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.
論婚姻
1關於你們信上所寫的事，我認為男人不親近女人是好的。 2不過，為了避免發生淫亂的事，男婚女嫁也合情合理。 3夫妻雙方都應當盡自己的本分，過正常的夫妻生活。 4妻子無權支配自己的身體，丈夫才有權；丈夫也無權支配自己的身體，妻子才有權。 5夫妻不可彼此虧負，除非雙方同意，才可以暫時分房，以便專心祈禱。以後，二人仍要恢復正常的夫妻生活，免得撒旦趁你們情不自禁的時候引誘你們。 6我這麼說是准許你們這樣做，並非命令你們。 7雖然我希望人人都像我一樣獨身，但每個人從上帝所領受的恩賜不同，有的是這樣，有的是那樣。
8至於那些未婚的和寡居的，他們若能像我一樣就好了。 9但他們若不能自制，就應該結婚，因為與其慾火攻心還不如結婚為好。 10我也吩咐那些已婚的人，其實不是我吩咐，而是主吩咐：妻子不可離開丈夫， 11若是離開了，不可再嫁別人，只能與丈夫復合。丈夫也不可離棄妻子。
12至於其他人，主沒有吩咐什麼，但我要說，如果某弟兄的妻子不信主，但樂意和他同住，他就不應離棄妻子。 13同樣，如果某姊妹的丈夫不信主，但樂意和她同住，她就不應離棄丈夫。 14因為不信的丈夫因妻子而得以聖潔了。同樣，不信的妻子也因丈夫而得以聖潔了。否則你們的孩子就是不潔淨的，但如今他們是聖潔的。 15如果不信的一方堅持要離開的話，就遂其所願吧。無論是弟兄或姊妹遇到這樣的事情都不必勉強。上帝呼召我們，原是要我們和睦相處。 16你這作妻子的，怎麼知道不能救你的丈夫呢？你這作丈夫的，怎麼知道不能救你的妻子呢？
17各人應當依照上帝的呼召和安排生活，這是我對各教會的吩咐。 18如果蒙召時已經受了割禮，不必消除割禮；如果蒙召時沒有受割禮，也不必去受割禮。 19受不受割禮都算不得什麼，最要緊的是遵行上帝的誡命。 20各人應當保持自己蒙召時的身分。 21如果你蒙召時是奴隸，不必因此而煩惱。不過如果你可以獲得自由，也不要放過機會。 22因為，蒙召信主時做奴隸的，現在是主的自由人；蒙召時做自由人的，現在是基督的奴僕。 23你們是主用重價買來的，不要做人的奴隸。 24弟兄姊妹，你們要在上帝面前保持自己蒙召時的身分。
25關於獨身的問題，主並沒有給我任何命令，但我既然深受主恩，成為祂忠心的僕人，就向你們提供一些意見。
26鑒於目前時勢艱難，我認為各人最好是安於現狀。 27已經有妻子的，就不要設法擺脫她；還沒有妻子的，就不要想著結婚。 28男婚女嫁並不是犯罪，只是有家室的人總免不了許多人生的苦惱，我是盼望你們能夠免去這些苦惱。
29弟兄們，我告訴你們，時日不多了，從今以後，那些有妻子的，要像沒有妻子的； 30哭泣的，要像不哭泣的；歡喜的，要像不歡喜的；置辦家業的，要像一無所有的。 31享用世界之物的，不要沉溺其中。因為現今的世界很快就要過去了。
32我希望你們無牽無掛。未婚的男子可以關心主的事，想著怎樣討主的喜悅。 33但已婚的男子關心世上的事，想著如何取悅妻子， 34難免分心。沒有丈夫的婦女和處女可以關心主的事，叫身體和心靈都聖潔；但已婚的婦女關心世上的事，想著如何取悅丈夫。 35我這樣說是為了你們的好處，不是要束縛你們，而是要鼓勵你們做合宜的事，好叫你們殷勤、專心事奉主。
36若有人覺得對待自己的未婚妻有不合宜之處，自己又情慾難禁，就成全他的心願，讓他們結婚吧！這並不算犯罪。 37如果這人心裡確信自己沒有結婚的需要，又能自己作主，打定主意不結婚，這樣做也好。 38所以，與未婚妻完婚是對的，但不結婚則更好。
39丈夫還活著的時候，妻子必須忠於丈夫。如果丈夫去世了，她就自由了，可以再婚，只是要嫁給信主的弟兄。 40然而，照我的意見，她若能不再婚就更有福了。我想自己也是受了上帝的靈感動才說這番話的。
