1 Y ou asked me some questions in your letter. This is my answer. It is good if a man does not get married.

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 B ut because of being tempted to sex sins, each man should get married and have his own wife. Each woman should get married and have her own husband.

But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3 T he husband should please his wife as a husband. The wife should please her husband as a wife.

Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 T he wife is not the boss of her own body. It belongs to the husband. And in the same way, the husband is not the boss of his own body. It belongs to the wife.

The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

5 D o not keep from each other that which belongs to each other in marriage unless you agree for awhile so you can use your time to pray. Then come together again or the devil will tempt you to do that which you know you should not do.

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

6 T his is what I think. I am not saying you must do it.

But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

7 I wish everyone were as I am, but each has his own gift from God. One has one gift. Another has another gift.

Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 T his is what I say to those who are not married and to women whose husbands have died. It is good if you do not get married. I am not married.

But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 B ut if you are not able to keep from doing that which you know is wrong, get married. It is better to get married than to have such strong sex desires.

But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 I have this to say to those who are married. These words are from the Lord. A wife should not leave her husband,

But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

11 b ut if she does leave him, she should not get married to another man. It would be better for her to go back to her husband. The husband should not divorce his wife.

(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

12 I have this to say. These words are not from the Lord. If a Christian husband has a wife who is not a Christian, and she wants to live with him, he must not divorce her.

But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

13 I f a Christian wife has a husband who is not a Christian, and he wants to live with her, she must not divorce him.

And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

14 T he husband who is not a Christian is set apart from the sin of the world because of his Christian wife. The wife who is not a Christian is set apart from the sin of the world because of her Christian husband. In this way, the lives of the children are not unclean because of sin, they are clean.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 I f the one who is not a Christian wants to leave, let that one go. The Christian husband or wife should not try to make the other one stay. God wants you to live in peace.

Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace.

16 C hristian wife, how do you know you will not help your husband to become a Christian? Or Christian husband, how do you know you will not help your wife to become a Christian? Stay as You Were When God Chose You

For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 E veryone should live the life the Lord gave to him. He should live as he was when he became a Christian. This is what I teach in all the churches.

Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.

18 I f a man became a Christian after he had gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew, he should do nothing about it. If a man became a Christian before, he should not go through the religious act of becoming a Jew.

Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

19 I f it is done or not done, it means nothing. What is important is to obey God’s Word.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 E veryone should stay the same way he was when he became a Christian.

Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

21 W ere you a servant who was owned by someone when you became a Christian? Do not worry about it. But if you are able to become free, do that.

Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather.

22 A servant who is owned by someone and who has become a Christian is the Lord’s free man. A free man who has become a Christian is a servant owned by Christ.

For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant.

23 H e paid a great price for you when He bought you. Do not let yourselves become servants owned by men.

Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.

24 C hristian brothers, each one should stay as he was when he became a Christian.

Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

25 I have no word from the Lord about women or men who have never been married. I will tell you what I think. You can trust me because the Lord has given me His loving-kindness.

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.

26 I think, because of the troubles that are coming, it is a good thing for a person not to get married.

I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.

27 A re you married to a wife? Do not try to get a divorce. If you are not married, do not look for a wife.

Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

28 I f you do get married, you have not sinned. If a woman who is not married gets married, it is no sin. But being married will add problems. I would like to have you free from such problems.

But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.

29 I mean this, Christian brothers. The time is short. A married man should use his time as if he did not have a wife.

But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

30 T hose who have sorrow should keep on working as if they had no sorrow. Those who have joy should keep on working as if there was no time for joy. Those who buy should have no time to get joy from what they have.

and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 W hile you live in this world, live as if the world has no hold on you. The way of this world will soon be gone.

and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 I want you to be free from the cares of this world. The man who is not married can spend his time working for the Lord and pleasing Him.

But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 T he man who is married cares for the things of the world. He wants to please his wife.

but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

34 M arried women and women who have never been married are different. The woman who has never been married can spend her time working for the Lord. She wants to please the Lord with her body and spirit. The woman who is married cares for the things of the world. She wants to please her husband.

and is divided. So also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 I am saying these things to help you. I am not trying to keep you from getting married. I want you to do what is best. You should work for Him without other things taking your time.

And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 I f a man and woman expect to get married, and he thinks his desires to marry her are getting too strong, and she is getting older, they should get married. It is no sin.

But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

37 B ut if a man has the power to keep from getting married and knows in his mind that he should not, he is wise if he does not get married.

But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well.

38 T he man who gets married does well, but the man who does not get married does better.

So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

39 A wife is not free as long as her husband lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants, if he is a Christian.

A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 I think she will be much more happy if she does not get married again. This is what I think. I believe it is what the Holy Spirit is saying.

But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.