1 Now|strong="G1161" I|strong="G3739" will|strong="G3739" discuss the|strong="G3739" things|strong="G3739" you|strong="G3739" wrote|strong="G1125" me about|strong="G4012". You|strong="G3739" asked if it|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3739" better|strong="G2570" for|strong="G4012" a|strong="G3739" man|strong="G0444" not|strong="G3361" to|strong="G0444" have|strong="G0444" any|strong="G3739" sexual relations|strong="G0444" at|strong="G1161" all|strong="G4012".
2 But|strong="G1161" sexual|strong="G4202" sin is|strong="G3588" a|strong="G2192" danger, so|strong="G2532" each|strong="G1538" man|strong="G0435" should|strong="G2532" enjoy his|strong="G1223" own|strong="G2398" wife|strong="G1135", and|strong="G2532" each|strong="G1538" woman|strong="G1135" should|strong="G2532" enjoy her|strong="G0435" own|strong="G2398" husband|strong="G0435".
3 The|strong="G3588" husband|strong="G0435" should|strong="G2532" give|strong="G0591" his|strong="G2532" wife|strong="G1135" what|strong="G3588" she|strong="G1135" deserves as|strong="G2532" his|strong="G2532" wife|strong="G1135". And|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" wife|strong="G1135" should|strong="G2532" give|strong="G0591" her|strong="G0435" husband|strong="G0435" what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G2532" deserves as|strong="G2532" her|strong="G0435" husband|strong="G0435".
4 The|strong="G3588" wife|strong="G1135" does not|strong="G3756" have|strong="G2532" power over|strong="G1850" her|strong="G0435" own|strong="G2398" body|strong="G4983". Her|strong="G0435" husband|strong="G0435" has|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" power over|strong="G1850" her|strong="G0435" body|strong="G4983". And|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" husband|strong="G0435" does not|strong="G3756" have|strong="G2532" power over|strong="G1850" his|strong="G2532" own|strong="G2398" body|strong="G4983". His|strong="G2532" wife|strong="G1135" has|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" power over|strong="G1850" his|strong="G2532" body|strong="G4983".
5 Don’t|strong="G3361" refuse to|strong="G4314" give your|strong="G1487" bodies to|strong="G4314" each|strong="G0240" other|strong="G3825". But|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" might|strong="G2532" both|strong="G2532" agree|strong="G1510" to|strong="G4314" stay away from|strong="G1537" sex for|strong="G1223" a|strong="G1510" while|strong="G1510" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" you|strong="G5210" can give your|strong="G1487" time|strong="G2540" to|strong="G4314" prayer|strong="G4335". Then|strong="G2532" come|strong="G1510" together|strong="G1909" again|strong="G3825" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" Satan|strong="G4567" will|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3361" be|strong="G1510" able to|strong="G4314" tempt|strong="G3985" you|strong="G5210" in|strong="G1909" your|strong="G1487" weakness.
6 I|strong="G3778" say|strong="G3004" this|strong="G3778" only|strong="G3756" to|strong="G3004" give|strong="G3004" you|strong="G3004" permission to|strong="G3004" be|strong="G3778" separated for|strong="G1161" a|strong="G3004" time. It|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3778" not|strong="G3756" a|strong="G3004" rule.
7 I|strong="G2532" wish|strong="G2309" everyone|strong="G3956" could|strong="G2192" be|strong="G1510" like|strong="G5613" me|strong="G2192". But|strong="G1161" God|strong="G2316" has|strong="G2192" given each|strong="G1538" person|strong="G0444" a|strong="G2192" different ability|strong="G2192". He|strong="G2532" makes some|strong="G1537" able|strong="G2192" to|strong="G2309" live|strong="G2192" one|strong="G1538" way|strong="G3779", others|strong="G0444" to|strong="G2309" live|strong="G2192" a|strong="G2192" different way|strong="G3779".
8 Now|strong="G1161" for|strong="G2532" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" not|strong="G2532" married and|strong="G2532" for|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" widows|strong="G5503" I|strong="G1437" say|strong="G3004" this|strong="G3588": It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G3588" good|strong="G2570" for|strong="G2532" you|strong="G1437" to|strong="G3004" stay|strong="G3306" single like|strong="G5613" me|strong="G3004".
