1
And now concerning the matters about which you wrote to me. It is good for a man not to marry,

2
but because of the danger of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

3
Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

4
The wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

5
Do not deprive one another, except by mutual consent for a time, so that you may have opportunity for prayer. After that, let you come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you, because you are not able to abstain.

6
I say this to you as a concession, not as a command.

7
Nevertheless, how good it would be if all people were as I am; but each person receives from God his own gift, one this gift, another that.

8
But to the unmarried and to the widows I advise that it is good for them to remain as I am.

9
But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10
To those who are married I — no, not I, but the Lord — command that a wife must not divorce her husband.

11
And if she does divorce, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12
To the others I, not the Lord, say: if any brother has a wife who does not believe, and the woman is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.

13
And if any wife has a husband who does not believe, and the man is willing to live with her, let her not divorce the man.

14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15
But if the unbeliever wants to separate, let him separate; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. But God has called you to live in peace.

16
For how do you know, wife, whether you will not save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will not save your wife?

17
Now let each person live as the Lord has assigned to him, and in the condition in which he was called by God. This is the rule I give in all the churches.

18
Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.

19
For circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. What matters is keeping the commandments of God.

20
Let each person remain in the condition in which he was called by God.

21
Were you a slave when you were called? That is nothing! But if you can gain your freedom, make use of the opportunity.

22
For the one who was called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman; likewise, the one who was called while free is Christ’s slave.

23
You were bought with a price; the price has been paid in full. Therefore do not become slaves of men.

24
Brothers, let each person remain before God in the condition in which he was called.

25
Now concerning the virgins: I have no command from the Lord for them. But I give my opinion as one who is trustworthy because of the grace he has received from God.

26
I think that, in view of the present distress, it is good for a person to remain as he is.

27
Are you bound to a woman? Do not seek a separation! Are you free from a woman? Do not seek a wife.

28
But if you marry, you do not sin. And if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who do so will face bodily trouble, and I would spare you that.

29
Brothers, this is what I mean: the time is short! From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none;

30
and those who weep as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing; and those who buy as though they possessed nothing;

31
in short, those who use the things of this world as though they were not using them at all. For this world, as we know it, is passing away.

32
I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.

33
But the married man is concerned about worldly things, how he may please his wife,

34
and thus his interests are divided. The unmarried woman and the young women set their minds on the things of the Lord, so that their body and spirit may be holy. But the married woman sets her mind on worldly matters, how she may please her husband.

35
I say all these things for your own good, not to put a restraint on your freedom, but rather so that you may do what is right and good, and serve the Lord without distraction.

36
But if anyone thinks that he is not acting properly toward his virgin daughter, if she is growing old and he truly feels that they ought to marry, let them marry, if he wishes it. That is not sin.

37
But if there is anyone who is not compelled to do this, is truly convinced in his heart and has full control of his will, and has decided not to marry his virgin daughter, he does well.

38
So then the one who marries his virgin daughter does well, and the one who does not marry his virgin daughter does better.

39
A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. If her husband has died, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, provided that person is a believer.

40
But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

📖 1 Corinthians 7 – About Marriage, Celibate Life, and the Calling of Life

🧾 Summary of Contents

In this chapter, the apostle Paul answers the questions of the Corinthian church concerning marriage, celibate life, divorce, and the calling of life. He gives practical guidance about how believers should live in their respective states, whether married or unmarried, while remaining faithful to the Lord.

✨ Explanation by Section

1. About Husband and Wife Relationships (verses 1–9)

“It is good for a man not to marry, but because of the danger of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife…”

• Paul explains that unmarried life is good, but marriage is needed to restrain desire.
• Husband and wife must fulfill one another’s bodily duties in mutual love.

💡 Lesson: Marriage is a gift and a safe place to express love and physical needs in a holy way.

2. About Divorce (verses 10–16)

“What God has joined together, let no man separate.”

• Paul affirms that husband and wife should not separate, especially if both are believers.
• If the unbelieving partner wishes to leave, the believer is not bound by law.

💡 Lesson: God desires faithfulness in marriage, but grace is available in certain situations.

3. Remain in Your Calling (verses 17–24)

“Let each person remain in the condition in which he was called by God.”

• Whether social status, marriage, or life situation, Paul encourages the church to remain faithful to God in any condition.
• There is no need to rush to change one’s life status — what matters most is relationship with Christ.

💡 Lesson: The main focus is not outward status, but faithfulness to God in our present condition.

4. About Celibate Life and Marriage (verses 25–40)

“The unmarried person is concerned with the things of the Lord, so that body and spirit may be holy.”

• Paul suggests that in difficult times or persecution, unmarried life is more practical for focusing on the Lord.
• However, marriage is not sin, and each person has his or her own gift.

💡 Lesson: Whether married or unmarried, both are honorable as long as they are lived in love and faithfulness to God.

📘 Main Teachings of 1 Corinthians 7

1. Marriage is a place for love and self-control.
2. Divorce is not encouraged, but there is an exception in the case of an unbelieving spouse.
3. The Lord calls each person in different circumstances – and all can glorify Him.
4. Both marriage and celibate life are to be lived in godliness and in the Lord’s calling.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of 1 Corinthians 7

This chapter teaches that major life decisions — whether to marry or not, to work or to serve, to remain or to change — must be grounded in a relationship with Christ and faithfulness to His calling. Paul presents an important principle: what matters most is not our circumstances, but our obedience.