16For how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband? and how knowest thou, O husband, but thou shalt save thy wife? 17Nevertheless as God has bestowed the gift on every man as the Lord hath called every man, so let him walk, and so I give command in all the churches.
18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not affect uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the observance of the commandments of God.
20Let every one abide in the calling in which he is called. 21Art thou called being a slave? let it give thee no concern; but if thou canst also obtain thy freedom, rather make use of it. 22For he that is called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord’s freed man: in like manner also, he that is called, being a free man, is the servant of Christ. 23Have you been redeemed with a price? become not the slaves of men. 24Let every one, brethren, in the vocation wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I offer my opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful. 26I think then that this is becoming, considering our present straits, that it is proper for a man to be thus. 27Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28But if thou shouldst marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned; though such will have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.
29Now this I say, brethren, that the time is short. The conclusion is, that even they who have wives, should be as though they had not; 30and they who weep as though they wept not; and they who rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that purchase as though they possessed not; 31and they who use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 32But I would have you to be free from anxiety. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord: 33but he who is married is anxious about the things of the world, how he shall please his wife. 34A wife and a virgin hath different pursuits: the unmarried woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the things of the world, how she shall please her husband. 35Now I say this for your own advantage, and not that I should lay a snare in your way, but as what is seemly, and that you may wait on the Lord without distraction. 36But if a person supposes it would be unseemly for a virgin of his if she should pass the flower of her age in celibacy, and that duty directs it should be so, let him do as he is inclined, he doth not sin: let such marry. 37But he that is stedfast in his heart, not having any necessity, but retaineth power over his own inclination, and hath determined this in his heart that he will preserve his own virgin state, doeth well. 38Wherefore though he who giveth in marriage doeth well, yet he who avoids a matrimonial connection, doeth better.
39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is free to be married to whomsoever she will, but only in the Lord. 40But she is more blessed if she abide as she is, in my opinion: and I think I have the spirit of God.
[CHAP. VIII.]
NOW concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. 2But if any man conceit that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4Now concerning eating things sacrificed unto idols: we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5For though there are gods so called, whether celestial or terrestrial, (as of this sort there are gods many, and lords many;) 6but to us there is one God, the Father; of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7Howbeit there is not in all men this knowledge; but some having conscientious respect for the idol to this moment, eat the meat as sacrificed to the idol; and their conscience being weak, is defiled. 8But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither if we eat are we the better, or if we eat not are we the worse. 9But take heed that this power of yours become not an occasion of stumbling to the weak. 10For if any man see thee that hast knowledge, sitting in an idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11And the weak brother will be destroyed by thy knowledge, for whom Christ died. 12But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13Wherefore if meat give occasion of offence to my brother, I will in no wise eat meat for ever, that I give no cause of offence to my brother.