9 But|strong="G1161" if|strong="G1487" you|strong="G1487" cannot|strong="G3756" control your|strong="G1487" body, then|strong="G1161" you|strong="G1487" should marry|strong="G1060". It|strong="G1161" is|strong="G1510" better|strong="G2909" to|strong="G2228" marry|strong="G1060" than|strong="G2228" to|strong="G2228" burn|strong="G4448" with|strong="G2228" sexual desire.
10 Now|strong="G1161", I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1473" a|strong="G0435" command|strong="G3853" for|strong="G0575" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" married|strong="G1060". Actually, it|strong="G1161" is|strong="G2962" not|strong="G3756" from|strong="G0575" me|strong="G1473"; it|strong="G1161" is|strong="G2962" what|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" commanded|strong="G3853". A|strong="G0435" wife|strong="G1135" should|strong="G5563" not|strong="G3756" leave|strong="G5563" her|strong="G0435" husband|strong="G0435".
11 But|strong="G1161" if|strong="G1437" a|strong="G1437" wife|strong="G1135" does|strong="G3306" leave|strong="G0863", she|strong="G1437" should|strong="G3306" remain|strong="G3306" single or|strong="G2228" get back together|strong="G2532" with|strong="G2532" her|strong="G0863" husband|strong="G0435". And|strong="G2532" a|strong="G1437" husband|strong="G0435" should|strong="G3306" not|strong="G3361" divorce|strong="G0863" his|strong="G0863" wife|strong="G1135".
12 The|strong="G3588" advice I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G2192" for|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" others|strong="G3062" is|strong="G3778" from|strong="G3361" me|strong="G3004". The|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" did|strong="G2192" not|strong="G3756" give|strong="G3004" us|strong="G3004" any|strong="G5100" teaching about|strong="G3588" this|strong="G3778". If|strong="G1487" you|strong="G1487" have|strong="G2192" a|strong="G2192" wife|strong="G1135" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3778" not|strong="G3756" a|strong="G2192" believer, you|strong="G1487" should|strong="G5100" not|strong="G3756" divorce|strong="G0863" her|strong="G0846" if|strong="G1487" she|strong="G0846" will|strong="G2962" continue|strong="G2532" to|strong="G3004" live|strong="G3611" with|strong="G3326" you|strong="G1487".
13 And|strong="G2532" if|strong="G1487" you|strong="G1487" have|strong="G2192" a|strong="G2192" husband|strong="G0435" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3778" not|strong="G3361" a|strong="G2192" believer, you|strong="G1487" should|strong="G5100" not|strong="G3361" divorce|strong="G0863" him|strong="G0846" if|strong="G1487" he|strong="G2532" will|strong="G3778" continue|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" live|strong="G3611" with|strong="G3326" you|strong="G1487".
14 The|strong="G3588" husband|strong="G0435" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" believer is|strong="G1510" set|strong="G0037" apart|strong="G0037" for|strong="G1063" God through|strong="G1722" his|strong="G2532" believing|strong="G0080" wife|strong="G1135". And|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" wife|strong="G1135" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" believer is|strong="G1510" set|strong="G0037" apart|strong="G0037" for|strong="G1063" God through|strong="G1722" her|strong="G0435" believing|strong="G0080" husband|strong="G0435". If|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3588" were|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" true, your|strong="G2532" children|strong="G5043" would|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1510" unfit for|strong="G1063" God’s use. But|strong="G1161" now|strong="G1161" they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" set|strong="G0037" apart|strong="G0037" for|strong="G1063" him|strong="G2532".
15 But|strong="G1161" if|strong="G1487" the|strong="G3588" husband|strong="G0080" or|strong="G2228" wife who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3756" a|strong="G5108" believer decides to|strong="G1722" leave|strong="G5563", let|strong="G5563" them|strong="G1722" leave|strong="G5563". When|strong="G1161" this|strong="G3588" happens, the|strong="G3588" brother|strong="G0080" or|strong="G2228" sister|strong="G0079" in|strong="G1722" Christ is|strong="G2316" free. God|strong="G2316" chose you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G1722" have|strong="G1473" a|strong="G5108" life of|strong="G2316" peace|strong="G1515".
