The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

1 Corinthians 7

Listen to the Word

Initializing audio...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1

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

WhatsApp Copy

2

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

WhatsApp Copy

3

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

WhatsApp Copy

4

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

WhatsApp Copy

5

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

WhatsApp Copy

6

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

WhatsApp Copy

7

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

WhatsApp Copy

8

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

WhatsApp Copy

9

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

WhatsApp Copy

10

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

WhatsApp Copy

11

But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

WhatsApp Copy

12

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

WhatsApp Copy

13

And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

WhatsApp Copy

14

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

WhatsApp Copy

15

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

WhatsApp Copy

16

For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

WhatsApp Copy

17

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

WhatsApp Copy

18

Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

WhatsApp Copy

19

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

WhatsApp Copy

20

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

WhatsApp Copy

21

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

WhatsApp Copy

22

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

WhatsApp Copy

23

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

WhatsApp Copy

24

Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

WhatsApp Copy

25

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

WhatsApp Copy

26

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

WhatsApp Copy

27

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

WhatsApp Copy

28

But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

WhatsApp Copy

29

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

WhatsApp Copy

30

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

WhatsApp Copy

31

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

WhatsApp Copy

32

But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

WhatsApp Copy

33

But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

WhatsApp Copy

34

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

WhatsApp Copy

35

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

WhatsApp Copy

36

But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

WhatsApp Copy

37

Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

WhatsApp Copy

38

So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

WhatsApp Copy

39

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

WhatsApp Copy

40

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

WhatsApp Copy

Previous Next

Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

1 Corinthians 7 provides detailed instructions regarding marriage, singleness, and devotion to God. Paul advises believers to remain in the state in which they were called and emphasizes that the "time is short," calling for an undistracted focus on the Lord.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. Mutual Obligations in Marriage: Paul emphasizes the equality and mutual responsibility of husbands and wives (v. 3-4). Marriage should be a partnership of mutual respect and physical faithfulness.
2. The Gift of Singleness: Both marriage and singleness are gifts from God (v. 7). Being single allows for an "undistracted" service to the Lord (v. 35), and should be valued as a high calling.
3. Living with Eternal Perspective: Because the "fashion of this world passeth away" (v. 31), we should not let earthly relationships or possessions become our ultimate focus.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

O God, who hast appointed the various states of life for Thy children: grant us grace to serve Thee faithfully, whether married or single. Help us to attend upon Thee without distraction and to live with our eyes fixed on the eternal world to come. Amen.

Copied to clipboard!