you this for your benefit, not to constrain you but rather encourage you to do what is noble so you can [wait upon; be in the constant presence of] the Lord without unnecessary burdens and troubles.

³⁶If a father thinks his not allowing his daughter to marry will bring disgrace to her and she's old enough, let him do what he will and let the couple marry. ³⁷However, he that continues to be immovable in his heart, won't have any need but strong will power, and has decreed in his heart that he will guard, watch and withhold his daughter, does well.

Father's betrothed their sons and daughters while they were yet minors but when they became of age their consent was required.

³⁸He that gives her in marriage does well and he that refuses to give her in marriage does better. ³⁹A wife is bound by the covenant of marriage as long as her husband lives but, if he dies, she is free to marry who she wants but only in the Lord. ⁴⁰In my opinion, she'll be happier, and more blessed, if she doesn't and I believe I say this with the Holy Spirit.