16 Wives|strong="G1135", maybe you|strong="G1487" will|strong="G5101" save|strong="G4982" your|strong="G1487" husband|strong="G0435"; and|strong="G1135" husbands|strong="G0435", maybe you|strong="G1487" will|strong="G5101" save|strong="G4982" your|strong="G1487" wife|strong="G1135". You|strong="G1487" don’t know|strong="G1492" now what|strong="G5101" will|strong="G5101" happen later.
17 But|strong="G2532" each|strong="G1538" one|strong="G1538" of|strong="G2316" you|strong="G1487" should|strong="G2316" continue|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" live|strong="G4043" the|strong="G3956" way|strong="G3779" the|strong="G3956" Lord|strong="G2962" God|strong="G2316" has|strong="G2316" given|strong="G2564" you|strong="G1487" to|strong="G2532" live|strong="G4043"—the|strong="G3956" way|strong="G3779" you|strong="G1487" were|strong="G3956" when|strong="G5613" God|strong="G2316" chose you|strong="G1487". I|strong="G2532" tell people|strong="G3956" in|strong="G1722" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" churches|strong="G1577" to|strong="G2532" follow this|strong="G3779" rule.
18 If a|strong="G2564" man|strong="G5100" was|strong="G5100" already circumcised|strong="G4059" when|strong="G1722" he|strong="G1722" was|strong="G5100" chosen, he|strong="G1722" should|strong="G5100" not|strong="G3361" change his|strong="G2564" circumcision|strong="G4059". If a|strong="G2564" man|strong="G5100" was|strong="G5100" without|strong="G3361" circumcision|strong="G4059" when|strong="G1722" he|strong="G1722" was|strong="G5100" chosen, he|strong="G1722" should|strong="G5100" not|strong="G3361" be|strong="G5100" circumcised|strong="G4059".
19 It|strong="G1510" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" important if|strong="G2532" anyone|strong="G3762" is|strong="G1510" circumcised|strong="G4061" or|strong="G2532" not|strong="G1510". What|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" important is|strong="G1510" obeying God’s|strong="G2316" commands|strong="G1785".
20 Each|strong="G1538" one|strong="G1538" of|strong="G1722" you|strong="G3739" should|strong="G3306" stay|strong="G3306" the|strong="G3588" way|strong="G1722" you|strong="G3739" were|strong="G3778" when|strong="G1722" God|strong="G3306" chose you|strong="G3739".
21 If|strong="G1487" you|strong="G4771" were|strong="G1096" a|strong="G1096" slave|strong="G1401" when|strong="G2532" God chose you|strong="G4771", don’t|strong="G3361" let|strong="G1096" that|strong="G1096" bother you|strong="G4771". But|strong="G0235" if|strong="G1487" you|strong="G4771" can|strong="G1410" be|strong="G1096" free|strong="G1658", then|strong="G2532" do|strong="G1096" it|strong="G2532".
22 If you|strong="G1722" were|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" slave|strong="G1401" when|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" chose you|strong="G1722", you|strong="G1722" are|strong="G1510" now|strong="G1510" free|strong="G1658" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962". You|strong="G1722" belong|strong="G1510" to|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962". In|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3668" way|strong="G3668", if you|strong="G1722" were|strong="G1510" free|strong="G1658" when|strong="G1722" you|strong="G1722" were|strong="G1510" chosen, you|strong="G1722" are|strong="G1510" now|strong="G1510" Christ’s|strong="G5547" slave|strong="G1401".
23 God paid a|strong="G1096" high price|strong="G5092" for|strong="G1096" you|strong="G3361", so|strong="G3361" don’t|strong="G3361" be|strong="G1096" slaves|strong="G1401" to|strong="G1096" anyone|strong="G0444" else.
24 Brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G2316" sisters, in|strong="G1722" your|strong="G1722" new life with|strong="G1722" God|strong="G2316", each|strong="G1538" one|strong="G1538" of|strong="G2316" you|strong="G3739" should|strong="G0080" continue|strong="G3306" the|strong="G1722" way|strong="G1722" you|strong="G3739" were|strong="G3778" when|strong="G1722" God|strong="G2316" chose you|strong="G3739".
