1 ARST Moving on to what you asked me about, in your letter you said that it is appropriate for people not to have sex with each other. BSB BSB: Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
2 ARST On the other hand, people often desire to have sex, even improper sex. Because of that, a husband should stay married to his own wife, and a wife should stay married to her own husband. BSB BSB: But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
3 ARST Husbands should regularly have sex with their wives. Similarly, wives should regularly have sex with their husbands. BSB BSB: The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 ARST Wives’ bodies belong to their husbands, not to themselves. Similarly, husbands’ bodies belong to their wives, not to themselves. BSB BSB: The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
5 ARST You should only stop having sex regularly when both of you agree to do so for a brief time. You should only do this when you want to focus on praying to God, and you should soon resume having sex regularly. If you do not do this quickly, Satan will use how you desire to have sex to entice you to do what is wrong. BSB BSB: Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
6 ARST I do not command you{ to stop having sex regularly in order to focus on praying}. Rather, I am only allowing you{ to do so}. BSB BSB: I say this as a concession, not as a command.
8 ARST Here I am speaking to people who have not married and to women whose husbands have died. The best thing{ for these people} is to stay{ unmarried} like I do. BSB BSB: Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
9 ARST However, some people will struggle to control how they desire to have sex. These people should get married, because that is a better choice than constantly desiring to have sex. BSB BSB: But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 ARST Here I am speaking what the Lord himself said to people who have gotten married. I require the wives to stay with their husbands. BSB BSB: To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11 ARST Now whenever they do not stay with their husbands, they should not marry again, or they should go back to their husbands. Further, husbands should stay with their wives. BSB BSB: But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 ARST Now to the rest{ of you who have a spouse who is not a believer}, the Lord did not speak about this, so I am speaking what I myself command. Some fellow believers have unbelieving wives, and the wives may wish to stay with their believing husbands. In this situation, the husbands should stay with their wives. BSB BSB: To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13 ARST Similarly, some fellow believers have unbelieving husbands, and the husbands may wish to stay with their believing wives. In this situation, the wives should stay with their husbands. BSB BSB: And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14 ARST { You should remain with an unbelieving husband or wife,} because God considers the unbelieving husband to be an acceptable spouse for the believing wife. Similarly, God considers the unbelieving wife to be an acceptable spouse for the believing husband. Because of this, God treats the children in this situation just like he treats the children of two believing parents. If what I have said were not true, God would treat the children in this situation just like he treats the children of two unbelieving parents. BSB BSB: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15 ARST On the other hand, some unbelieving husbands or wives may want to leave their believing spouses. In this situation, the believing spouses should allow them to leave. The believing spouses do not have to stay with their unbelieving husbands or wives.{ In any situation like this, remember that} God requires us to be peaceful people. BSB BSB: But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.
16 ARST { You should allow an unbelieving spouse to leave} because each wife does not know whether she can help her husband to believe in Jesus. Each husband also does not know whether he can help his wife to believe in Jesus. BSB BSB: How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 ARST In general, all people need to behave in ways that fit with what the Lord has appointed them to do and with how God requires them to act. I require people to follow this teaching in every group of believers{ that I visit}. BSB BSB: Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
18 ARST There are some people whom others circumcised before they believed in Jesus. These people should not try to become uncircumcised again. There are other people whom others did not circumcise before they believed in Jesus. These people should not try to become circumcised. BSB BSB: Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.
20 ARST All people should serve God faithfully while doing the normal things they were already doing when God changed them. BSB BSB: Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
21 ARST Some people were slaves when they believed in Jesus. These people should not worry about being slaves. On the other hand, they should make use of any chance they have to become free. BSB BSB: Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.
22 ARST { Do not worry about your social position,} because the Lord considers all people who were slaves when they believed in him to be free people now. Similarly, the Messiah considers all people who were free people when they believed in him to be his slaves now. BSB BSB: For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.
23 ARST { When Jesus died for you,} it was as if God paid money to buy you.{ Because of that,} you should not serve other humans, but only God. BSB BSB: You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 ARST My fellow believers, all people should serve God faithfully while doing the normal things they were already doing when God changed them. BSB BSB: Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
25 ARST I am now moving on to speak about those who have not gotten married. On this issue, I do not have anything that the Lord said to tell you. However, I will tell you what I think is best.{ I do this} because God has acted kindly towards me by making me a trustworthy{ teacher}. BSB BSB: Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26 ARST What I suggest is that people should not change how they are living. I say this because I know that dangerous things are going to happen soon. BSB BSB: Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27 ARST Some people have gotten engaged. They should not separate. Other people have never gotten engaged. They should not try to become engaged. BSB BSB: Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.
28 ARST However, a single man or woman who gets married does not sin. I only advise you against getting married because people who get married will experience troubles while they live. BSB BSB: But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 ARST My fellow believers, what I am about to tell you{ is important}. The end times are not far away. Therefore, until then, each man who has a wife should live like a man who does not have a wife. BSB BSB: What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
30 ARST Each person who cries should live like a person who does not cry. Each person who is glad should live like a person who is not glad. Each person who acquires anything should live like a person who does not own anything. BSB BSB: those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;
31 ARST Each person who utilizes worldly things should live like a person who does not utilize these things.{ You should act in these ways} because God will soon abolish the worldly way of doing things. BSB BSB: and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32 ARST I want you to care about few things. Single men care about what they can do to serve the Lord. BSB BSB: I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
33 ARST On the other hand, married men care about worldly things, particularly how they can serve their wives. Because of this, they care about two different things{: serving their wives and serving the Lord}. Single women and women who have never gotten married BSB BSB: But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
34 ARST care about what they can do to serve the Lord. Their goal is to be completely holy. On the other hand, married women care about worldly things, particularly how they can serve their husbands. BSB BSB: and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.
35 ARST I have said these things because I think they are helpful for you. I do not want to force you into acting in only one way. Rather, I want you to be able to act honorably and serve the Lord well and attentively. BSB BSB: I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 ARST In some cases, an engaged man may consider that he might act in sexually improper ways with his fiancée. Further, his fiancée may be fully mature and ready to have sex. In these cases, here is what to do: the man should marry his fiancé. He does not sin{ when he does this}, and the two of them should get married. BSB BSB: However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.
37 ARST In other cases, an engaged man may have made up his mind, and no person or thing has forced him{ not to marry}. He can control what he desires, and he has decided for himself{ not to marry}. In this case, he can rightly choose not to marry his fiancée. BSB BSB: But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
38 ARST In the end, any man who gets married to his fiancée does a good thing. Further, any man who does not get married{ to his fiancée} does a better thing. BSB BSB: So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
39 ARST Wives must stay married to their husbands unless their husbands die. Then, they may marry any believing man whom they want to marry. BSB BSB: A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
40 ARST However,{ I think that} any woman whose husband has died will be more blessed if she does not marry again. While that is my opinion, I think that God’ s Spirit speaks through me. BSB BSB: In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.