Principles of Marriage
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations. 1 1Co 7:81Co 7:26-27Mat 19:10-111Co 7:37-38Gen 20:6Pro 6:29Rut 2:9 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. Eph 5:28Eph 5:331Co 7:9Pro 18:22Pro 5:18-191Co 6:18Mal 2:14Pro 19:14
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 1Pe 3:7Exo 21:10 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. Hos 3:3Mat 19:9Mrk 10:11-12
Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control. Exo 19:15Jol 2:161Sa 21:4-5Zec 12:12-141Th 3:5Mat 19:11Mat 4:10Zec 7:3 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 2Co 8:81Co 7:251Co 7:122Co 11:17 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Mat 19:11-121Co 7:81Co 9:5Rom 12:61Co 12:41Co 12:11Act 26:291Co 9:15
Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am. 1Co 7:321Co 7:34-351Co 7:26-271Co 7:71Co 7:1 But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 1Co 7:21Ti 5:141Ti 5:111Co 7:281Co 7:361Co 7:39
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. Mat 5:32Luk 16:18Mal 2:14-16Mat 19:3-9Mrk 10:11-121Co 7:15Jer 3:201Co 7:12 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. Jer 3:11Co 7:10Deu 22:19Isa 50:1Jdg 19:2-3Mrk 10:2
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 1Co 7:62Co 11:171Co 7:25Ezr 10:11-19Ezr 10:2-3 And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. Mal 2:15-161Ti 4:5Isa 52:1Tit 1:15Rom 11:161Co 6:15-17Ezr 9:1-2Act 10:23
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you 2to live in peace. Rom 14:19Jas 3:17-182Co 13:111Co 14:33Mat 12:50Rom 12:18Gal 5:22Heb 12:14 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 1Pe 3:1-21Co 9:22Rom 11:141Ti 4:16Jas 5:19-20Luk 15:10Pro 11:30
Live Your Calling
Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches. 1Co 4:171Co 7:241Co 7:20-21Rom 12:3-81Co 7:182Co 11:282Co 8:181Co 7:7 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. Act 15:5Act 15:19Act 15:24Act 15:28Col 3:11Gal 5:1-3Act 15:1-2 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts. Gal 5:6Gal 6:151Jn 2:3-41Jn 3:22-24Rom 2:25-29Col 3:11Rev 22:141Co 8:8
Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called. 1Co 7:171Th 4:111Co 7:21-242Th 3:12Pro 27:8Luk 3:10-14 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. 1Pe 2:18-24Col 3:111Co 12:13Luk 10:40-41Luk 12:291Pe 5:7Gal 3:28Heb 13:5 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. 1Pe 2:16Phm 1:16Col 3:22-24Gal 5:1Gal 5:13Rom 6:18-222Pe 1:1Psa 116:16
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 1Co 6:201Pe 1:18-19Tit 2:14Lev 25:42Rev 5:91Pe 3:18Act 20:28Gal 2:4 Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him. 1Co 7:20Col 3:23-241Co 7:171Co 10:31Gen 17:1Gen 5:22-241Sa 14:45
The Unmarried and Widowed
Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 1Co 7:61Co 4:21Co 7:402Co 8:8-101Co 7:121Co 15:101Co 7:101Co 7:28 Because of the present 3crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is. 1Co 7:11Co 7:81Pe 4:17Luk 23:28-291Co 7:281Co 7:35-38Jer 16:2-4Luk 21:23 Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife. 1Co 7:12-141Co 7:20 But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. Heb 13:41Co 7:261Co 7:32-362Co 1:23
What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 1Jn 2:171Co 7:31Rom 13:11-12Heb 13:13-14Jas 4:13-161Pe 4:72Pe 3:8-9Ecc 12:13-14 those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing; Ecc 3:4Jhn 16:22Luk 6:21Luk 6:25Psa 126:5-6Psa 30:5Rev 7:17Isa 25:8 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 1Jn 2:171Pe 4:7Jas 4:14Luk 21:341Pe 1:24Ecc 9:7-101Ti 6:17-18Ecc 1:4
I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord. Mat 6:25-341Ti 5:5Php 4:6Psa 55:22Mat 13:22 But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife, 1Pe 3:7Col 3:191Ti 5:8Eph 5:25-331Co 7:31Sa 1:4-8Luk 12:22Neh 5:1-5 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband. Luk 10:40-421Co 6:20Luk 2:36-37Rom 12:1-22Co 11:28Php 1:20Rom 6:131Th 5:23
I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord. 1Co 7:33-341Co 7:36Luk 8:141Co 7:2Php 4:8Luk 10:40-42Luk 21:34Mat 19:12
However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, 4 let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married. 1Co 7:371Co 7:91Sa 2:33 But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, 5 he will do well.
So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better. Heb 13:41Co 7:1-21Co 7:32-341Co 7:371Co 7:81Co 7:26
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord. 6 Rom 7:2-32Co 6:14-161Co 7:101Co 7:15Mal 2:11Deu 7:3-4Gen 6:2 In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. 1Co 7:11Co 7:25-261Co 7:81Co 14:36-371Co 7:351Co 7:61Co 9:1-31Th 4:8