25 Now|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1161" write about|strong="G4012" people|strong="G1510" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" married. I|strong="G1161" have|strong="G2192" no|strong="G3756" command|strong="G2003" from|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" about|strong="G4012" this|strong="G3588", but|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1161" give|strong="G1325" my|strong="G1325" opinion|strong="G1106". And|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1161" can|strong="G1325" be|strong="G1510" trusted, because|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" has|strong="G2192" given|strong="G1325" me|strong="G1325" mercy|strong="G1653".
26 This|strong="G3778" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" time of|strong="G1223" trouble. So|strong="G3767" I|strong="G3778" think|strong="G3543" it|strong="G1223" is|strong="G1510" good|strong="G2570" for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G3754" to|strong="G0444" stay the|strong="G3588" way|strong="G3779" you|strong="G3754" are|strong="G1510".
27 If you|strong="G3361" have a|strong="G1135" wife|strong="G1135", don’t|strong="G3361" try to|strong="G2212" get free|strong="G3089" from|strong="G0575" her|strong="G0575". If you|strong="G3361" are|strong="G2212" not|strong="G3361" married|strong="G1135", don’t|strong="G3361" try to|strong="G2212" find a|strong="G1135" wife|strong="G1135".
28 But|strong="G1161" if|strong="G1437" you|strong="G5210" decide to|strong="G2532" marry|strong="G1060", that|strong="G1437" is|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" a|strong="G2192" sin|strong="G0264". And|strong="G2532" it|strong="G1437" is|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" a|strong="G2192" sin|strong="G0264" for|strong="G2532" a|strong="G2192" girl who|strong="G3588" has|strong="G2192" never|strong="G3756" married|strong="G1060" to|strong="G2532" get|strong="G2192" married|strong="G1060". But|strong="G1161" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" marry|strong="G1060" will|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2192" trouble|strong="G2347" in|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3588" life|strong="G4561", and|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" want you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" free from|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3588" trouble|strong="G2347".
29 Brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G2532" sisters, this|strong="G3778" is|strong="G1510" what|strong="G3588" I|strong="G2532" mean|strong="G1510": We|strong="G3778" don’t|strong="G3361" have|strong="G2192" much time|strong="G2540" left. So|strong="G2443" starting now|strong="G1161", those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" have|strong="G2192" wives|strong="G1135" should|strong="G0080" be|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3778" as|strong="G5613" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" don’t|strong="G3361".
30 It|strong="G2532" should|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3361" be|strong="G2532" important whether|strong="G2532" you|strong="G2532" are|strong="G3588" sad or|strong="G2532" whether|strong="G2532" you|strong="G2532" are|strong="G3588" happy. If|strong="G5613" you|strong="G2532" buy|strong="G0059" something, it|strong="G2532" should|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3361" matter to|strong="G2532" you|strong="G2532" that|strong="G5613" you|strong="G2532" own it|strong="G2532".
31 You|strong="G2532" should|strong="G3778" use|strong="G5530" the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3778" of|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889" without|strong="G3361" letting them|strong="G3778" become important to|strong="G2532" you|strong="G2532". This|strong="G3778" is|strong="G3778" how|strong="G5613" you|strong="G2532" should|strong="G3778" live, because|strong="G1063" this|strong="G3778" world|strong="G2889", the|strong="G3588" way|strong="G5613" it|strong="G3778" is|strong="G3778" now|strong="G2532", will|strong="G3778" soon be|strong="G2532" gone.
32 I|strong="G1161" want|strong="G2309" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G2309" be|strong="G1510" free|strong="G0275" from|strong="G2962" worry|strong="G3309". A|strong="G1510" man who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" married is|strong="G1510" busy with|strong="G2962" the|strong="G3588" Lord’s|strong="G2962" work. He|strong="G1161" is|strong="G1510" trying to|strong="G2309" please|strong="G0700" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962".
33 But|strong="G1161" a|strong="G1161" man who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3588" married|strong="G1060" is|strong="G3588" busy with|strong="G1135" things|strong="G3588" of|strong="G2889" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889". He|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3588" trying to|strong="G1135" please|strong="G0700" his|strong="G0700" wife|strong="G1135".
