Concerning Married Life
1Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8Now to the unmarried7:8 Or widowers and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Concerning Change of Status
17Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
Concerning the Unmarried
25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong7:36 Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.7:36-38 Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years (or if her passions are too strong), and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
39A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Tungkol sa Pag-aasawa
1Ngayon, ito naman ang masasabi ko tungkol sa mga bagay na isinulat ninyo sa akin. Mas makabubuti sa isang lalaki kung hindi na lang mag-aasawa. 2Ngunit dahil sa marami ang natutuksong gumawa ng sekswal na imoralidad, mas mabuti pa na mag-asawa na lang ang bawat lalaki o babae. 3Dapat tuparin ng lalaki ang kanyang tungkulin sa kanyang asawa, at ganoon din naman ang babae. 4Sapagkat ang lalaki ay may karapatan sa katawan ng kanyang asawa. At ganoon din naman, ang babae sa kanyang asawa. 5Kaya huwag ninyong ipagkait ang pagsiping sa inyong asawa, maliban na lamang kung napagkasunduan ninyong ipagpaliban ito, upang mailaan ninyo ang inyong mga sarili sa pananalangin. Ngunit pagkalipas ng inyong pinagkasunduan, magsiping na uli kayo dahil baka hindi na kayo makapagpigil at matukso kayo ni Satanas.
6Ang sinasabi koʼy hindi isang utos kundi mungkahi lamang. 7Kung pwede lang, gusto ko sanang kayong lahat ay maging katulad ko na walang asawa. Ngunit may kanya-kanyang kaloob sa atin ang Dios, at hindi ito pare-pareho.
8Ngayon, ito naman ang masasabi ko sa mga wala pang asawa at sa mga biyuda: mas mabuti kung magpatuloy na lang kayo sa kalagayan ninyong iyan. 9Ngunit kung hindi kayo makapagpigil sa inyong sarili, mag-asawa na lang kayo. Mas mabuti na ito kaysa sa magkasala kayo dahil sa matinding pagnanasa ng laman.
10-11Ngayon, sa inyong mga may asawa, may utos ako na sinabi mismo ng Panginoon: Hindi dapat hiwalayan ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa, at ganoon din naman ang babae sa kanyang asawa. Ngunit kung hihiwalay ang babae sa kanyang asawa, dapat manatili siyang walang asawa o di kayaʼy bumalik na lang sa kanyang asawa.
12Sa iba naman, ito ang masasabi ko (itoʼy opinyon ko lang; walang sinabi ang Panginoon tungkol dito): Kung ang isang mananampalatayang lalaki ay may asawa na hindi mananampalataya na gusto namang magsama sila, hindi niya dapat hiwalayan ang babae. 13At kung ang isang babae naman ay may asawang hindi mananampalataya na gusto namang magsama sila, hindi niya dapat hiwalayan ang lalaki. 14Sapagkat ang lalaking hindi mananampalataya ay tinatanggap ng Dios dahil sa kanyang mananampalatayang asawa, at ang babaeng hindi mananampalataya ay tinatanggap din ng Dios dahil sa kanyang mananampalatayang asawa. Dahil kung hindi, maging ang mga anak nila ay hindi tatanggapin ng Dios. Ngunit ang totoo, tinatanggap din sila ng Dios. 15Ngunit kung gustong humiwalay ng asawang hindi mananampalataya, hayaan siyang humiwalay. Sa ganitong pangyayari ay wala nang pananagutan ang mananampalatayang asawa, dahil tinawag tayo ng Dios upang mamuhay nang mapayapa. 16Kung sabagay, hindi naman kayo nakasisiguro kung ang inyong pagsasama ay magiging kasangkapan ng Dios para maligtas ang inyong asawa.
Mamuhay Ayon sa Kalagayang Ibinigay ng Dios
17Ang bawat isa sa inyo ay dapat mamuhay ayon sa kalagayan na ibinigay ng Panginoon sa kanya. Dapat manatili siya sa kanyang kalagayan nang tinawag siya ng Dios.7:17 tinawag siya ng Dios: Tingnan sa 1:2. Ito ang iniuutos ko sa lahat ng iglesya. 18Halimbawa, kung ang isang lalaki ay tuli nang siyaʼy tawagin ng Dios, hindi na niya dapat baguhin ang kanyang kalagayan. At kung hindi pa siya tuli nang siyaʼy tawagin, hindi na niya kailangang magpatuli pa. 19Sapagkat hindi mahalaga kung tuli ang isang lalaki o hindi. Ang mahalaga ay ang pagsunod sa mga utos ng Dios. 20Kaya mamuhay ang bawat isa ayon sa kanyang kalagayan nang tinawag siya ng Dios. 21Ikaw baʼy isang alipin nang tawagin ng Dios? Hindi na bale, ngunit kung may magagawa ka naman para maging malaya, samantalahin mo ito. 22Sapagkat ang alipin nang tawagin siya ng Panginoon ay malaya na sa harap ng Panginoon. Ang tao namang malaya nang tawagin siya ay alipin na ngayon ni Cristo. 23Binili kayo ng Dios sa malaking halaga, kaya huwag kayong basta magpaalipin sa tao. 24Kaya nga mga kapatid, mamuhay ang bawat isa sa inyo ayon sa kanyang kalagayan nang tawagin siya ng Dios.
Tungkol sa mga Walang Asawa at mga Biyuda
25Ngayon, tungkol naman sa mga walang asawa, wala akong utos mula sa Panginoon. Ngunit bilang isang mapagkakatiwalaan dahil sa awa ng Dios, ito ang aking masasabi:
26Dahil sa mga kahirapan ngayon, mas mabuti kung magpatuloy na lang kayo sa inyong kalagayan. 27Kaya kung ikaw ay may asawa na, huwag mong hihiwalayan ang iyong asawa. At kung ikaw naman ay wala pang asawa, mas mabuti na huwag ka na lang mag-asawa. 28Ngunit kung mag-asawa ka man, hindi ka nagkasala. At kung mag-asawa ang isang dalaga, hindi rin siya nagkasala. Kaya ko lang sinasabi sa mga wala pang asawa na manatili na lang na ganoon dahil gusto kong maiwasan nila ang mga hirap ng buhay may asawa.
29Ang ibig kong sabihin mga kapatid, maikli na lang ang natitirang panahon. Kaya ang mga may asawa ay dapat nang mamuhay na parang walang asawa, 30ang mga umiiyak naman na parang hindi umiyak, ang mga nagagalak na parang hindi nagagalak, at ang mga bumibili na parang hindi bumibili para sa sarili. 31Ang mga gumagamit ng mga bagay dito sa mundo ay hindi dapat mawili sa mga bagay na ito, dahil ang mga bagay sa mundong ito ay lilipas.
32Gusto ko sanang maging malaya kayo sa mga alalahanin sa mundong ito. Kung ang isang lalaki ay walang asawa, ang pinagkakaabalahan niya ay ang mga gawain ng Panginoon at kung paano siya magiging kalugod-lugod sa kanya. 33Ngunit ang lalaking may asawaʼy abala sa mga bagay dito sa mundo, kung paano niya mapapaligaya ang kanyang asawa. 34Dahil dito, hati ang kanyang isipan. Ganoon din naman sa mga babae. Kung ang isang babaeʼy walang asawa, ang pinagkakaabalahan niya ay ang paglilingkod sa Panginoon, at nais niyang ilaan ang kanyang buong buhay sa paglilingkod sa kanya. Ngunit ang babaeng may asawa ay abala sa mga bagay dito sa mundo, kung paano niya mapapaligaya ang kanyang asawa.
35Sinasabi ko lamang ito para sa inyong kabutihan. Hindi ko kayo pinagbabawalang mag-asawa. Gusto ko lamang hanggaʼt maaari ay maging maayos at walang hadlang ang inyong paglilingkod sa Panginoon.
36Ngayon, tungkol naman sa mga magkasintahan: Kung sa palagay ng lalaki ay hindi tama ang ikinikilos niya sa kanyang nobya dahil sa pagnanasa, at sa palagay niyaʼy dapat na silang magpakasal, mas mabuti ngang magpakasal na sila. Hindi ito kasalanan. 37Ngunit kung nagpasya ang lalaki na hindi na lang niya pakakasalan ang kanyang nobya, at hindi na lang siya mag-aasawa dahil kaya naman niyang magpigil sa sarili, mabuti rin ang kanyang ginagawa. 38Kaya mabuti kung mag-aasawa siya, ngunit mas mabuti kung hindi.
39Ang babaeʼy nakatali sa kanyang asawa habang nabubuhay pa ito. Ngunit kung patay na ang kanyang asawa, maaari na siyang mag-asawa uli, pero dapat sa isang mananampalataya. 40Para sa akin, mas maligaya siya kung hindi na lang siya mag-asawang muli. Opinyon ko lang naman ito, ngunit sa tingin koʼy ito rin ang itinuturo ng Espiritu ng Dios na nasa akin.