34 He|strong="G2532" must|strong="G1135" think about|strong="G3588" two things|strong="G3588"—pleasing|strong="G0700" his|strong="G2532" wife|strong="G1135" and|strong="G2532" pleasing|strong="G0700" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962". A|strong="G1510" woman|strong="G1135" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" married|strong="G1060" or|strong="G2532" a|strong="G1510" girl who|strong="G3588" has|strong="G2962" never married|strong="G1060" is|strong="G1510" busy with|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" Lord’s|strong="G2962" work. She|strong="G1135" wants to|strong="G2443" give herself fully—body|strong="G4983" and|strong="G2532" spirit|strong="G4151"—to|strong="G2443" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962". But|strong="G1161" a|strong="G1510" married|strong="G1060" woman|strong="G1135" is|strong="G1510" busy with|strong="G2532" things|strong="G3588" of|strong="G4151" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889". She|strong="G1135" is|strong="G1510" trying to|strong="G2443" please|strong="G0700" her|strong="G0435" husband|strong="G0435".
35 I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G2532" saying|strong="G3004" this|strong="G3778" to|strong="G4314" help you|strong="G5210". I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3756" trying to|strong="G4314" limit you|strong="G5210", but|strong="G1161" I|strong="G2532" want you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G4314" live in|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" right way|strong="G0846". And|strong="G2532" I|strong="G2532" want you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G4314" give|strong="G3004" yourselves|strong="G0846" fully to|strong="G4314" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" without|strong="G3756" giving your|strong="G2962" time to|strong="G4314" other|strong="G1161" things|strong="G3778".
36 A|strong="G1096" man|strong="G5100" might|strong="G2532" think|strong="G3543" that|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" doing|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3588" right|strong="G3779" thing|strong="G0846" with|strong="G1909" his|strong="G0846" fiancée. She|strong="G0846" might|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1510" almost past|strong="G5230" the|strong="G3588" best age to|strong="G2309" marry|strong="G1060". So|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" might|strong="G2532" feel that|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" should|strong="G3784" marry|strong="G1060" her|strong="G0846". He|strong="G2532" should|strong="G3784" do|strong="G4160" what|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" wants|strong="G2309". It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" no|strong="G3756" sin|strong="G0264" for|strong="G1909" them|strong="G0846" to|strong="G2309" get|strong="G1096" married|strong="G1060".
37 But|strong="G1161" another|strong="G1438" man|strong="G3778" might|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" more sure in|strong="G1722" his|strong="G0846" mind|strong="G2588". There|strong="G1722" may|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" no|strong="G3361" need|strong="G2192" for|strong="G4012" marriage, so|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3778" free to|strong="G2532" do|strong="G4160" what|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" wants|strong="G2307". If|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" has|strong="G2192" decided|strong="G2919" in|strong="G1722" his|strong="G0846" own|strong="G2398" heart|strong="G2588" not|strong="G3361" to|strong="G2532" marry his|strong="G0846" fiancée, he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3778" doing|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3588" right|strong="G1849" thing|strong="G3778".
38 So|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" man|strong="G3361" who|strong="G3588" marries his|strong="G4160" fiancée does|strong="G4160" right|strong="G2573", and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" man|strong="G3361" who|strong="G3588" does|strong="G4160" not|strong="G3361" marry does|strong="G4160" better|strong="G2909".
39 A|strong="G1510" woman|strong="G1135" should|strong="G2198" stay with|strong="G1722" her|strong="G0846" husband|strong="G0435" as|strong="G1722" long|strong="G5550" as|strong="G1722" he|strong="G0846" lives|strong="G2198". But|strong="G1161" if|strong="G1437" the|strong="G3588" husband|strong="G0435" dies|strong="G2837", the|strong="G3588" woman|strong="G1135" is|strong="G1510" free|strong="G1658" to|strong="G2309" marry|strong="G1060" any|strong="G1909" man|strong="G0435" she|strong="G0846" wants|strong="G2309", but|strong="G1161" he|strong="G0846" should|strong="G2198" belong|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2309" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962".
40 The|strong="G3588" woman is|strong="G1510" happier|strong="G3107" if|strong="G1437" she|strong="G1437" does|strong="G2192" not|strong="G1510" marry again. This|strong="G3779" is|strong="G1510" my|strong="G1699" opinion|strong="G1106", and|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1437" believe that|strong="G2316" I|strong="G1437" have|strong="G2192" God’s|strong="G2316" Spirit|strong="G4151".